ProEthica Module 6 – The Professional Educator and Technology ✓ Solved

Question 1: A vice principal, Mr. Chiaro, is new to the school and district. He has noticed that teachers and other administrators very freely e-mail information about students to each other, to parents, and even to outside parties. It is a very small district and town where most people know each other, and no one has ever opposed this practice. Which of the following should Mr. Chiaro do? Allow the practice to continue since everyone is in agreement and there have been no problems in the past. Advocate for the creation of new procedures and guidelines that may assist educational practitioners as they make decisions regarding the responsible use of students' confidential information. Restrict any further communication about students via e-mail and require teachers to attend a class about proper email use.

Question 2: To illustrate a point about user-interface design, the computer club instructor, Dr. Clayfin, briefly showed a view of her e-mail in-box on the classroom display. Dr. Clayfin didn't notice that a couple of students in the room became intrigued by the name and the gaming-related avatar of one her e-mail contacts. Later, the students used the information to look up the individual online and began contacting the person. Which of the following ethical principles did Dr. Clayfin's actions most clearly put at risk? Ensuring that the rights of third parties are not violated via the use of technologies, being vigilant in identifying, addressing, and reporting inappropriate materials/images in electronic or other forms, promoting technological applications that are appropriate for students' individual needs.

Question 3: Before her psychology class begins, Dr. Anita Davis notices that one of her students, Beth, and some of Beth's friends are intently looking at Beth's smartphone. Dr. Davis learns from the group that an adult male has been messaging Beth on social media, asking her to meet him. Beth and the others tell Dr. Davis that they think the man is "gross" and that Beth plans to ignore the requests completely. Which of the following ethical principles should most clearly be guiding Dr. Davis in deciding whether she, as an educator, needs to take action in response to the texts being sent from an adult to a minor? Monitor and/or appropriately report information about possible cyberbullying incidents; respect student privacy online unless there is evidence of a risk of harm to the student; keep in mind that multiple relationships might impair objectivity and harm students' learning.

Question 4: Jamie Golff, a math teacher, has noticed many of her students playing interactive games on their smartphones during lunch. Which of the following actions by the teacher best supports the use of technology in educational settings by promoting technological applications that enhance the teaching and learning process? Downloading the games that students are interested in and playing along with them; having students create a class list of their favorite games and posting it on the board; giving students a list of educational games they can download to practice math skills.

Question 5: A science teacher, Mr. Clark, learned that one of his male students, Kyle, sent an unsolicited text message containing sexually explicit images of himself to a female student, Marci. Which of the following actions will best help Mr. Clark ensure Marci's safety and welfare? Telling Kyle that his actions are inappropriate and making him promise not to do it again; informing school administrators that a student may have shared inappropriate images with another student; asking Marci to forward the text to school administrators so that an investigation can begin.

Question 6: A fifth-grade science teacher, Darnell Mathis, has noticed that one of his students, Aaron, uses a popular photo editor on his smartphone to make humorous alterations to photographs of other students. Aaron adds cartoon noses, hats, beards, and other images to the photos. Other students enjoy seeing these images. Although the behavior does not disrupt class, Mr. Mathis carefully monitors Aaron's photo editing activities and their effects on other students. Mr. Mathis' actions are most clearly aligned with which of the following ethical principles for educators? Be vigilant in identifying, addressing, and reporting inappropriate images in electronic form; understand how to recognize and prevent plagiarism by students and educators; stay abreast of current trends and uses of school technology.

Question 7: Ms. Bilson leaves her teaching position in a school district and takes a job at a local for-profit educational company as a tutor. Since Ms. Bilson tutors many students in the district, she asks her former colleagues to e-mail student records to her for help in assessing the students. The teachers who are contacted by Ms. Bilson should do which of the following? Email Ms. Bilson all the documents required to best help the students; ask the students' parents for consent and then send the documents via e-mail; encourage Ms. Bilson to contact the district office for guidance in this matter.

Question 8: Ms. Kline is the principal at a middle school. The parents of Ms. Kline's student Kate meet with Ms. Kline to express their concern that Kate is being bullied on social media by her classmate Sally. Kate's parents tell Ms. Kline that Kate feels unsafe in her classroom, and they show Ms. Kline screenshots of bullying comments that Sally has made to Kate. When Ms. Kline meets with Sally to discuss the bullying, Sally says that Ms. Kline can't do anything about it because it did not happen at school. Sally's response demonstrates that she is not aware that Ms. Kline is responsible for monitoring all of her students' social media activities; Ms. Kline has an obligation to address online bullying that is affecting Sally's life at school; Ms. Kline was once bullied as a child, so she takes bullying very seriously.

Question 9: Ms. Langston is a popular teacher at Norton High. Tom, a student in her honors English class, learns her phone number by peeking at papers on her desk and sends her a text message about a homework assignment. Ms. Langston does not reply. The next day Tom asks why she "coldly ignored" a question about a homework assignment. Ms. Langston's choice not to reply to the text message shows that she is aware that she should not communicate with students through an unmonitored technology; Tom is trying to bait her into giving away answers to homework assignments; students should not, under any circumstances, text a teacher.

Question 10: Which of the following uses of electronic communications technology best exemplifies an educator's failure to maintain a separation between his or her personal and professional lives? Sharing vacation photos with department staff over school e-mail; sending a virtual birthday card to a colleague over school e-mail; complaining about a school policy to a colleague over personal e-mail.

