Inside the Classroom: Ethics and Technologies - Essay Example

When computers are properly utilized, they can be good tools for education, as well as an investment. Every day, schools, as well as teachers and students, are reliant on computers in the performance of everyday activities. Teachers can use them in recording student grades, as well as the reception and sending of mail. The individual can use them to create, store, and manage critical information. Therefore, they must be protected from loss, misuse, and damage. For instance, school districts are expected to ensure that a student’s information regarding learning problems, grades, attendance rates, and personal data is protected from loss and maintains confidentiality (Barcalow et al 1).

While the use of the internet has significantly revolutionized communication, as well as provided new educational tools for student learning, it has also come with risks and raised ethical issues for all students in different grades (Sandler 1). This has also made for various opportunities for illegal and inappropriate behavior, as well as behaviors that are deemed unsafe for the students. More K-12 educators, progressively, have come to appreciate the urge and importance of utilizing the internet for instructions, as well as teaching and familiarizing the students with the knowledge and critical thinking skills required for the production of responsible citizens in and out of school.

Some school districts have successfully completed the incorporation of internet safety and security lessons into their curricular, in preparing students from every grade for responsible and ethical behavior when operating online. I would proceed to implement security by teaching students to raise questions on the reliability and authenticity of websites that they access (Sandler 1). The learners need to be provided, as well as permitted to utilize specific websites for research purposes. Additionally, the students need to be provided by a protocol set for which they are required to follow if something that they find appropriate appears on the computer screen.

I would encourage the implementation of web usage education immediately the learners begin using computer technology. Learners and students in the first two grades need to be taught to on application and use of passwords and why this needs to be kept secret. I would also create copyrights with students using agreements in the classroom, as well as parents signing acceptable policies for use that regulate the use of technology in school. The usage of the web would incorporate acceptable policies of use that need to be the first line of defense in order to avert unlawful and insecure use of technology resources in the school (Conway 1).

The technology policy must be reliable with in comparison with policies used for other resources that relate to the school, replicating the school’s goals and mission. Three ethical practices would be implemented in the classroom. For one, it would be essential to solicit parent involvement. Not only the learners and tutors will be targeted by internet safety and security education (Vance 1). It is important for school districts to hold, at schools, internet safety rights for both students and parents.

The parents need to be involved in websites that are frequented by students as part of the lessons on internet safety and security. The parents will be given a chance to air questions that may give them increased information on the websites that will be visited by their children (Vance 1).