We must be aware of the ethical concerns that arise from the usage of technology in education as well. We can better handle the most important ethical problems in classrooms or Online Learning Platforms if we are aware of them.
Technology in Education
Ethics have always been fundamental to developing a successful learning environment. We are accustomed to instructing pupils in ethics through examples that are based on moral principles, such as: here are the rules (don’t push); these are the justifications for the rules (don’t damage others).
Technology’s ubiquitous accessibility raises brand-new, difficult ethical dilemmas. Expert in educational technology Doug Johnson admits that using technology in the classroom can be quite disruptive. He contends that because children are not emotionally mature enough for these activities, our society has placed restrictions on what children can and cannot do (for instance, we can only vote at the age of 18). However, we force them into cyberspace without supervision in an effort to teach kids computer literacy. How can we expect kids to act morally online while keeping their identity disguised when we haven’t properly taught them how to act morally in everyday circumstances?
In fact, the Alliance for Childhood highlights how technological development is advancing more quickly than adults can comprehend the moral implications of its use. They discover that face-to-face encounters, which are sadly becoming less frequent as a result of screen time distractions, are crucial for children to learn ethics, particularly when they are in the formative stages of development. We can better grasp how to handle these difficulties if we take the time to comprehend the most significant ethical problems that are present in our classrooms.
Research ethics and academic integrity
It’s simple to access the internet in the Connected Age and download content, both legally and illegally. The distinction between what is free and what is copyrighted is even more hazy because of subscription sites that permit limitless downloading of movies, music, or games. In reality, some students believe that copying and pasting is acceptable even when their source material was “common knowledge” because it lacked an author.
A major ethical challenge Is plagiarism, particularly in the age of search engines that make it simple to locate any inquiry. The ease with which information is accessible also makes it simpler for students to create their own research and make-up sources. These incidences can be reduced by emphasizing the need to respect others’ intellectual property and how to properly cite sources. Additionally, requiring properly acknowledged references will aid in avoiding any falsified studies.
Electronic Communications While electronic communication between instructors and students can be beneficial, the distinction between personal and professional matters can become hazy. Keep all electronic correspondence professional, and caution students against mistaking their emails and texts for private correspondence. These messages can readily be made public, especially when utilizing company or school email systems.
Social media and online bullying
Facebook has 1.79 billion active members, 66% of whom log on daily, per their company information website. What an incredible amount! Facebook is being used by some educators to connect with students and facilitate group brainstorming or to share multimedia with pupils. For, your college created a Facebook page for your cohort, and while the goal was to connect students, this had unintended negative consequences because there were no rules for how the page should be used. One student started taking images of one other kid and putting them on the page, mocking him constantly. Cyberbullying was this practice of unpleasant action that was continued over time.
Confidentiality
Schools are gathering a lot of data about kids by using online forums, social media, and other online apps. When registering for new online services, teachers should abide by the Privacy Technical Assistance Center’s (PTAC) recommended practices. The contract for data usage and retention regulations should be reviewed, and they also recommend being open with kids and parents about the district’s information policy, including what information is being gathered and its intended use.
How to Address Ethical Problems in Technology?
Teachers are advised to use their best professional judgment when dealing with issues of technology-related ethics. We believe that recognizing these instances and talking about them will help teachers become more aware of new ethical dilemmas.
Teachers must explain technology regulations and the justifications behind them, in addition to highlighting ethically troubling circumstances (remember our earlier don’t push example?). To help students understand how technology may relate to and build upon their real-life activities and learning, emphasize how it can expand or enhance their learning.
Create limitations for what students may and cannot do while using a classroom computer, of course. For Florida Atlantic University’s computer network users, teachers created the Ten Commandments. The commandments include refraining from injuring others, snooping, using computers to commit theft, utilizing other people’s intellectual property without their permission, and being aware of the social repercussions of your online behavior.
Conclusion – We can’t ignore that technology is an essential part of our education system. So what we can do is put some limits to the access of some platforms for the students. E.g., social media. Many good online education platforms are actually created while considering these ethics. One of its examples is Tribetopper. Tribe Topper is an online learning platform that helps students prepare for exam preparations and improve their learning behaviors.