Week 29. Discuss how issues of ethics are being addressed while you are taking action

Step 1: Describe an ethical issue that you want to focus on in this entry

No ethical issues arose with my students during my inquiry. 

One ethical issue that has the potential to develop while using an online app such as Flipgrid is the management of student teasing (which could lead to bullying) using posts, or Google docs. During my action students started to interfere with other student’s video recording.  The level of teasing or simply playing around (as some students mentioned) doesn’t seem to amount to much, however for children who are sensitive, and not necessarily willing to speak up, this is an issue. 

Actions to address this issue include the teacher guiding class discussions to reflect on expectations when students work with each other in small teams of 2 or 3.  The discussions should include activities to address etiquette while online, and understand and take ownership of individual behaviours.

If online etiquette is not established early (Yr.4) in the classroom then the question comes back to a lack of integrity and care for students from the teacher.  The teacher has to understand the implications of poor behaviour online, and what habits this can develop.  An inability to address these issues can create an ethical issue, and the value of care needs to be applied (Ehrich, Kimber, Millwater, & Cranston, 2011).

Step 2 :Reflection on the actions you have taken to address the ethical issues

Which [community member(s)] should be given priority? Why?

Priority needs to be given to the students posting a video, and the students responding and giving feedback.  These students need support to learn and understand how to work with other students in a constructive and kind manner.

What restrictions are there to your actions?

Our school policy explicitly asks students to understand there are responsibilities for using the Internet, and that the expectations and responsibilities are signed off by both the parents and students. 

Which courses of action are possible?

• Discuss with the student(s) involved in teasing through the video posts.  Identify the actions with the students.  This would be a recorded discussion.
• Talk to parents about comments that are put-downs, which are occurring regularly
  Set goals.  This would be an agreement between the teacher and the students who are teasing.
• Let the school administration know.  This might be recorded in the school guidance system.  This allows for a record to be kept to identify any behaviour patterns.
• Make the issue transparent with the parents of the child who has been teased, and explain the course of action taken to resolve the issue.

How should the course of action be implemented?

The course of action should be followed promptly.  Discussions would be held between the students involved.  It would be important to set goals quickly, go over the Internet responsibility agreement.   This is a key school document which supports the teacher and the school if the issue is repeating.  All actions should be recorded on the school guidance system as soon as the issue arises.

(Hall, 2001)

Step 3: Discuss the lesson learnt for future inquiry

In this step, discuss what you have learnt from the actions taken in light of the readings and the implication for your future inquiry or practice.

For future inquiries, it is important to thoroughly plan the steps of the inquiry.  Peer feedback is necessary to critique the survey questions.  It is important to evaluate and judge the appropriateness of a survey and its questions.  As teachers, our ethics are reflected upon each day, and it is important to understand if we are following an appropriate process and not dip into a grey area as mentioned by which might put students in harm's way Ehrich (2011).

References

Ehrich, L. C., Kimber, M., Millwater, J., & Cranston, N. (2011). Ethical dilemmas: A model to understand teacher practice. Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice, 17(2), 173–185. https://doi.org/10.1080/13540602.2011.539794

Hall, A. (2001). What ought I to do, all things considered? An approach to the exploration of ethical problems by teachers. IIPE Conference for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance, Griffith University, NAthan Campus, Brisbane, 8 April, (April). Retrieved from http://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/content/download/545/4465/Hall 2001.pdf