As digital technology is growing in today’s modern society, many ethical, legal and social issues have been raised. Sembok (2003) suggests that rights are being violated every day, creating problems in social systems including cybercrime, digital security and privacy concerns.
Johnson (1999) explains actions as "ethical" that do one or more of the following:
- promote the general health of society
- maintain or increase individual rights and freedoms
- protect individuals from harm
- treat all human beings as having an inherent value and accord those beings respect
- uphold religious, social, cultural, and government laws and more
As students are increasingly using computers more and more, whether it is in school or at home, we as teachers need to ensure the students are safe. As teachers we should make realistic efforts to insure that students will not be exposed to any defamatory, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, racially offensive, harassing, or illegal material while using the Internet (Bates, Engle, Halasi-Kun, Kiaschko, Mickley, Norman, and Norman n.d).
The internet allows students to share content with a large audience worldwide and have to protect the students from who they are sharing their information with. Cyber safety is important in schools and ensuring cyber safe behaviours are carried out. More information on Cyber safety can be read on the ACMA Cybersmart website www.cybersmart.gov.au/schools.aspx.
Teachers and students should not post any images or information of students or colleagues without explicit permission. Some suggestions for maintaining privacy include:
- Do not reveal the personal addresses or telephone numbers of students or colleagues.
- Recognize that e-mail is not private.
- Do not use other users' accounts or passwords.
- Don't post information that is untrue about others individuals.
(Bates, Engle, Halasi-Kun, Kiaschko, Mickley, Norman, and Norman n.d).
Copyright and piracy laws are something that students as well as teacher need to be aware of. There are different ways to access information.
The Public domain - Some software is free to use, copy, and/or change, but only do so if there is written notice that the software is in the public domain. Look for this notice in the “read me” files that accompany programs.
General Public License - GPL software has the same restrictions as public domain software, but cannot be sold for profit.
Shareware - Using shareware programs is free, but it is illegal to copy or modify them without permission since they are copyrighted. Most shareware programs are really trial versions of the software, which must be paid for after the trial period has expired.
The Public domain - Some software is free to use, copy, and/or change, but only do so if there is written notice that the software is in the public domain. Look for this notice in the “read me” files that accompany programs.
General Public License - GPL software has the same restrictions as public domain software, but cannot be sold for profit.
Shareware - Using shareware programs is free, but it is illegal to copy or modify them without permission since they are copyrighted. Most shareware programs are really trial versions of the software, which must be paid for after the trial period has expired.
More ethical information about Information Technology Communication can be seen at http://education.qld.gov.au/strategic/eppr/ict/index.html.
References
Australian government (n.d) ACMA Common Cyber Safety Issues pg1-11. Retrieved on 9th April 2001 from http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/
Bates. J, Engle. B, Halasi-Kun G, Kiaschko. J, Mickley. T, Norman. J and Norman. L (n.d) Code of Computer Ethics for Educators. University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign. Retrieved on 9th April 2011 from: http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/mickley/ethicsnew.htm
Johnson, D (copyright 1999) Teaching Students Right from Wrong in the Digital Age. Retrieved on 9th April 2011 from: http://www.bgsu.edu/downloads/cio/file17752.pdf
Sembok, T.M (2003) Ethics of Information Communication Technology (ICT) pg 1-15.
Bangkok. Retrieved on 10th April 2011 from: http://www2.unescobkk.org/elib/publications/ethic_in_asia_pacific/239_325ETHICS.PDF
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