I would like to take the chance to address some concerns with the use of technology in the classroom (and at home, for class assignments), with regards to student safety. I want to ensure that every student feels that their privacy, access, and safety are ensured as we rely on technology for many aspects of our classroom. For more information on the types of online software and services we use throughout the school year, please see the Technology Use page.
Technology and internet use continues to grow; as a consequence, the need for technical fluency in our children grows stronger ("Science, Technology,", n.d.). To address this need, the US Department of Education has implemented and funded a mission to strengthen skills and fluency in all STEM fields in the classroom ("Science, Technology,", n.d.). Thus, as educators work to integrate technology into the classroom, we must also implement policies that ensure digital safety, privacy, access, and accessibility for all students.
In the classroom, STEM practices that reflect authentic, challenging tasks should be integrated (Singh & Means, n.d.). That is, core activities in the curriculum should incorporate technology: investigating a science phenomenon online, examining mathematical patterns through computer modeling, or designing products through a 3D program. Students should gain experience solving a wide variety of problems with a toolbox of technological tools (Singh & Means, n.d.). By doing so, they can practice selecting the particular tool they need to use to complete future tasks. These practices build STEM fluency that will be vital in a future career (Singh & Means, n.d.).
In our classroom, a variety of technological tools will be used to solve math and science challenges. For example, one final unit project requires students to gather data about a “real-life math function” in a table and graph. Then, they must represent it with an equation, using a program like Google Sheets. This reflects the Unit Goal (to understand relationships between values in functions, and to represent them in tables, graphs, equations, and words), and shows how valuable technology is as a tool for understanding functions.
To begin, I would like to review the Class Policies we have on Technology Use in the classroom.
Students will not be allowed to use phones, iPads, laptops, Chromebooks, or other smart devices in class without explicit permission. Any of these devices in use without permission will be confiscated, and must be picked up by a guardian.
Students will have access to computers in the library, as well as Chromebooks in the classroom when appropriate. Students will not be allowed to bring their own laptops and Chromebooks to school.
Students will sign in to use school Chromebooks using their school Gmail accounts. Once logged in, students must follow school-wide Online Guidelines. These guidelines can be found in the Student Handbook:
All students whose parents have signed an “Acceptable Use Contract” will have access to the Internet both in their classrooms and the media center. STRICTLY FORBIDDEN: use of chatrooms, private messaging, visits to inappropriate sites. Use of technology and the internet is allowed for school-related, teacher-directed activities only.
As a class, we will take several steps to ensure student safety online.
Technology and internet use continues to grow, and students must strengthen skills and fluency in all STEM fields in the classroom ("Science, Technology,", n.d.). Thus, our curriculum will integrate technology into the classroom, while implementing policies that ensure digital safety, access, and accessibility for all students.
Students will be allowed to use school Chromebooks while on campus, as well as library computers. In order to complete work at home, students who do not have access to a computer and reliable internet will be able to loan a Chromebook and router for school use for the duration of the school year.
All digital lessons will be made accessible to all students' needs. Modifications will be provided upon request, such as colorblind-friendly palettes, captions for videos, text describing non-text elements, all assignments accessible through a keyboard/other assistive technology, or any other modifications required (Anderson, 2011).
In the first week of class, before we begin using Chromebooks in the classroom, our class will learn about Digital Citizenship.
Digital citizenship is the continuously developing norms of appropriate, responsible, and empowered technology use (Ribble, n.d.).
Digital Citizenship encompasses three guiding principles (Ribble, n.d.):
Safety - Protecting Digital Citizens
Under this principle, students must understand how the information they share and spread online can be used in ways it was not intended for. Protecting your information online is key to protecting yourself and others.
Savvy - Creating Educated Digital Citizens
Under this principle, students gain the fluency and skills to use technological tools to maximize learning potential. Educating yourself and others on how technology is changing and developing is key to making good judgements online.
Social - Respecting Yourself as a Digital Citizen
Under this principle, students must recognize that with the seemingly limitless potential for interactions online, we must use our Digital Citizenship a cooperatively and responsibly. Cyberbullying, viewing and posting inappropriate content, and plagiarism reflect disrespectful citizenship (Willard, n.d.).
With this framework, students will gain an understanding of their role in the Digital world: one where they can stay vigilant, current, and respectful of others. We will cover topics like privacy of information, intellectual property and copyright policies, and cyberbullying. Throughout the school year, students will have the chance to practice following the three S's of Digital Citizenship.
I want to ensure that my students’ data privacy is secure. According to Duncan (2014), "personal data in education should be used only for educational purposes, not to sell students snack foods or video games." To ensure that student data is not exploited, I want to check the kind of information that each online service collects about students (Protecting Student Privacy, n.d.). In addition, I want to ensure that the data that is collected is not used for promotional purposes, or for selling to a third party (Protecting Student Privacy, n.d.). I have personally investigated the Privacy Policy for students using Nearpod, Khan Academy, Dreambox, Zoom, and the G Suite for Education (Google accounts).
In the case of Nearpod, Khan Academy, and Dreambox, student information (name, age, grade, and their work with each site) is used for education purposes only: tailoring the service to their work, or improving the service itself. Nearpod doesn’t require students to log in, but students use their school accounts (Google accounts) to sign up for Khan Academy and Dreambox.
In the case of Google accounts, information like internet use, location, and more is recorded. I believe that since no Student Records besides name, age, grade, and Classroom scores and activity are recorded, and since students are likely to be using Google accounts anyway, there is no additional harm to be using Google accounts.
Lastly, Zoom uses user information for promotional information, but does not require students to create an account, or to provide any Student Record information to use the service.
In summary, I believe that the ways in which students will be using these online services will respect their privacy.