4.2 SAFE, HEALTHY, LEGAL, AND ETHICAL USE
Candidates model and facilitate the safe, healthy, legal, and ethical uses of digital information and technologies.
I created both the presentation and the paper while working on my Master's Degree. I researched the safe, healthy, legal, and ethical use of technology in education, and used the information I obtained to create these two artifacts.
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The Legal and Ethical Issues Presentation and the Ethics Paper artifacts demonstrate mastery of standard 4.2: candidates model and facilitate the safe, healthy, legal, and ethical uses of digital information and technologies.The presentation covers the responsibility of the teacher, the learner, and the parents. It also discusses copyright infringement and plagiarism. It also discusses the need for an acceptable use policy, and the importance of monitoring students' computer usage. The paper specifically discusses how to safeguard electronic resources, and how to keep our students safe when they are using the technology available to them. One important component of keeping students safe is modeling safe, healthy, legal, and ethical use of technology. One way I do this is by having students sign a technology code of conduct. The code of conduct specifically lays out what is expected of the students when they are using technology, especially the internet. After the students and their parents sign the contracts we go over them in depth in the classroom. I am able to discuss specific scenarios with them, and how to safely navigate those scenarios. While having this discussion I can pull up Fakebook on my computer and show students some examples of appropriate and inappropriate uses. This helps drive home for them what is expected. I can also model these expectations through my own technology use in the classroom everyday.
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Through creating these artifacts I learned the importance of ensuring that the technologies available are used in a safe, healthy, legal, and ethical way. I also learned more about the potential legal issues and dangers surrounding using digital information. Creating these artifacts drove home for me the importance of monitoring students' technology use, and of teaching the students and parents about the legal, ethical, and safety concerns of using technologies. One thing I would do to improve this artifact would be to go into more depth regarding copyright laws, and the penalties associated with infringing on those laws.
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The presentation that I created was delivered and discussed during a faculty meeting at my school. This had an impact on faculty development by informing the staff about these issues. Ensuring that the faculty knows about the safe, healthy, legal, and ethical issues of technology in education ensures that they are using the technologies in their classrooms correctly. The impact of this can be assessed by having the faculty complete a survey regarding what they learned from this staff meeting, and what, if anything, they will change as a result.