NETS-T+Standard+4

//**Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility**//

//Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers://

a. advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources. b. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources. c. promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information. d. develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools.


 * Reflection**

It is one thing to know how to use technology, yet another to use it ethically, safely, courteously, and appropriately. Such is the premise of NETS-T Standard 4, that facilitators, leaders, and teachers must not only use technology to interact with local and global societies around them, but must do so professionally. Digital information must be respected. Owners of such property need to be acknowledged, cultural and learning differences need taken account for, and any access to technology must be granted equitably. As Williamson and Redish (2009) agree, it is important "to differentiate instruction based on students' individual learning needs." All of this is brought together through careful communication and collaboration. Standard 4 is all about being a responsible digital citizen in a virtual world that is just as real as the one that we live in.

The artifacts presented for this standard promote professional communication and collaboration with colleagues and peers concerning a plethora of technology issues. For instance, I am involved with a listserv that uses e-mail based collaboration on anything and everything technology related in the labs. Members post questions about legal issues with hardware & software, ethical treatment of and respect for students, copyright & intellectual property rights, and more. The primary goal of this list is to keep technology up-and-running for instructional use, but it also covers the proper and respectful use for the students and teachers we serve. Communicating on such a system requires etiquette, politeness, and expressions of opinion that respect fellow listserv members, thus approaching this standard. Service//Chat// is a Java based chat system that I developed to incorporate digital-age communication and collaboration with our faculty, staff, and students. We use it to provide fast technical support. It also requires professionalism, respect, and etiquette when communicating with these constituents.

While the listserv technology is an important source for bouncing ideas about ethical, legal, and cultural questions, it sometimes does not provide conclusive answers. I may receive several different opinions to a question about software copyright, with no authoritative source to back them. Perhaps joining additional listservs (such as a "legal practice" listserv) or inviting authoritative sources during listserv conversations would help. Also, the Service//Chat// system is simply a communication tool; it does not address the diverse needs of learners. It only offers one method of support (text based communication). Adding additional communication methods (such as video conferencing or remote control) may support students learning styles better.


 * Artifacts**

//* If the videos do not play immediately, please wait a few minutes, then try playing them again (they will automatically cache into memory).//

Service//Chat// media type="custom" key="22040754"

Lab Managers ListServ media type="custom" key="22040766"

Link: Complete list of discussion lists (listservs) at the University of Arkansas