Week 28: Influence of Law and Ethics in Practise.
WEEK 28
Activity 4:
Legal and ethical contexts in my digital practice
In this context, I
will be using Rolfe’s model of reflection
What?
I currently teach a class of Year 0-1.
Our students have access to ipads and enjoy the apps currently available. However, our students have access to Youtube
and we have had incidents where students have watched clips that are
inappropriate e.g. Fortnight commentary and music video clips. It also came to
light that this was happening in other classes too.
So what?
The Education Council (2017)
identified a set of values that underpin our teacher codes and standards. One
of these is Pono. Showing integrity through our actions that are fair, ethical,
just and honest. As the classroom
teacher, I had to stand back and figure out ways to help my young students
understand the purpose of the ipads in our classroom and how to use them
appropriately during learning time. I also had to think of how I address this
problem with our whanau so they understand cyber safety and digital technology
in our class learning time too.
Our students are growing up
surrounded by technology but I could see that they have not been given the
guidance or support to help them understand what it means to be a digital
citizen.
Hall (2001) described how
teachers are now more aware of the decisions that they make today, could now be
challenged and made public. Social media
has provided a platform for individuals to share their opinion and teachers
have faced backlash from families who have not agreed to decisions made by
educators.
Now what?
The Ministry of Education (2015) advise
teachers to understand and recognise the challenges and changes that digital
technology brings to our learning enviroment.
As a result of my noticing, I hope to help better educate our families
and our students around safer and responsible internet use.
In the mean time, my students have
developed a buddy system where you are only to access literacy apps during
literacy learning time and maths apps during math time. When it is inquiry, we use the teachers
laptop and it is connected to class tv. Students will also inform the teacher
if someone has gone onto Youtube.
Our school has also
shared a number of websites and apps that parents could access at home too. Our
head of IT has also updated apps on our ipads so that students have access
to more literacy and maths content more appropriate to the their year level.
Reference
Hall, A. (2001) What
ought I to do, all things considered? An approach to the exploration of ethical
problems by teachers. Paper presented at the IIPE Conference,
Brisbane. Retrieved from http://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/Culture/Developing-leaders/What-Ought-I-to-Do-All-Things-Considered-An-Approach-to-the-Exploration-of-Ethical-Problems-by-Teachers
Ministry of Education.
(2015). DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY Safe and responsible use in schools. Wellington: New
Zealand: Author. Retrieved from https://www.education.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Sch...
My students are very good at snitching on those who are going on youtube lol It doesn't happen too often though because my kids love the educational apps...wish we had more reading ones though like sunshine online :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Ms Wright. You are also correct about the use of other apps for our cohort. This term, with the support of a senior class, we will have more tuakana-teina learning in the way of ICT skills for our junior classes. This will begin with both our classes then to the others. In saying that, we will have to explicitly teach our students what it means to be a digital citizen in todays class and link these to our school values. I know within time, they will better understand and respect the responsibilty that comes with being a digital learner. I can see amazing learning happening in our team this term and the rest of the year too!
DeleteI like how you have discussed the influence technology has on children. It's great to see someone creating awareness to the dangers of the cyber world , and implementing valuable strategies to reduce any inappropriate behavior or language children may be exposed to while learning though digital technology in class. Thumbs up for encouraging the children to become active digital citizens
ReplyDeleteBeing a digital citizen happens not only at school but at home too. It is scary to think what else happens when student use modern technology without the supervision. Children who are aware of the dangers tend to think twice about what they are doing and know their are consequences for their actions.
DeleteDigital technology has brought another dimension of learning that students need skills and strategies to move in todays society. Schools play a vital role to help educate our learners but with home and school partnerships, we hope to educate our families in order to keep our children safe too.
Hi Rose, ahhh how I miss the days of teaching emergent to Year 8 students. I started as a primary school teacher and find this age more impressionable. Secondary school students are harder to monitor as they have this irresistable drive to want to online game or engage in offtask facebooking. I don't deny it happening at younger ages, however the older students aren't afraid of consequences, or discipline as a result of their actions. They are gutsier in their shifting boundaries... but it all comes at a risk of them losing their licence to use the computers and risk of failing assessments due to accessibility. Its a real fine line that stretches ethics, and computer contracts that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteSORRY Corlene Greenwood here: had to repost as for some reason it put me down as "UNKNOWN" above.
ReplyDeleteHi Rose, ahhh how I miss the days of teaching emergent to Year 8 students. I started as a primary school teacher and find this age more impressionable. Secondary school students are harder to monitor as they have this irresistable drive to want to online game or engage in offtask facebooking. I don't deny it happening at younger ages, however the older students aren't afraid of consequences, or discipline as a result of their actions. They are gutsier in their shifting boundaries... but it all comes at a risk of them losing their licence to use the computers and risk of failing assessments due to accessibility. Its a real fine line that stretches ethics, and computer contracts that's for sure.