Wednesday, 11 September 2013

Safe, Responsible and Ethical use of ICT 

Operating Safely and Fairly Online


 Teaching and learning safe, responsible and ethical use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is an important part of a teachers’ work, as identified within the ‘Applying Social and Ethical Practices and Protocols’ General Capability of the Australian Curriculum and the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Focus Area 4.5). This requires students to learn about issues relating to the intellectual property of ICT, applying digital information security practices and personal security protocols as well as being able to identify the impact ICT has in society. It is essential that we, as teachers educate and arrange our lessons to encourage students to use the internet safely and correctly. 

The Australian Curriculum states that students are required to develop their ICT skills while effectively and appropriately communicating different information/ideas in all learning areas of school (ACARA, n.d.). As teachers, understanding the relevant issues and strategies available to support the safe, responsible and ethical use of ICT is an expectation of teacher standards of practice, as detailed in the AITSL Professional Standards for Teachers (aitsl, 2012). Encouraging students to maximise use of the technologies available, and teaching them how to apply appropriate protocols and security practices will help them to safely create, communicate or share information online. Students will then learn the benefits and consequences of using ICT as well as the impact they have on society (ACARA, n.d.).

Students are embracing ICT at an even younger age commencing school more ICT aware, which is why we should teach students how to navigate through the pitfalls of the internet. The Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013, stated that during 2010-11, just over ¾ (79%) of Australian households had access to the internet. With the proliferation of mobile devices (smart phones, i-pads, tablets, laptops and now smart televisions), students have more ways to access the internet than ever before. 

RECOGNISING THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF ICT


Schools are exciting places for both learning and teaching, especially with ICT providing new and engaging experiences, expanding social and knowledge systems and allowing access to current information. Students are required to seek information in which the internet can efficiently provide with little effort, however there is a downside. If students are not educated to navigate and search the internet correctly, they may come across inappropriate material. Teachers ought to show students how to avoid exposure to this material and explain how they can protect themselves online responsibly and ethically. Students must feel safe in their learning environment and confident enough to alert us and other adults if they feel unsafe, threatened, bullied or exposed. Schools are one of the safest environments for children (Cyber-Safety, 2009, pg 7). 

Copyright:
As well as researching appropriate material online, students need to be aware of copyright and its consequences. Through research assignments at school, students need to realise the information they find is not theirs. They can still use this information providing it is their own words and referenced appropriately; otherwise it’s classified as copyright. 

Digital Citizenship:
Teachers have the opportunity to encourage students to become responsible and ethical digital citizens. Digital citizens are people who have the confidence, skills and knowledge to effectively use and positively engage with digital technologies to participate in society, communicate with others and create their own work (ACMA, 2013).

Creative Commons:
According to ccAustralia, 2004, ‘Creative Commons is an international non-profit organisation that provides free licences and tools that copyright owners can use to allow others to share, reuse and remix their material, legally’. The ‘Creative Commons’ search is a safe and legal way for students to research and use images within their presentations. It provides easy copyrights for materials that students can place online which others can share or reuse. This allows for safe browsing and researching of the internet as the sites are all copyrighted. 

Example Creative Commons Logo (below):
image


APPLYING PERSONAL SECURITY PROTOCOLS


The internet provides an ideal place for attaining information, contacting people and socialising. It is also unfortunately a way to encourage cyber bullying, stalking, sexting and online grooming. This unwanted behaviour can cause its victims to feel discomfort and annoyance or worse, severe distress and mental trauma (Get Safe Online, 2012). Stalking and harassment has always existed but is now even easier because of the internet and social networking (facebook, twitter, instagram, linked in, etc.). Promoting Cyber Safety is important when it comes to providing a better environment for students (especially without adult supervision). Teach students to protect their identity and reputation by encouraging them not advertise personal details and making sure their settings are private. Students should think about what they say and how it makes others feel and always ask permission to show photos of other people. We, as teachers, need to guide our students through safe and ethical ways to use ICT appropriately.

APPLYING DIGITAL INFORMATION SECURITY PRACTICES


Students need to acknowledge the importance of securing personal information when it comes to the internet. Teach them how to modify default parameters within social networking sites and ask friends whether they can access their information. Students should ensure they use unpredictable user names and passwords, keeping them confidential. In doing this, students can avoid identity theft and fraud. Give students any tips to help them recognise what websites are safe and what are dishonest.

IDENTIFYING THE IMPACTS OF ICT IN SOCIETY


There are many benefits to using ICT in society. Here is a brief list of what some of the benefits are:
  • A quick way to access information
  • Communicating with other people
  • Ordering food, clothes, etc.
  • Helps individuals and businesses within the workplace
  • Aids those who have a disability
  • Being able to do banking wherever
  • To sort and store information
  • Play games
  • Do virtual tours
  • Observe events in real time

 Along with these benefits, there are also negatives which include:
  • Cyberbullying 
  • Stalking 
  • Sexting
  • Online grooming 
  • Embarrassment through public humiliation (photos, gossip, etc.)

REFERENCES


Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2013). 8146.0 - Household Use of Information Technology, Australia, 2010-11. Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4E4D83E02F39FC32CA25796600152BF4?opendocument

Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). (2013). Digital Citizen’s Guide. Retrieved from http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/digital-citizens/about.aspx

Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). (n.d.). Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability. Retrieved from  http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/GeneralCapabilities/Information-and-Communication-Technology-capability/Introduction/Introduction

Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (aitsl). (2012). Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. Retrieved from http://www.teacherstandards.aitsl.edu.au/CareerStage/GraduateTeachers

Creative Commons Australia (ccAustralia). (2004). Creative Commons Australia. http://creativecommons.org.au/about

Get Safe Online. (2012). Cyberstalking. Retrieved from https://www.getsafeonline.org/protecting-yourself/cyberstalking/

Government of South Australia (Department of Education and Children’s Services). (2009, 26th June). Cyber-Safety Keeping Children Safe in a Connected World, Guidelines for Schools and Preschools. pp. 1-22. Retrieved from http://flo.flinders.edu.au/pluginfile.php/648799/mod_resource/content/2/CyberSafetyKeepingChildre.pdf


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