TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCERNS FOR SECURITY AND SAFETY OF OUR

STUDENTS.

By: Parris Travers

Topics

Ethical Issues for

safety and security

Digital Divide

Legal use of digital

media

References

TABLE OF CONTENT

Slides

1-7

8-13

14-17

19

ETHICAL ISSUES FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY

Social Networking

Acceptable Use Policies

Netiquette

Cyber Bullying

Student Data

Internet Privacy

SOCIAL NETWORKING

Definition: These sites allow for students to set up profiles

with their names, information and pictures. They then can

connect with other member's to communicate and be

“Friends”. They can share through personal web pages, blogs

or discussion groups.

Examples: Facebook, MySpace, Xanga, Live Journal, etc.

Issues: Unsafe disclosure of personal information ( students

often do not realize that information posted becomes public),

Addiction (Spending excessive time will take away from regular

social activities), Risky sexual behavior (seduction by sexual

predator), and Cyber bullying (sending hurtful information to

others).

ACCEPTABLE USE POLICIES

Definition: Limits the use of computers and other technology to

educational purposes to encourage work productivity. Student will often

have to sign an agreement that shows their understanding of proper

technology use. It requires students to respect the technology and the

network the school works on.

Limitations: Access to profane material, posting personal information,

peer-peer file sharing, plagiarism, gaming, file downloading, etc.

Enforcement: Student sign written agreement, monitoring of internet

use, individual log-in.

NETIQUETTE

Definition: Is etiquette on the internet. This is rules to follow for

internet communications through email, messaging, chat rooms

and discussion forums.

Rules: Don't lie about who you are (don’t work under someone

else name or information), Know when to stop, Know when to talk

(read and know what the discussion is about before sharing your

ideas), Check grammar, send a message before you drop in, Log off

messaging when not using it, Never send a message you would not

read in public, Know when not to forward a message, Don’t send

long message on instant messaging.

CYBER BULLYING

Definition : a student is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated,

embarrassed or targeted by another child using the Internet, interactive

and digital technologies or mobile phones. It has to have a minor on both

sides, or at least have been instigated by a minor against another minor.

Types: Direct Attack (message sent directly to a victim), Proxy (using

others to attack victim, with or without their knowledge).

Reasons: anger, frustrations, jealousy, entertainment, boredom, revenge,

accident, and social status.

Effects: suicide, fights, embarrassment, misdemeanor charges, threats,

loss of ISP accounts.

Link: This is a video that talks about a recent bullying case

STUDENT DATA

Definition: Information collected such as student

name, address, birthdate, attendance, grades, and

test scores store by the teacher and or school.

Issue: Unauthorized release of information (If

student personal information is shown to others

without parental permission), unintentional sharing

of data (if grades are accidentally revealed in

class),and personal privacy.

INTERNET PRIVACYDefinition: is the desire or mandate of personal privacy concerning

transactions or transmission of data via the Internet. It involves the type and

amount of information a person reveals about themselves on the Internet

and who may access such information.

Major Concerns: ability to control the rate, type, and sequence of the

information viewed (Spam, or commercial e-mail, is a concern because it

violates privacy, steals resources and uses personal information); users to

understand how their information is collected and used (Many websites

require people to identify themselves using personal information or data)

Issues: Cookies (http, flash, evercookies), photographs, data logging,

internet providers, legal threats (government tracking of internet user

information)

TEACHER TIPSHave a clear policy with focus on educationally valuable use of the

Internet .

The policy must be supported by curriculum and instructional

development.

Student should be educated about online safety and responsible use.

Ensure that you are providing effective technical monitoring.

Apply appropriate disciplines for inadequate behavior on the internet.

Offer technology appropriate assessments.

Model the netiquette skills discussed.

Keep student data in a safe place, list names only by first name

admitting the last name of each student.

TEACHER TIPS

Asses regularly the presence or opportunity for cyber bullying

Outline to your students that all forms of bullying are

unacceptable.

Set clear rules and guidelines with consequences for students

if bullying occurs.

Use filtering and monitoring software on school computers.

Have children sign a contract that showing their understanding

of all rules and consequences of improper computer use.

STUDENT TIPS

Think how you would feel if someone posted this about you.

Think before you post. Remember the information will become

public knowledge. (would your parents be happy if they saw it ).

.Report any issues to the Web site and to an adult.

Tell an adult if someone posts threats of violence or self-harm.

People online might not be who they seem to be. Develop a

plan for meeting online friends that is approved by your parent

or guardian.

If you have been contacted by someone you don’t know, and

you think they might be a sexual predator, report it to an adult.

DIGITAL DIVIDE

Gender

Socio Economic

Race

Resources Equity

Teacher Bias

GENDERDefinition: gap between men and women in reference to the amount

of time and knowledge available to effectively use digital information

and technology.

Issues: Women throughout history have had an issue with little

access to technology, media and communications. They seem to have

received less education, resources to become proficient with these

resources.

Results: As of today it would seem that although men had initiated

the cyber world, women's appearance on it has become the norm.

Although they still will be less familiar at some points with men's

understanding of video games increasing their technology abilities.

SOCIO ECONOMICS

Definition: The gap between low and high socio economic

families in relation to their access to online information.

Issues: Lack of funding that would support the technology and

research needs of students away from school. Low economic

homes lack the resources needed for students to be successful on

technology assignments outside of the classroom.

Statistics: 36% of families do not have at home access to

broadband resources.

RACE

Definition: The divide between different ethnic backgrounds in

reference to the access of digital media and technology.

Factors: Cultural differences (what they believe in ), experience

with technology (how much the provider is or was exposed to the

resources) , education (level of schooling in the household; the

more education was received the greater the chance of technology

in the household), occupation (what the career of the provider is;

does their job use the technology), and income (how much is

brought in yearly; although this factor is not as large as many

expect only accounting for 10-30% difference), language barriers.

RESOURCE EQUITY

Definition: The gap that causes a digital divide in reference to

ones ability to gather information with “user centered, barrier-

free, and format-independent access”.

Issues: Those who don’t have ease of access to information are

missing out on: educational opportunities, increasingly digital

work force and digital society.

Factors: World wide effort to support technology, involve

technology in all aspects of life, and make it major part of

classroom.

TEACHER BIAS

Definition: The divide between students in

reference to teachers providing different information

to their students. They are receiving one bit of

information from one teacher and a competing bit

from another.

Factors: teacher advocacy of technology,

availability to all students, unbiased forms of

presentations and assignments, and diversity.

TEACHER TIPS

Understand resources may not be available at home, find

another source of resources available to students outside of

school.

Consider diverse styles of teaching

Make presentations that appeal to all levels of technology

understanding.

Consider technological ability of all students

Develop tolerance for different digital expericences