I believe that my responsibility as a teacher regarding ethical uses of technology by my students and myself is very important. I believe that it is my job as a teacher to talk to my students about the ethical uses of technology, but also to lead by example. However, I am not their parent and I cannot tell students what they can and cannot do outside of school. The best I can do is tell students what is legal, what is illegal, and the possible repercussions for breaking the law, and then hope they make right decisions.
When I was younger, say around 16, I downloaded music that I did not pay for. In fact, I believe that I may have used Kazaa, which I had forgotten about until hearing the name in this weeks lecture, but it has been so long that I am not positive that Kazaa was the site I used. However, I am sure that my music downloads were far fewer than many of my classmates. It just so happens that my car c.d. player would not play burnt c.d.’s. Also, at that time my mom, sister, and I lived in a trailer. In a trailer you have absolutely no privacy, as the walls are basically made of wood paneling. Therefore, if I tried to listen to my music I was often told to turn it down or shut it off. As a result I didn’t download much music because I had no real place to listen to it. Otherwise, things might have been different. After people began to get in trouble for downloading things off the Internet for free, I stopped completely. More recently I started downloading music, but I always use iTunes and I always pay for it. I do not feel bad about downloading and listening to the music that I did not pay for in my youth, for two reasons. First and foremost, because I really didn’t know it was bad. Everyone was doing it and I was really naive. It never occurred to me that I was actually ripping someone else off. It’s a popular saying because its true, ignorance is bliss. It doesn’t make it right I know, but that’s they way it was. Secondly, for the reasons mentioned above, I didn’t download that much. Again it doesn’t make it right, but it could have been much worse. Even though I do not feel bad about doing it in the past, it is not something I would ever do now. If I did I would feel bad because I do know that it is wrong. Also, I don’t think students should download free music, even though I did it when I was younger. I know that it sounds hypocritical but the times have changed and students should know that it is illegal and morally wrong. If they do not know, then it is my responsibility as a teacher to enlighten them on the issue.
Within my classroom I will take several steps to ensure that the use of technology and media content is ethical. First of all, I will purchase any video clips that I show or music that I play, even if I have to buy an entire video for a ten-minute clip or a song for a one-minute segment. I will follow the Fair Use guidelines for anything else I may download of the Internet. I will share the Fair Share guidelines with my students, and I will also monitor any projects that they hand in to ensure they are following the guidelines.
As a teacher the best way I know to ensure that my students’ experiences online are safe and effective is to discuss with students what is appropriate and be observant as a teacher and monitor the students the best I can. The school will block many sites, however, some inappropriate sites slip through the cracks. If the students know what is inappropriate and are monitored, there will be fewer incidences of inappropriate behavior with technology.
I believe that most kids actually believe that downloading free music and videos is easier now than it was in the past and more common place. I believe that downloading music is only increasing not decreasing and children feel more justified in doing it. I believe that as teachers we should uphold the law and teach the children what the law is but other than that I do not believe that we can stop the students from illegally downloading music and videos.
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