Ethical Issues to Consider

So, you've done your research, and you're ready to integrate some new technology in the classroom. Fantastic! Before you hit the ground running, here are a few important things to consider:

If you're going to use social networking and gaming in your classroom, make sure you also carve out time to reinforce digital responsibility and citizenship skills as well. Literacy is important, but so is digital literacy. This includes teaching students how to:

  1. Protect and maintain their privacy

  2. Locate reliable sources of information

  3. Avoid plagiarism and cite sources

  4. Circumvent and/or report incidents involving cyberbullying

  5. Ask questions and engage in meaningful discussion

  6. Make contributions to the community and society


Common Sense Media

K-12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum

Be Internet Awesome

Digital Citizenship/Safety Game and Curriculum

If you teach with movies, you need to check out this website! It is full of great ideas that will help you show movies in an ethical manner while enhancing the learning experience for your students. It has lesson plans and printable resources!

Check out The Educator's Guide to Social Media

This guide contains helpful information covering the following topics:

  1. Appropriate use

  2. Protecting your privacy

  3. Interacting with students

  4. Protecting student privacy

  5. Interacting with parents and colleagues

  6. Teaching students about safety, privacy, and digital literacy

  7. Social media myths

  8. Protecting yourself against harassment

  9. Abusive/dangerous student content

  10. Professional learning

  11. Building a PLN

  12. Sharing/finding articles, resources, and media

  13. Using social media in the classroom

  14. Connecting with experts

  15. Student-produced media

  16. Live video and parental permission

(Malid & Gallagher, 2015)