Responsibilities in Use of Technology in Instruction

Copyright © 2004 Herbert J. Bernstein, All Rights Reserved

When using technology in instruction you assume certain responsibilities. You are responsible for what you present, the content, and you are responsible for how you present it, the pedagogy. Various organizations have wrestled with this issue (e.g. the Association for Education Communications and Technology Code of Ethics or the Florida Department of Education Code of Ethics - Education Profession). We will see the general approach when we discuss the ACM Code of Ethics. Here we will deal with some of the ethical issues in content and pedagogy, and attempt to show the parallels between them.

• Responsibility for Content
  • The content presented should fairly cover the subject matter for which individuals are to be instructed.
  • The content presented should be at a level appropriate to the audience.
  • The content presented should be accurate.
  • The content presented should not violate the rights of others.
  • The content presented should not violate intellectual property rights.
  • The content presented should not unnecessarily or improperly violate reasonable expectations of privacy or confidentiality.
  • The sources of the content presented should be properly cited.
  • The content presented should not unnecessarily violate the sensibilities of others.
  • The content presented should do no harm.
• Responsibility for Pedagogy
  • There should be reason to expect that the methods used will contribute to the education of the individuals being instructed.
  • There should be reason to expect that the methods used are at an appropriate level for the maturity of the individuals being instructed.
  • The methods used should be reliable.
  • The methods used should not violate the rights of others.
  • The methods used should not violate intellectual property rights.
  • The methods used should not result in unnecessary or improper violations of reasonable expectations of privacy or confidentiality.
  • The sources of the methods used should be properly cited.
  • The methods used should not unnecessarily violate the sensibilities of others.
  • The methods used should do no harm.