Legal and Ethical contexts in my digital practice

"Public school educators are held to high standards of behaviour because they are entrusted with the well-being of their students. The public expects that their behaviour exemplifies ethical and moral integrity. Teachers serve as role models who should recognise that their conduct, both on and off the job, can profoundly impact their professional image." (Connecticut's Teacher Education and Mentoring Program, 2012)

The virtually unlimited access to technology and the prolific use of this for social networking is defining this generation of learners. The ethical dilemma I would like to explore is the potential impact of my own personal social networking on my professional life.

"Social networking applications expose teachers' out-of-school identities and their networks to a greater degree of scrutiny by their students, colleagues and school communities." (Henderson, Auld and Johnson, 2014)

Our school has a Responsible Use Agreement for staff members. It states the importance of understanding that our professional and ethical obligations extend to our online behaviours and that these are as applicable as our daily interactions with students and whanau in and outside of school. It is also our individual responsibility when using ICT to ensure our actions are within the law. For further information, the document has links to Netsafe, Commonsense Media and The Teachers' Council Code of Ethics.

The Teachers' Educational Council has a website which provides guidelines for the use of social media. We need to consider:

• our digital footprint and the fact that we may be judged by people we don't know based on how we portray ourselves online. 
• how we want to be presented and how we may appear to others through our online use. 
• we are viewed as role models by wider society and to think carefully how we represent ourselves when using social media.

An informal conversation with a parent in my community brought to my attention the need for online caution when I discovered that not only were parents viewing my Facebook page, but some were doing this with their children, who were students in my Y5/6 class. 

Possible issues and concerns

• Online posts are reaching beyond the intended adult audience/friends on Facebook with people who are not "friends" and students are able to search the platform and view my page. 
• Material posted may not be appropriate for parents or students to see.

Potential violation of my school guidelines

• My online activity could be perceived as role modelling inappropriate behaviour and in violation of the guidelines of our school's Responsible Use Agreement.

Potential Negative Consequences

• Posts could be shared amongst parents and students with a resulting negative impact on how students and parents see my, and potentially the school's professionalism.
• If I was inclined to post inappropriate material I could jeopardise my teaching position.

Proactive Measures

• Have appropriate privacy settings to limit accessibility.
• Be mindful of posting only material that respects guidelines outlined in the school's Responsible use Agreement.
• Have a professional and a personal /private online identity.

The Code of Ethics for Certificated Teachers states that we must have a commitment to the profession. "teachers shall exert every effort to maintain and raise professional standards, to promote a climate that encourages the exercise of professional judgement." 
In this age of digital accessibility and social networking applications, we are far more in the public eye than ever before. Social media has blurred the line between private and professional. We need to be vigilant and considered to ensure our digital footprint upholds the professional standards expected of our positions.   

References

Connecticut’s Teacher Education and Mentoring Program.(2012) Ethical and Professional Dilemmas for Educator: Facilitator’s Guide. Retrieved from http://www.ctteam.org/df/resources/Module5_Manual.pdf

Educational Council New Zealand. Code of Ethics for Certificated Teachers. Retrieved from
https://educationcouncil.org.nz/content/about-code-of-ethics

Henderson, M., Auld, G., & Johnson, N. F. (2014). Ethics of Teaching with Social Media. Paper presented at the Australian Computers in Education Conference 2014, Adelaide, SA. Retrieved from http://acec2014.acce.edu.au/sites/2014/files/attachments/HendersonAuldJohnson_EthicalDilemmas_ACEC_2014_0.pdf

WM Staff Acceptable Use Agreement - Cybersafety (2015)