TF-TL_Standard_06

Standard VI brings up questions about how technology will be used in the future, according to Williamson and Redish (2009), “It is difficult to predict how educators and students will use new technologies and what the consequences of those uses will be” (p. 123). This Standard is one I see and have to be aware of everyday at school. Working with a Technology class I have to be up to date on all of these issues social, ethical, legal, and human issues. If I miss on even one of these the consequences for my students or me could be great. Through this program and after reading about this Standard I have a new found respect for these issues. My old knowledge needs to be mixed with what I have learned, so I can fully implement this Standard in my everyday routine. Making sure I take into account social, ethical, legal, and human issues are important to me and were important as I implemented my field-based activities.
 * TF/TL Standard VI: Social, Ethical, Legal, and Human Issues **

As a learner though this program and from ideas in the Williamson and Redish text I have learned different programs that can have a positive effect on my classroom. One of these is the Wiki; I am able to do a lot of different things with Wiki’s in my classroom. Though Wiki’s I was able to show my students the correct way to use this Standard and implement it the correct way. The Pew Internet Project says “… of those 21 million online teens, 78% (or about 16 million students) say they use the internet at school” (Hitlin & Rainie, 2005, para. 3). Knowing this shows that students are on the internet and as a educator and a learner we need to make sure we use every advantage to educate our students. Wiki’s are a way for us to get our lessons to our students a different way but we need to keep Standard VI in mind so we are teaching the correct way. Sharing information as we go is the only way for all of us to use all the technology out there successfully for our students. Though a Wiki I was able to communicate with colleagues and find different ways to implement my field-based activities. I was as able to discuss the issue involved with Standard VI and find way of dealing with possible problems that might arise from the different technologies out there.

As a lifelong learner I know as technology changes, so to does this Standard and it is up to all educators to be up to date on these issues. One question or issue that troubles me now and will continue to get puzzling is Cyber Ethics. Kruger (2003), discusses students, along with their parents, have no idea about the right way to use another person’s materials. They believe if they can download it, they can use it and this is false (pp. 188-189). We need to make sure the legal use of materials is being followed and if we are using wikis for our students, we need to make sure that they do not just copy and paste works of other people. Through collaborations with colleagues this has impacted my learning experience because, so many people have dealt with social, ethical, legal, and human issues that I was able to learn from through discussions. It will be important in the future to have these discussions and communications, so everyone can stay up with the technology as it changes. Those are the issue that I see in the future, how well will we be able to keep up with the technology as it changes and make sure that Standard VI is followed. If we do not follow this Standard we are setting our students and ourselves up to fail.

** Reference ** Hitlin, P., & Rainie, L. (2005). The internet at school. Pew Internet and American Life Project. Retrieved on August 16, 2011, from []

Kruger, R. (2003). Discussing cyber ethics with students is critical. Social Studies, 94(4), 188- 189.

Williamson, J., & Redish, T. (2009). ISTE's technology facilitation and leadership standards: what every K-12 leader should know and be able to do. Eugene, Or: International Society for Technology in Education. Word Document: