Module+3+Reflection

Reflect on what you plan to do to address the equity and ethics issues when applying technologies. You may share with us about what you have been doing by addressing these aspects and what you will change after learning in this module.

** Description ** This reflection will focus on what I experienced and learned during Module 3 of our Introduction to Technology course. During this two week period, our cohort was given opportunities to consider the many social, ethical, safety, and legal issues that may be triggered by the implementation of new technologies. Our assigned readings also helped us to better understand the laws in place to help educators understand proper use of technology. We also shared ideas and thoughts through discussion board in response to a case study in which many legal, saftey, ethical, equity, and privacy issues arose. I will explain what I have gained from this time of reflection and what areas I feel I need to improve upon.

** Impact ** This module has allowed me to take a closer look at my legal obligations as a teacher when wanting to use technology. This module has also encouraged me to reflect on my own practices in order to ensure that I am using technology appropriately and am encouraging the same for my students. I am actually working in a district with very little technology available, but we are slowly incorporating more technology. Because of this, I have not had too many interactions with technology and have not had to think about the legal, ethical, and safety implications. However, there have been a few issues I can relate to within this module. The issue of copyright is one in which I have had questions when using clip art for my classroom website and classroom newsletters, etc. I now realize that as long as the source from which I am obtaining the clip art does not specifically say that educational use is restricted, I should be okay with my use of clip art. Through our discussion, I can tell that I am not the only one with these concerns. I realized that the use of software can also become a legal, copyright issue as teachers may use software on more computers than permittable by the license agreement. I believe lack of school funding is the main cause for misuse of software, but even so, teachers still need to use software lawfully. I think safety issues are something all teachers can relate to. Something as simple as a cord can become a safety concern and awareness and prevention are crucial! When my students are using our school's computer lab, I realize now the many issues that could arise as did in the case study we read during this module.

** Intent ** It is my intent to keep myself informed of the current laws in place that impact my use of technology as a teacher. I also want to model appropriate use of technology for my students, parents, and my colleagues. I plan to be more careful when selecting clip art, taking the time to read copyright statements. When using software in my classroom, I will be sure to read the license agreement. Rather than use the software more than is permittable, I will be more proactive in looking for possible funding for additional software. I also plan to prepare my classroom for possible disabled students in order to ethically provide equal educational opportunities for all students. Although, I think my present classroom setup does not create too many concerns for disabled students, preparing in advance for this type of situation will help me avoid any issues and will make sure this hypothetical student feels welcome and comfortable.