By Cheryl Costantino, M.A.
June 2014




Teachers, students and parents have
responsibilities when it comes to the use of
technology.
There are national educational technology
standards (NETS) for both teachers and
students.
Internet Safety is a primary concern.
Rules set for use of technology are there to
protect privacy, property and to ensure the
appropriate use of technology (Johnson, ch.7)




Technology has changed the way we think,
operate and teach.
Safe and ethical actions with technology are not
that different than our basic ethics.
Consequences for technology misuse are the
same, if not more strict, as any other
consequences for other behaviors.
Students must protect their own privacy and
property as well as respect others privacy and
property.





Create passwords to protect your information.
Back up all information so you don’t lose it.
Avoid viruses – don’t open unknown email or
programs.
Be sure you have parental permission to use
photos, as well as use of internet and what sites
you are allowed to explore (and permission of
your teacher at school).
NEVER give personal information such as your
social security number over the internet.



Don’t give address or phone number or credit
card information unless it is a reputable
company website.
NEVER give private information to someone
you met in a chat room or through social
media. You don’t know if the person is who
they say they are, or if they are crazy or trying
to scam or solicit you.
Have two email addresses, one for personal
and one for everything else.





Ethics through technology are the same as they are
at any other time.
It is wrong to steal, so don’t plagiarize someone
else’s work.
It is wrong to share or use explicit material, so
don’t do it with technology. This goes the same
with foul language or lewd comments. It is
offensive and unprofessional.
Cheating is wrong, so is cutting and pasting
someone else’s work and calling it your own.
It is wrong to bully, gossip and spread rumors, so
don’t do it with technology.



Privacy – Protect your own privacy and respect
the privacy of others… All of the time.
Property – Protect your property (passwords,
etc.) and respect the property of others (don’t
plagiarize their ideas or work).
Appropriate Use – Do the things you are doing
with technology have educational value? Do
they interfere with others? Will it come back to
haunt you?




Cyber Bullying – Report it. Don’t get involved with it.
Cyber Bullying is unacceptable.
Stranger Danger – Be careful of predators. Never give
personal information over the computer unless it’s to
purchase something from a reputable site (with parents
permission).
TMI (Too much information) - Don’t put too much
information out there. You can never take it back once
it’s posted. Be sure everything you put out there can be
read or seen by teachers, relatives, coaches, college
admissions and future employers. If not, then don’t put
it out there. Even Snap Chat pictures can be saved.
Once it’s out there, it will never go away.




Reproduction or use of copyrighted material
can only be used for educational purposes,
NOT for performances!
What is the purpose for use and the nature of
the work? Is it for education or profit? (Can’t
reproduce copyrighted material for profit.)
What amount of the work is used? A portion or
the whole? Use quotes and identify sources.
What is the effect of the use on the fair market
value of the work? (p.4)



First, before you use any information, be sure that
it is true and accurate. Be accountable for the
information you use.
There are methods, such as Turnitin and other
plagiarism checkers that teachers use to identify
the theft of information. Teachers are trained to
identify altered plagiarized work. Don’t do it.
Not only is plagiarism considered both cheating
and stealing, but you can’t truly learn the
information when you cut and paste without
thinking or applying what you learn. Knowledge
is valuable.
Johnson, Douglas. The Classroom Teacher’s
Technology Survival Guide. Chapter 7. © 2012
Wiley and Sons.
 ISTE National Educational Technology
Standards for Students. © 2007 Edition, ISTE.
http://cnets.iste.org/students/s_stands.html.
 Reproduction of Copyrighted Works.
www.copyright.gov/circs/circ21.pdf
