Activity 10: Ethical dilemma
Introduction
The ethical dilemma that I would like to explore that is potentially relevant in my teaching and learning setting is an idea around the use of social networking in the classroom. My previous blog posts that talk about the use of social networking in class to access different experts and engage students sets up the scene for an ethical dilemma.
As a primary school teacher my students are deemed too young to hold personal twitter accounts by the terms and conditions outlined in the service agreement (Twitter 2015). I think there is still potential for me to set up a class twitter account that abides by the cybersafety policy of the school. This gives students the opportunity to gain access to this social networking tool. The use of twitter in this way offers potential for the students to be connected with the global community and we can look at creating lists and accessing experts relevant to our current inquiry themes and areas of interest.
Ethical dilemma
Becoming aware of students in my class that have set up personal twitter accounts through exposure to twitter because of our class account.
The ethical dilemma I could face is one or more of my students may set up their own twitter accounts because they have been motivated and exposed to the use of this technology in my class class. I think that if I am to become aware of a student setting up their own account because they either let me know, or choose to follow our class account. I would be faced with an ethical dilemma. What do I do about students using social networking outside the terms and conditions of use? Have they chosen to do this because my enthusiasm for social networking?
Resolution of the ethical dilemma
Initial consultation with whanau
Personally, I think that consultation with the class community from the initial setup of the twitter account is the best approach. being open and honest with both the parents, whanau and students about what twitter is being used for, and the conditions under which it operates will be helpful. My hope is that open communication will let student know what and why we are using twitter, and how they can benefit without their own account.
Open honest three way conference
If the students do set up their account and I become aware of it then I feel that I would need to discuss the issue with the parents. At my first awareness of this I would let my principal know about the issue and discuss the next step forward. I would have an informal chat with the student about the account that have set up, their motivation behind it and how whether or not their parents are aware of the account. With this background information I feel that my next step would be to make contact with the whanau of the student to discuss what has happened, the reasons behind and how the parent would like to proceed as it is ultimately their decision as the caregiver of the child, the school access has given them the potential to access this. I feel that this decision would be based on the context of the child and the parent relationship. I think the parents should have the password for the twitter account to access at any time to monitor student use at home. As it is technically breaking the terms of the contract then I would ask that the use of twitter in the school setting, is in accordance with the cybersafety policy and limited to the class use, although the student could discuss with the class tweets or followers of interest.
References
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