This document discusses several ethical issues related to technology use in schools. It provides three examples: 1) inappropriate use of school computers for shopping, 2) commercial entities offering free technology in exchange for student use, and 3) criminal activity inspired by pop culture like an attack posted online. It notes technology is increasingly present but ethical guidelines have not been agreed upon. It argues character is revealed without oversight and some students make good decisions while others do not. The document calls for cyber ethics training to build student awareness of how online actions can still harm people.

1. Ethical Issues
Developing Responsible Internet
Citizens
Sarah Elliott
Technology for
Educators
June 12, 2012

2. Example 1: Inappropriate Use
A Boston school tracked usage for one day and found that
85,000 clicks were to eBay, craigslist, and other retail
shopping sites from school computers.
Example 2:Commercial Entities
Corporations that offer "free" computers, printers, internet
connections and educational web access for a promise that
schools/students will use ZapMe! for a minimum of 4 hours each
day.
Example 3: Criminal Activity
because of Pop Culture
8 Florida teenagers were arrested for a brutal attack on a 16-
year-old girl. They lured her to one of their homes for the sole
purpose of videotaping the brutal attack and posting it on
youtube and myspace.

3. Technology Evolves
More and more devices are making their way into
the classroom.
Technology presents a number of ethical issues and
as a society we have yet to agree on ethical ground
rules for computers and the internet.

4. "Character is what you are in the dark"
Dwight Lyman Moody
The internet is problematic because users believe
they are anonymous.
What that quote means is that a person's true
character comes out when others don't see what
the person is doing...they are "in the dark"
Some people make good decisions, while others
do not.

5. Cyber Ethics
There are (and should be) laws against:
•Stealing another identity
•Destroying another persons' reputation
•Electronically accessing anothers' bank account
•Luring a teenage (or younger) girl (or boy) to a
meeting spot in hopes of obtaining sex

6. Looking back at the
examples...
Something as insignificant as misuse of resources is
not a big deal.
However, is it ethical to allow commercial entities
into schools because we 'need' their products?
With the third example, these teens are clearly guilty
of criminal acts, but they clearly lack good ethical
decision making.

7. Ethics Training
It is important to let students build an awareness of
their actions and help them to understand that
things done in cyberspace can hurt people too.
Relating real world behavior (entering a neighbors
house without permission) to bad internet behavior
(accessing another person's computer without permission)
can be helpful and helps students make the
transition.
Cybercitizen Awareness Program- has online
resources at http://www.cybercitizen.org

8. Conclusion
There are numerous
ethical pitfalls
associated with
technology today.
Range from
cyberbullying,
misrepresenting one's
age/identity on social
networking sites,
doctoring images,
plagiarism, and
overuse.

9. References
Bissonette, Aimée M.. "Ethical Issues." Cyber law:
maximizing safety and minimizing risk in classrooms.
Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press, 2009. 80-86.
Print.
Pictures:
http://www.theeap.com/wp-
content/uploads/2012/05/CyberSafetyResourceCenter.jpg
http://gamezblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Plagiarism.gif
http://mpsit.edublogs.org/files/2011/08/iPad-OldSchool-vs-
NewAge-13n34y9.jpg
http://www.cagle.com/artists/Simanca/Smallsimanca/sim-
internet_addict420.jpg