How Technology Can be Used in a Fair, Responsible and Inclusive Manner

Safe, legal and ethical use of digital information and technology:

We live in a world where technology is everywhere. Technology and digital information have never been more accessible to us than it is now. How ever when using this readily available information one must be sure to always give credit where credit is due. As future educators we need to encourage and promote safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology. This is important because our students are not just our students in the classroom. Our responsibility continues when they leave our classes. We need to teach them how to safely, legally and ethically use the vast amounts of information offered to them.

Digital etiquette and responsible social interactions:

Digital etiquette can be defined as “internet manners”, how a person should behave themselves in the internet. For example in various social interactions online WRITING THE WHOLE THING IN CAPS CAN LOOK LIKE YOU ARE YELLING, or a normal sarcastic and harmless comment can be taken seriously and personally; Causing hurt feelings, victimization, and bullying. There is no tone over the internet, no facial expressions. What you read is what you see, hear, visualize. We need to address this in the classroom to help avoid and possible stop potential bullies.

Meeting diverse needs of learners through learner-centered strategies and equitable access:

As an educator a large part of the job is finding a way to meet the diverse needs of each and every one of our learners. When I say diverse needs, I mean everything from special needs and learning disabilities to ethnic or cultural issues and/or differences

One way to do this is through student centered strategies that address the abilities, needs and the interests of the students. When addressing equitable access it is important that every student has an equal opportunity as needed to use digital tools and resources for learning through strategies such as grouping, rotation, and after school programs.

Global awareness and digital-age communication:

In today’s classrooms the amount of technology we can utilize is astounding. As teachers who have technology available we are at a great advantage. We can bring books to life, we can show up close and personal videos from around the world, we help paint pictures and inspire lives. We need to be fully aware of the huge impact that technology can have in our classroom. We need to use the technology to spread and teach about global awareness. As teachers we also have the responsibility to teach how we can and should effectively communicate in the digital age.  In a world where everything used to be face to face this new form of communication can be dramatic and sometimes less effective. However, the students we will be teaching are those who were born into this era, so there is a strong chance they will be not only comfortable with but fluent in digital age communication.

ISTE:

ISTE stands for The International Society for Technology in Education. This organizations mission is to improve learning and teaching by advancing the effective use of technology in PK-12 and teacher education. According to the standards, as teachers we need to.

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership