304
Major Project
Mahler
Group
Nelda Baker Leonard Fretzin
Pat McNerney
Bea Nichols
CODE OF ETHICS
This project was completed as an
assignment for the EPS 304 course as
part of the
CTER Masters degree program at
the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign.
The Course Instructor is Nicholas
C. Burbules
Preamble
Technology is becoming infused in life and the
functionality technologies bring to home, school, and office environments are
now often taken for granted. Proper operation, support, understanding, and
integrity of technologies are regarded as being important and sometimes
suspect. Recognizing the effect technology has on education, the workplace and
our quality of life, educators acknowledge the need for a clearly stated code
of ethics. The educator further recognizes the magnitude of the responsibility
inherent in integrating technologies into the educational process. Essential to
these goals is the guarantee of equal technology access for educational
opportunities for all in order to improve the understanding of technology, its
appropriate application, and potential consequences.
This Code of Ethics is a working document
that will evolve as technologies evolve and a need for editing of principles
and/or guidelines becomes apparent. The Code consists of six (6) principles of
personal responsibility, as well as a guide to Compliance and Professional Responsibilities.
I.
Contribute to society and human well-being
III.
Be honest and trustworthy
IV. Be
fair and take action not to discriminate
VI.
Respect confidentiality and privacy
Each of the six principles is supported by a
rationale and includes guidelines for issues professionals are likely to
encounter. The guidelines provide directions to assist professionals in dealing
with issues they may face within each principle contained in this Code.
Professionals must be aware that there will be issues faced, fitting into one
or more of the six principles, which guidelines have not been developed for.
For this reason, the guidelines included are not all inclusive.
This Code of Ethics, with the six
principles, rationale, and guidelines, has been formulated to serve as a basis
for ethical decision-making in the utilization of technology by the educational
professional. In addition, the Code may provide support for evaluating the
merits of new technologies, formal complaints pertaining to violation of
professional ethical standards, and provide for ethical guidelines in
implementing technology in an educational setting and implementation of this
Code.
Within a Code of Ethics, some words and
phrases may be subjected to varying interpretations. The principles, rationale,
or guidelines may conflict with other ethical principles in specific
circumstances and in some instances where questions arise, answers can be
developed through thoughtful consideration of fundamental principles or
assistance in answering may be sought through an appropriate review board
governing this Code of Ethics. Educational professionals may choose to not rely
on detailed regulations when these special circumstances arise.
Definitions
Code of Ethics: set of codified guidelines for ethical directions
which act as standards to enhance professionalism and image of the professional
and which can establish a baseline for addressing more complex issues. The code
is not a set of enforceable laws.
Computing facility: refers to forms of computer-related equipment,
tools and intellectual property, including computer systems, personal computers
and computer networks, as well as all forms of software and applications.
Objectionable information: violent, hateful, pornographic, lewd, or obscene
drawings, pictures, graphics, or text.
Educational Setting: Any location where learning is taking place in a
formalized setting.
Flaming: practice of transmitting rude, lewd, or insulting
remarks via e-mail.
Plagiarism: copying the work, ideas, or writing of other people
without quoting them, crediting them, or referencing them as the source of the
information.
Property: includes things we cannot physically hold, such as
electronic information, like data, files, and software programs, which existing
as electronic code on a computer memory medium such as a hard drive, CD, or
floppy disc.
Technologies: hardware, software, technical advances in industry,
information-processing machines
CODE
OF ETHICS
I. Contribute
to society and human well being
II. Avoid
intentional harm to others
III.
Be honest and trustworthy
1.
Do
not, copy, alter, examine, or destroy anyone else's personal files without
explicit permission from the appropriate authority. Specifically, the practice
of 'hacking' into a computer system in order to see restricted files is
forbidden.
2.
Students are to be
instructed in the meaning of plagiarism, and the proper and accepted method of
quoting an author by crediting the source of the material. It is the educator’s
responsibility to instruct students on the proper usage of publications,
proprietary, or confidential information.
3.
Respect and enforce
intellectual property rights as they pertain to technologies, which include
copyrighted material, software, CDs, and other copyrighted files such as MP3's.
You may not give, lend, or sell copies of software to others unless written
permission of the copyright owner is clearly identified.
4.
Observe the fair use doctrine within the AUP, and do not steal,
misappropriate, or misuse the personal identity of other people, their
authorization codes, long distance telephone services, or the property and
physical equipment of
other people.
VI. Respect confidentiality and privacy
1. Data
collected should be considered private and accessible by authorized personnel
only. Minimize the amount of data
collected and ensure proper security for storage and disposal.
2. Instruct
students on responsible written communication, etiquette and privacy issues.
3.
Technologies should be used to perform surveillance on students or
colleagues only as warranted within established guidelines.
4. Respect
students’ and colleagues’ rights to privacy, as outlined in the school’s
acceptable use policies or adopted board policy.
5. The educator
will maintain student anonymity when publishing to the web through use of
technologies and as outlined in the school acceptable use policy or adopted
board policy. This may be achieved through the use of pseudonyms instead of
actual student name.
· Uphold and
promote the principles of the code contained within this document
· Review boards
monitoring the Code of Ethics for Technology Use in Education shall establish
rule of procedure with the majority approval of colleagues.
· Educational
professionals should accept that this Technology Code of Ethics for Education
Professionals is ideal and may not all be achievable, at all times, within all
circumstances. In practice, an educator may find times where some codes
conflict with other codes, including codes from other sources or district
policies. When this occasion arises, the educator must weigh the circumstances
and decide to act in a manner that is most consistent with the Technology Code
of Ethics for Education. Adhere to the Technology Code of Ethics for Education
Professionals keeping in mind the NEA Code of Ethics of the Education
Profession.
