Artifact # 7
The Legal and Ethical Use of Computer Resources deal with policies and procedures for the legal and ethical use of computers in the classroom or computer lab. For other information regarding copyright law visit www.dpi.state.nc.us/copyright1.html .
Rationale for Artifact Seven: Legal and Ethical Use of Computer Resources
Competency 14.1: "Establish classroom policies and procedures that ensure compliance with copyright law, fair-use guidelines, security, and child protection."
Competency 14.3: "Social, legal, and ethical issues related to technology use."
CONTEXT
I created this artifact during the Summer of 2001 in Classroom Use of the Microcomputer in grades K-12. In class, we looked at various handouts and had a discussion of acceptable uses of computers, as well as Internet etiquette. One handout viewed was "Policy on Acceptable Use of Computers" and the other handout was called "Netiquette," which discussed Internet etiquette. Afterwards, I got into a small group. It was our responsibility to role-play a given scenario based on ethics. My group's scenario was based on two friends looking at websites. One person found a website that was selling music CD's. The other friend wanted a specific CD, however they had no money. The friend had an idea to steal credit card numbers off the Internet so they could buy the CD. Each group acted out their scenarios for the rest of the class. One group's role-play scenario was very important. It gave the message to the students to “Never Copy Software” because it is illegal.
IMPACT
As a licensed teacher of grades K-6, it is my responsibility to act as a role model and teach my students about ethics. I will use these sources to teach and support the classroom policies for computer use. There are various legal and ethical issues related to copyrights, fair-use policies, and protection. I will encourage my students to be familiar with, and practice these policies in all of their work on computers.
ALIGNMENT
This artifact meets Technology Competency 14.1 . Computers and other technologies are advancing at a quick pace and help to aid students in the classroom. It is important, though, that we, as teachers, make sure that our students are using computers in a legal and safe way. By establishing classroom policies that align with common laws and practices, students will see the importance of using computers in a correct way.
This artifact also meets
Technology Competency 14.3
. We completed a role-play activity based on a class discussion on
ethics and acceptable computer uses. As a prospective teacher; I know
and will incorporate these things into my lessons in order to teach my students
about the social, legal, and ethical issues related to technology use.
This will also teach them a sense of right and wrong, which will also aid
them in the future.