PERSONAL FRAMEWORK: ETHICS OF TECHNOLOGY USE 1

Personal Framework: Ethics of Technology Use

Shannon P Manzella
Concordia University Chicago

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Technology has become such a huge part of daily life. It has become a gift and a curse.
Teachers can use technology to improve teaching within the classrooms, however, technology
can also become a distraction to the classroom. Computerized notes and projected
PowerPoints can make learning faster and more convenient. However, if every student was on
a laptop they could easily get distracted from social media or gaming websites. There are four
main issues that teachers should be wary of when considering technology in the classroom.
These are the social, educational, cultural/equity, and legal issues. I will be exploring all four of
these issues in depth and the ethical use of each.
Social Issues
Technology is rapidly expanding through social media. Facebook, twitter and tumblr are
growing more every day with new and younger members. The new generation is growing
accustom to IMs and computer-to-computer communication. It seems that these children are
constantly plugged in and indoors. Instead of going outside to play with friends, these children
are sitting in front of a computer or TV gaming with their friends (Renee). This is creating an
unhealthy generation who are faced with obesity problems at very young ages. Mrs. Renee
claims that technology is becoming the death of manners (Renee). After my own experience
with younger siblings and working with children, I would have to say I agree.
John Deweys social activism theory was a revolutionary idea that social consciousness
was the goal of education and learning grew forth from social interactions (Roblyer 41). If he
were alive today, he would be appalled by the small amount of face to face interaction that is
present within classrooms today. Teachers and students are quickly becoming more involved
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with technology both inside and outside the classroom. Technology has shaped learning to be a
more virtual experience, while Dewey believed learning should be hands-on and shaped by
experience (Roblyer 41). I do believe that technology is useful and important, but it is simply a
tool and we must not categorize it above social interaction between students.
Educational Issues
If what Dewey believed is true, technology is not only effecting learning but also the
educational development of the new generation. Digital technologies are fast and convenient. If
a person nowadays wanted an answer to a simple question, all they had to do was talk to their
computerized phone and it would surf the internet for their question. Teachers worry that the
constant need for quick answers will hinder the concentration for future generations (Porter).
Not only do students suffer from lack of concentration, but high attention spans and superior
communication skills are becoming a thing of the past. A survey done by Pew Research Center
found that 90 percent of teachers thought technologies were a distraction inside the classroom
(Porter). Of those teachers, 60 percent believed technology is ruining the abilities to write,
communicate and critical think among the new generation (Porter). Technology may be a tool if
used within the classroom, but cellular phones and other gizmos are becoming far more
damaging to the educational development of students.
Cultural and Equity Issues
Another important theorist, Lev Vygotsky, believed that learning is shaped by
differences within the individual and the influence of culture (Roblyer 42). He believed that
children should learn by building what they already know, a process known as scaffolding
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(Roblyer 42). The influence of culture and the world surrounding children was a big part of his
theories. However, the world is so different then what it was at his time. This is because of
technology. Technology advances so quickly that it is difficult for schools to keep up, especially
if those schools are low on funds. Technology has created a Digital Divide between poor and
wealthy schools. NCES compiled data in 1997 which indicates that internet access is significantly
lower in the poorer schools than the well-off schools (Yau). This is allowing rich children who
can afford expensive schools a greater education and great job opportunities while those who
are poor are limited by the schools and education they can afford. Technology can improve
daily life, changing the cultural of todays middle class and altering or limiting what children are
able to learn through experience.
Legal Issues
Just as technology is effecting cultural and daily life, it is also reshaping education. Since
technology is advancing so quickly, it is hard for school leaders to keep connected with the
every growing case law surrounding technology use. There are many technology related legal
issues of concern within the educational system. For instance, freedom of speech, privacy,
plagiarism and copyright concerns are all worries that school leaders need to be mindful of
(Quinn). As a future teacher, it is important to keep in mind and research the new updated laws
for copyright and technology use in the classroom. Professors and school leaders should
communicate often about any legal updates or developing laws that could end up causing fines
or tarnish the credibility between a teacher or their students.


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Promise
I promise to abide by the ethical guidelines and standards set before me and to act in a
manner of respectability and honor. In any and all instances, I will strive to be the best educator
I can be and to teach my students the ethical use of technology.


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References
Porter, Alfonzo. "The Problem with Technology in Schools." Washington Post. The Washington
Post, 28 Jan. 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/the-problem-with-technology-
in-schools/2013/01/28/cf13dc6c-6963-11e2-ada3-d86a4806d5ee_blog.html>.
Quinn, David M. "Implications for School Leaders." Legal Issues in Educational Technology.
SAGE Journals, 2014. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
<http://eaq.sagepub.com/content/39/2/187.abstract>.
Renee, Mrs. "The Social Problems Being Caused by Technology." Yahoo Contributor Network.
N.p., 27 Jan. 2011. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. <http://voices.yahoo.com/the-social-problems-
being-caused-technology-7665474.html?cat=25>.
Roblyer, M. D., and Aaron H. Doering. Integrating Educational Technology. Sixth ed. Boston,
MA: Pearson Custom Pub., 2006. Print.
Yau, Ray. "Technology in K-12 Public Schools." What Are the Equity Issues? The Mid-Atlantic
Equity Center, Winter 1999. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.maec.org/Old/techrev.html>.