Question 11: Ms. Battakuri, a chemistry teacher, realizes that one of her students, Mika, has left a valuable personal item in the classroom at the end of the school day. Ms. Battakuri asks Mika's friend Anna for Mika's personal cell phone number and sends Mika a text alerting her about the forgotten item. The principal learns of the incident and reminds Ms. Battakuri that teachers are not permitted to send text messages directly to students. Which of the following would be the least appropriate for Ms. Battakuri to use as an excuse for sending the text message? "She has never left things behind before, so I wanted to check if she was OK." "I had no idea this way of communicating with students was not allowed." "But it was the quickest way to get in touch with Mika before she went home!"

Question 12: The principal of a middle school is considering a proposal to provide each student with a laptop. Some parents have expressed concern that the new initiative may in fact reduce learning by giving their children too much access to games and online entertainment. Which of the following responses by the principal would work best to allay parents' fears? Pointing to published studies that confirm the distractions are minor compared with the benefits; arguing that most students already have access to the Internet through their smartphones; promising that adjustments to the program can be made in the future if problems arise.

Paper For Above Instructions

The relationship between technology and education is increasingly complex, with ethical considerations playing a crucial role in how educators interact with their students and manage information. This paper will explore key ethical dilemmas faced by educators in various scenarios, as illustrated by the questions provided in ProEthica Module 6.

In the first scenario, we consider the case of Mr. Chiaro, a new vice principal who encounters a common yet sensitive practice of freely sharing student information via email among educators and parents in a small district. Despite the absence of prior issues, Mr. Chiaro must advocate for the creation of procedures that align with ethical standards for confidentiality. Educators are ethically obligated to protect students' personal information, emphasizing the need for guidelines in handling such data. According to the National Education Association (2015), confidentiality is a cornerstone of ethical responsibility in education.

The next scenario, involving Dr. Clayfin's inadvertently exposing a personal contact's details, highlights the ethical principle concerning the rights of third parties. Educators must be vigilant about their digital footprints and the potential impacts on students. As noted by Hootsuite (2021), the nature of online interactions can lead to unintended consequences that may breach privacy rights if not managed carefully.

Dr. Davis's encounter with Beth, who is being messaged by an adult male, underscores another ethical dilemma: the balance between student privacy and the need to act when a potential risk is detected. Educators must monitor possible harassment cases, particularly those involving minors, while simultaneously respecting students’ need for privacy. As per the American Psychological Association (2019), the duty to protect students often overrides the obligation to maintain confidentiality in suspected abuse situations.

In the case of Jamie Golff, the use of technology to support learning is represented by a proactive approach to students' interests in gaming. Providing students with a list of educational resources helps bridge entertainment and education, as research suggests that gamification can enhance learning outcomes (Gunter, Gunter, & Scriven, 2013). Whereas purely playing games might not contribute to educational goals, guiding students to relevant educational applications opens a pathway for constructive learning.

Mr. Clark's situation, involving explicit content sharing among students, illustrates the proactive measures required to protect student welfare. In this scenario, communicating with school administrators is essential to address such serious issues effectively. Educators must prioritize the safety and well-being of students over maintaining informal peer-like relationships in their interactions (Levine, 2017).

Similarly, Darnell Mathis's careful monitoring of Aaron's photo editing shows an ethical commitment to ensuring that digital interactions are respectful and appropriate. Recognizing and addressing potentially harmful digital behavior among students is critical to fostering a safe educational environment (Smith, 2020).

Transitioning from an educator to a private tutor, Ms. Bilson's request for student records raises significant ethical concerns about confidentiality and parental consent. It is imperative for educators to seek explicit permissions before sharing any sensitive information, adhering to privacy laws like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (Family Policy Compliance Office, 2020).

Ms. Kline's response to bullying is another ethical responsibility of educators. Social media harassment can severely impact a student's mental health and learning environment. Consequently, it is necessary for school leaders to take action, regardless of whether bullying occurs offline. Addressing these incidents with seriousness is crucial to ensuring a safe school atmosphere (Rivers & Noret, 2010).

The case of Ms. Langston emphasizes the need for maintaining a firm boundary in communication with students. Her decision to refrain from engaging in texting demonstrates an understanding of professional ethics and the necessity to avoid unmonitored communications, thereby protecting both student and teacher in the educational space (Wong, 2021).

Ethical dilemmas, such as those faced by the educators in this module, reflect the increasingly intertwined nature of education and technology. The challenges range from the appropriate use of electronic communication to the necessity of confidentiality while ensuring student safety. Educators must navigate these obstacles with a commitment to upholding ethical standards and promoting a safe learning environment for their students.

References

• American Psychological Association. (2019). Guidelines for Psychologists in Schools. APA.
• Family Policy Compliance Office. (2020). Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). U.S. Department of Education.
• Gunter, R. E., Gunter, G. A., & Scriven, R. (2013). Thinking Critically About Research on Teaching and Learning. Pearson Education.
• Hootsuite. (2021). Privacy and Security in Digital Communications. Hootsuite Blog.
• Levine, A. (2017). Educators' Ethical Codes: The Importance of Professional Boundaries. Educational Leadership Review.
• Rivers, I., & Noret, N. (2010). Cumulative and Long-term Effects of Bullying on Psychological Distress in Children. Psychological Medicine, 40(1), 59-66.
• Smith, P. K. (2020). Cyberbullying: An Educator's Guide. Routledge.
• Wong, J. (2021). The Importance of Maintaining Boundaries in Teacher-Student Relationships. Education & Training, 63(2), 234-240.