Safe, Legal, and Ethical Use Of Digital Information and Technology

             Children are growing up in a digital world, starting school with more and more knowledge of the internet and using it for various purposes. It would be ideal if these children came into the classroom, literate not only in the ways to operate technology, but how to use it properly (i.e. safely, legally and ethically). Unfortunately, this understanding is not necessarily introduced to students alongside their growing understanding and daily use of it in their homes. As an educator, there are multiple ways to teach and remind students how to properly use digital information and technology.

     Most schools already have locked inappropriate websites, some removing the access to questionable websites such as YouTube and Tumblr altogether. Although this allows for safe and professional use of school computers while students are in school, this does not limit the amount of technological freedom in the home. Safety while navigating the internet and using other technologies is a crucial component to teach while introducing it in the classroom, and helps to build student awareness outside the classroom. Internet safety not only includes the mental, emotional and physical well being of its users, but also the protection from viruses and guarding of vital information. Along with having serious discussions with students, teachers should hang up graphic organizers that post tips such as: “don’t use if” posters that list criteria for avoiding questionable material, “get help if” posters that discuss protocol to follow if they find themselves on a compromising situation, “don’t share if” for social media and inputting information onto websites and “site if” posters to avoid plagiarism.  Organizing this information in an easy -to -memorize format such as an acronym or a song is ideal, and it is important to highlight what applies to each assignment that includes the use of technology, and make sure students can always refer to these things while working outside the classroom.
            Even more than keeping students informed at all times of their responsibilities while working with digital information and technology is informing guardians of things to be careful of. Monitoring the use of phones, tablets and computers in the home is only the first step. Parents need to know that they can also block their children from harmful content on the internet, and talk to their children regularly about using their technologies properly. The responsibility falls on the shoulders of teachers and parents collaboratively to maintain safe, legal and ethical practices while using technology and digital information.