Ethics in the Digital World
There were no big surprises in the article because we have been discussing most topics since our first class in the program. It was an interesting read and it made it interesting by comparing and contrasting adults and teens views on the 5 elements.
Identity-Teens are search for the identity they are comfortable with and what fits their personalities. I have seen my own teens go extreme, bright red hair and plugs in ears, to being conservative. I was able to monitor them closely and try not to offer any negative remarks about their choices. Online it is harder for parents to do this and it makes parents nervous. Lots of parents will just say no to Facebook only to have their teens have one anyway they log on at friends houses. It is important to have a Facebook or other social network if your teen does to see what their online identity is.
Privacy-In the article it mentioned adults were more in favor of being friends with teens then teens were with being friends with adults. My children have to be my friend, but they don’t have to be all their parent’s friends. Teen need grace on social networks and are completely turned off by their friend’s parent’s corrective comments. Teens will make mistakes, but telling them in front of their friends on Facebook will embarrass them. My teens have deleted friend’s parents for their unsolicited posts. I have had to remind adults I am in charge of them and I was OK with what they posted. On the other side, most of my teens friends are my friends because I do not judge them or correct them unless it will harm them physically or their walk with God. I also never tell their parents if they are just acting out. The parents should get a Facebook and monitor them themselves.
Creditability- This is one that needs to be enforced by all adults when it comes to teens online. I have dealt with this swift and effectively with my own children. They have a obscure attitude that if you are friends online, you will be friends in person. Every time I hear of someone getting harmed by meeting someone online, I record it for my daughter to see it and be reminded about the danger.
Authorship and Ownership-My daughter was told by a friend that when you download a movie form the internet before it comes out on DVD it is OK because it is movie trailers put together. I was unsure about it and we watched a movie and it was evident the camera was in a guys coat. Bootlegged movies are everywhere. I have had 3 students ask me, a teacher, if I wanted a movie right after it was released to the movie theater. They didn’t seem to understand it was illegal. My son’s friend downloaded a movie from my house using my WiFi, unbeknownst to me. I get an email from Universal Studios threatening court action. They got my IP address and then my email.
Participation-It was interesting that both adults and teens seem to be on the same side when it came to participation and see the benefits of the WWW to promote social responsibility.Both adults and teens are open to the possibilities the internet will have in the future and not be detoured by the negative repetition some of it has.
Identity:
ReplyDeleteIt is important how much the parents involve with their children. We know that kids, who have a strong relationship with their parents bound to have a good grip on their own identity as well.
It's something that we, as teachers, don't have the control over, but I don't see any other ways around it.
Privacy:
ReplyDeleteWould the kids "appreciate" that their parents are monitoring them through Facebook? Just like a diary or secret journal, sometimes teens have to be "private" no matter what; it's the trusting relationship that needs to be developed.
Credibility:
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of connecting and learning through real news stories! It also can open up a conversation about the topic in more natural way rather than forced. It's almost like a Socratic teaching... ;)
Authorship and Ownership:
ReplyDeleteThat's a bad news. I hope everything goes alright for you. You will have to secure that WiFi first. I do agree that it's too easy to download for these kids like the article mentioned. There has to be better control of these illegal sites.
Participation:
ReplyDeleteWell, it's much better than seeing the negatives. Internet has already became our present and the future; we might as well look at it with more optimism and try to make it better for our world.
Thank you for all of your comments. About Privacy, the condition that my children were allowed to have a social network was that I am their friend and I have their passwords. I find it a great way to see how their lives are away from me. I use a lot of restraint to not comment on everything they write and have had them delete a few comments. I call my self a troll. There have been kids at my house on the PC with social networks and then I am told to not let their parents know. They will do it without my blessing if I didn't join them on this. I chose to join them and enjoy it. I have sat talking to parents tell me they would never allow their child to have a social network and judge me for allowing it. As I am listening to them I am biting my tongue because their child was at my house on their social network just last night. It has happened about 5 times.
ReplyDeleteWe as educators need to embrace what ever means possible to open conversation with our teens.