This document discusses how librarians can promote ethical literacy in youth in the digital age. It outlines traditional and new digital ethical dilemmas faced by youth regarding issues like plagiarism, bullying, gossip, and privacy. While literacy standards address some concerns, new approaches are needed. Librarians should engage youth, integrate ethics into all literacy education, and find ways to teach ethics through technology use. Challenges include ensuring all stakeholders obtain training and presenting ethics in an engaging way without preaching.

1. Promoting Ethical Literacy in Youth How Librarians Can Partner with Parents and Teachers Michael Zimmer, PhD Assistant Professor, School of Information Studies Co-Director, Center for Information Policy Research University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee www.MichaelZimmer.org

2. Promoting Ethical Literacy Ethical dilemmas facing youth Role of literacy standards & codes Opportunities for new forms of education & intervention Challenges ahead Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

3. Ethical Dilemmas Traditional ethical dilemmas abound for today’s youth “I need a shortcut to complete an assignment” “Defend my awkward classmate, or join the bullying?” “Spreading a rumor, or a secret, about a friend” “Do I steal the CD?” “Sneak a peek at the adult magazine?” What happens when we introduce digitally-networked technologies… Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

4. Digital Ethical Dilemmas “I need a shortcut to complete an assignment” Use of Sparknotes Essays-for-sale websites Cut-paste from online sources Wikipedia Renewed ethical concerns Plagiarism, responsibility Trust & bias of information sources User-generated content, collaboration Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

5. Digital Ethical Dilemmas “Defend my awkward classmate, or join the bullying?” Much easier to engage in bullying via instant message, texting, Facebook walls Things can be said via technology that you wouldn’t F2F Doesn’t stop once you leave the playground; doesn’t disappear as time passes Anonymity Renewed ethical concerns Friendship Teasing vs. Harm Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

6. Digital Ethical Dilemmas “Spreading a rumor, or secret, about a friend” Spread faster, farther with Facebook or MySpace Access to more sensitive information – and images Not always intentional Harder to “take back” Anonymity Renewed ethical concerns Friendship & sharing Gossip Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

7. Digital Ethical Dilemmas “Do I steal the CD?” Greater opportunities to obtain access to content without paying or authorization P2P downloading of music Copyright-protected content on BitTorrent “Breaking” encryption or DRM to access & share Login/Password sharing Renewed ethical concerns Theft & Ownership Intellectual Property & Fair Use Information Access vs. Control Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

8. Digital Ethical Dilemmas “Sneak a peek at the adult magazine?” Greater opportunities to view restricted material, or engage in risky behavior online Online pornography Webcam chat, sexting Fear of online predators Renewed ethical concerns Playfulness & exploration vs. taboo Freedom of expression Trust vs. surveillance Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

9. Digital Ethical Dilemmas New twists and turns on traditional ethical concerns Cheating & plagiarism Bias and trust in information sources Property, theft Friendship, teasing, gossip Sharing, privacy, and surveillance Some of these addressed in existing standards & codes, others need different approaches to achieve literacy Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

10. Literacy Standards: ACRL #3: The information literate student evaluates information and its sources critically and incorporates selected information into his or her knowledge base and value system #5: The information literate student understands many of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information and accesses and uses information ethically and legally Helps address bias, plagiarism, copyright, netiquette But vague, and is college too late? Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

11. Literacy Standards: AASL 21st #1: Inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge Make sense of information gathered from diverse sources by identifying misconceptions, main and supporting ideas, conflicting information, and point of view or bias. Maintain a critical stance by questioning the validity and accuracy of all information. Respect copyright/ intellectual property rights of creators and producers. Follow ethical and legal guidelines in gathering and using information. Helps address bias, copyright, ethics broadly Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

12. Literacy Standards: AASL 21st #3: Share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our democratic society. Use information and technology ethically and responsibly. Show social responsibility… Use information and knowledge in the service of democratic values Respect the principles of intellectual freedom Helps support collaboration, responsibility, freedom of expression Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

13. Ethical Codes: ALA II: We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor library resources III: We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted. IV: We respect intellectual property rights and advocate balance between the interests of information users and rights holders. Helps teach privacy, freedom of expression, property rights Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

14. Where are we? We have literacy standards at multiple educational levels that touch on many of the core ethical concerns Mostly concerned with plagiarism, copyright, bias We have professional codes and statements of rights that touch on additional ethical concerns Address privacy, intellectual freedom, respect But are institutionalized mentions of ethical issues sufficient for reaching youth & attaining literacy? Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

15. New Forms of Literacy Education Talking and listening to youth Discover their unique perspectives on privacy, property, information sharing & exchange Need to shape ethical lessons & examples accordingly Ensure ethics are integrated into all literacy-related educational activities Specifically address ethical questions related to each learning outcome Add ethical components to computer literacy courses, information literacy sessions, special projects Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

16. New Forms of Literacy Education Reach youth through information technology Engage the technology, don’t build fear of it Create ways to teach ethics through the active use of Facebook, Wikipedia Turn all information interactions into “ethical teaching moments” Game nights could include discussion of cheating YouTube video contests could address copyright Searching Google can present lessons on bias, free speech, censorship Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

17. Challenges Ahead Need to ensure parents & librarians obtain necessary ethical training themselves Need to foreground ethics and make it interesting without nagging, preaching Need to trust youth, and give them the tools to make good ethical decisions None of this is easy… Michael Zimmer | ALA Annual 2011

18. Promoting Ethical Literacy in Youth How Librarians Can Partner with Parents and Teachers Michael Zimmer, PhD Assistant Professor, School of Information Studies Co-Director, Center for Information Policy Research University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee www.MichaelZimmer.org