Activity 9: Digital Citizenship

Discuss the possible ethical issues involved in two of the scenarios.

SCENARIO 2 - In scenario 2 Mr. Kirk started using technology before setting up a Code of Conduct with his students. He was excited to get started with Google Classroom, but the students "got ahead" of him and were spending more time off task than on, bullying each other, and being inappropriate. As a response, Mr. Kirk pulled way back and suspended all technology use in his classroom. This is not unlike what happened to us at Pinewood last year. We got chromebooks and were very excited and encouraged to get started immediately. Since we had not taken THIS class yet, it took about 2 weeks and our students blasted ahead of us, and we had some of the same difficulties that Mr. Kirk did in this scenario. We pulled way back too!

I think the importance of establishing a Code of Conduct should not be underestimated. The students are extremely tech savvy - more than me! This year, I am going to stay ahead of my students. A Code of Conduct will be established BEFORE anything is taught using the chromebooks. I also plan on talking and teaching the parents about how I am going to use the chromebooks in the classroom. Last year was a learning experience because I was figuring out how to do things on the fly and in the trenches so to speak. I feel like THIS class has taught me how to stay ahead of my students - maybe.

SCENARIO 4 - In scenario 4 Mrs. Janeway discovers that the app she is using with her students requires a parental permission for students under 13. I need to be careful about this because I teach 4th grade and ALL my students are under 13. Using apps with students without doing your homework is not responsible teaching. In Mrs. Janeway's defense however, I was unaware before taking THIS class that this was a concern. I'm glad that I have become enlightened.

Determine if the safety or well-being of anyone is in jeopardy.

Safety can be threatened when cyberbullying topics are not addressed with students.  Google Classroom comments that are inappropriate like in scenario 2 can cause real-life bullying and hurt feelings.  As we have seen in the news and media, students can be just as affected, if not more affected psychologically from internet bullying as real life bullying.  Unfortunately, people will say things on-line that they would NEVER say to a person's face.  The "anonymity" of typing comments rather than saying them can be dangerous.  A good rule is never to write anything on-line that is not respectful and kind.  Students should be taught to ask themselves if their parents and grandparents would be proud of their on-line writing.

What advice, strategy, or policy would you recommend to individuals or schools based on these scenarios?

Teachers need to be taught about digital citizenship too!  This type of class should actually be required of teachers BEFORE they embark on technology in the classroom.  Getting the chromebooks last year was exciting and changed how I taught.  But I was such a novice when I started, that mistakes happened around digital citizenship.  Luckily nothing too bad!  In Moundsview, we had a PLC meeting concerning chromebook issues monthly.  This support was absolutely necessary as well.

How can the Mounds View Resources help to implement high quality instructional practices with with technology?

At Pinewood, we hired a technology support specialist to work in our building last year.  This support along with classes like this one helps teachers to implement high quality instructional practices with technology.  Three out of four of the teachers in my 4th grade team are taking this class, and we will be a support to the one who is not.  Will the monthly PLC with chromebooks continue next year even though we are in "phase 2" now?  Those meetings really helped us with the concerns and celebrations we were experiencing with technology in the classroom.

What is 1 procedure that you can implement in your class and what is one that you would like to implement in your whole PLC or whole building?

I will be developing a Code of Conduct in the classroom right away at the beginning of the year.  I think developing this with my 4th grade PLC would be beneficial because the other teachers may think of things I did not.  With this procedure in place at the beginning of the year, the expectations will be super clear BEFORE rules are broken.  Also, the consequences for not following the Code of Contact can be clear for students.  This is probably the most important procedure because it affects every aspect of technology use in the classroom.

I will also talk with parents at Parent Information Night more intelligently this year about chromebook use in the classroom.  I plan to have them complete the Google Form I created in activity 8 to introduce them to the types of assignments students will be exposed to during 4th grade.  I will talk about the Code of Conduct and encourage parents to establish something like this at home as well.  As students get more comfortable with technology at school, the home computer can become an unregulated playground.  If students can blast ahead of the teacher in a couple weeks, they are going to be way ahead of their parents (especially uninformed parents) in seconds.  Learning about the pitfalls of technology will help students, parents, and teachers safely experience the enormous benefits of using chromebooks in the classroom.  Technology has a powerful potential to promote learning, let's teach students to use it wisely.