UnderstandingIssues in Implementing

Technology in the Classroom

Legal, Ethical, Social, and Human Issues

National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers, VI

Linn/UCA/July 2006 2

Issues in Implementing Technology in the

Classroom

LegalEthical

SocialHuman

Linn/UCA/July 2006 3

Legal Issues Copyright and Fair Use

Laws protect interests of those who own creative works—text, music, artwork, software, or any other creative product

Privacy Parents must give permission to share any

information about his/her child to which a teacher might be privy as a result of his/her position as a teacher.

Includes names, addresses, phone numbers, photographs, grades, discipline reports, and information about their families

For more information, see www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/kidzprivacy

Linn/UCA/July 2006 4

Legal Issues cont. Acceptable Use

District policy to help ensure that school technology is used appropriately and for academic purposes

Repeated and purposeful inappropriate usage of school network is grounds for disciplinary action and/or dismissal

Software Piracy Copying software to share or installing

software on multiple machines when only one copy was purchased

Violates copyright laws Teachers who knowingly allow students to

pirate software are allowing illegal activities

Linn/UCA/July 2006 5

Ethical Issues Freedom of Speech

Internet content is not regulated and does contain objectionable and inappropriate materials for children

Privacy Privacy vs. control and monitoring Safety of children is primary responsibility

Academic Dishonesty Technology made cheating and plagiarism

easier to do and harder to detect

Antiplagiarism software compares student’s work with well-known authors’ work and work posted on the web

Linn/UCA/July 2006 6

Social Issues The Digital Divide

Equity and Accessibility of Technology Occurs along socioeconomic, ethnic, gender,

and educational lines Affects technology literacy at every level of

education Help is available for schools

Federal Commerce Commission offers discounted costs for community access centers (schools and libraries)

Private foundations donate computers to libraries in rural communities (EX: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)

Linn/UCA/July 2006 7

Human Issues

Fear of the unknown and online security failures

Pre-conceived ideas of usefulness or value

Lack of motivation (too difficult to learn)

Lack of support or training

Linn/UCA/July 2006 8

Think about it . . .

Teachers must be aware of issues as they relate to technology in the classroom.

Teachers must create a classroom climate that fosters respect for ethics, fairness, and the law as they implement technology.

When faced with questions regarding use of technology in the classroom, contact the school’s media specialist, technology coordinator, or a school administrator.