Understanding Issues in Implementing Technology in the Classroom Legal, Ethical, Social, and Human Issues National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers, VI

Linn/UCA/July Issues in Implementing Technology in the Classroom Legal Ethical Social Human

Linn/UCA/July Legal Issues Copyright and Fair Use Laws protect interests of those who own creative works—text, music, artwork, software, or any other creative product Privacy Parents must give permission to share any information about his/her child to which a teacher might be privy as a result of his/her position as a teacher. Includes names, addresses, phone numbers, photographs, grades, discipline reports, and information about their families For more information, see

Linn/UCA/July Legal Issues cont. Acceptable Use District policy to help ensure that school technology is used appropriately and for academic purposes Repeated and purposeful inappropriate usage of school network is grounds for disciplinary action and/or dismissal Software Piracy Copying software to share or installing software on multiple machines when only one copy was purchased Violates copyright laws Teachers who knowingly allow students to pirate software are allowing illegal activities

Linn/UCA/July Ethical Issues Freedom of Speech Internet content is not regulated and does contain objectionable and inappropriate materials for children Privacy Privacy vs. control and monitoring Safety of children is primary responsibility Academic Dishonesty Technology made cheating and plagiarism easier to do and harder to detect Antiplagiarism software compares student’s work with well-known authors’ work and work posted on the web

Linn/UCA/July Social Issues The Digital Divide Equity and Accessibility of Technology Occurs along socioeconomic, ethnic, gender, and educational lines Affects technology literacy at every level of education Help is available for schools Federal Commerce Commission offers discounted costs for community access centers (schools and libraries) Private foundations donate computers to libraries in rural communities (EX: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)

Linn/UCA/July Human Issues Fear of the unknown and online security failures Pre-conceived ideas of usefulness or value Lack of motivation (too difficult to learn) Lack of support or training

Linn/UCA/July Think about it... Teachers must be aware of issues as they relate to technology in the classroom. Teachers must create a classroom climate that fosters respect for ethics, fairness, and the law as they implement technology. When faced with questions regarding use of technology in the classroom, contact the school’s media specialist, technology coordinator, or a school administrator.