·
The educator shall not accept any gratuity, gift, or favor that might
impair or appear to influence professional decisions or action in relation to
use of technologies.
We
live in a technological age, which gives people access to information from
around the globe. Obviously, only a portion of the information available to
society is deemed appropriate for use in an educational environment. Educators
have a responsibility to instruct students on proper internet etiquette, good
judgment in selection of developmentally appropriate sites, materials and
activities. Likewise, educators have a responsibility to students, families,
the profession and society to conduct themselves in a professional, caring
manner at all times. This code of ethics for technology can serve as an
operational guideline for which teaching professionals can honor and follow.
Any deviation of conduct as outlined within this code, would be considered
unprofessional and subject to board review procedures with consensus approval
(refer to second bulleted item above). Thus, such procedures could constitute
the following: termination of technological use, restriction of future access
and/or enforceable by law. Other examples of unprofessional conduct would
involve harm to student welfare, evidence of intentional malice, serious
incompetence, bad judgment and/or show a consistent pattern of misconduct. By
no means is this an exhaustive list of any and all acts nor does the code
adequately address the hardship of consistent monitoring however, the quality
and integrity of the profession rests upon the code of conduct and will be
reflected in the students we prepare for the society of tomorrow.
· Maintain and increase professional
competence through a program of continuing education encompassing the
techniques, technical standards, and practices in your field.
· Encourage professional
development and advancement of colleagues and students.
· Assist colleagues in
obtaining quality in both the process and products of professional work
utilizing technology.
· Keep abreast of
relevant new technologies.
· The educator will not
misrepresent his/her technological qualifications or qualifications of colleagues.
Conclusion
Educators
have a profound affect on the current and lasting social and ethical issues
relating to technologies. The education profession is vested by the public with
a trust and responsibility requiring the highest ideals of technology use
within education for the long-term benefits of the student. The quality with
which educators admit, acquire, and utilize technologies within educational
settings help each student realize his or her potential as a worthy, effective
member of a technological, information-based society with life-long learning
capabilities.
Resources
Code of Ethics. 1995. [On-line].
Available gopher: gopher.ala.org:70
Fullinwider, Robert. 1995. Professional codes and moral understanding. Res
Publica 4:1-6.
ASA
Code of Ethics http://www.asanet.org/ecoderev.htm
Alden,
Sally Bowman, Executive Director - Emphasizes Responsible Use of Technology
Computer
Learning Foundation http://www.computerlearning.org/articles/respmyth.htm
Association for Computer Machinery - ACM Code of Ethics and Professional
Conduct. 1992. [On-line] Available http://www.acm.org/constitution/code.html
1993. In electronic format. IT Practitioner's Handbook. Darlinghurst,
NSW: Australian Computer Society.
Association
of Computing Machines (ACM) Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct http://www.acm.org/constitution/code.html
Center for Study of Ethics in the Professions Illinois Institute of Technology
Code
of Ethics of the Education Profession (National Education Association) http://www.nea.org/aboutnea/code.html
Codes of Ethics On-Line
Chico
Unified School District, CA
American
Counseling Association
Chmura,
Gail A., What Do Students Think About Computer Ethics? Oakton High School;
Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia; June 2000 http://gse.gmu.edu/research/tr/articles/Chmura/ethics.htm
Computers,
Ethics, and Social Responsibility, Terry Winograd
The
Computer Ethics Institute - The ten commandments of computer usage; 11 Dupont
Circle, NW Suite 900; Washington DC 20036; e-mail: CEI-L@american.edu
Ethics
in Computing, Dr. Edward F. Gehringer http://www.eos.ncsu.edu/eos/info/computer%20ethics/
Ethics
of Technology in Education, Carrie Beverly 1993 http://rgfn.epcc.edu/programs/trainer/ethics.html
The
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. Code of Ethics IEEE
Board of Directors http://www.ieeeusa.org/documents/CAREER/CAREER%20LIBRARY/ethics.html
Jones
and Bartlett - Morality and Machines, Perspectives on Computer Ethics, Stacey
L. Edgar, 1997, , Sudbury, Massachusetts
Merle
Marsh, Ed.D. - Piracy, Pornography, Plagiarism, Propaganda, Privacy; Teaching
Children to Be Responsible Users of Technology Protects Their Rights and the
Rights of Others. http://www.computerlearning.org/articles/Ethics98.htm
Netetiquette
Quiz sass.clubhouse; http://www.albion.com/netiquette
Link to sass club; http://www.sass.ca/club.htm
Prairie
Grove Consolidated School District Parent Communication & Computer Network
System Access Terms and Conditions
Professional
Ethics, Johnson and Mulvey 1995:63)
SAGE,
The System Administrators Guild Code of Ethics http://www.usenix.org/sage/publications/code%20of%20ethics.html
Undergraduate
Texts in Computer Science, Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age,
Kizza, Joseph Migga,1998,Springer-Verlag, 175 Fifth Ave. New York, NY
Boston
University - Conditions of Use and Policy on Computing Ethics June 1990; http://med-biophd.bu.edu/www/ethics/ethics.html
A
Survey of Selected Computer Policies from Institutions of Higher Education http://www.brown.edu/Research/Unix_Admin/cuisp/
Willard,
Nancy E. - Play by the Rules of the House