Technology Integration for Teaching: Module 2
Ethical Considerations of Online Learning
(the New Pedagogy)
In Module 1, you considered the research and theory that support online instruction. One takeaway should be that, although you are using a different platform to teach, the foundation of your educational philosophy does not need to change. In this module, you will examine how your pedagogy can expand to incorporate virtual teaching and learning, and you will consider the ethics of teaching in virtual spaces.
To complete Module 2, you will:
2. Share in what areas of teaching the New Pedagogy is difficult to imagine.
3. Consider the importance of collaboration in implementing the New Pedagogy.
4. Read and analyze the Model Code of Ethics for Educators: Principle 5
5. Listen to Frederick Lane's interview about Cybertraps for educators
Technology as a New Pedagogy
In the book Stratosphere, Michael Fullan discusses educational technology as a new pedagogy that needs to be irresistibly engaging. Watch his video that introduces this concept.
As a response to COVID-19, several education thinkers created Silver Lining for Learning, a series of YouTube conversation about how the pandemic can be seen as a time to rethink education. In one episode, Yong Zhao, author of Catching Up or Leading the Way, spoke about reimagining education. Watch his video about how we can change our thinking about schooling in the online space.
Collaboration in the New Pedagogy
As you reflect on the areas of difficulty in developing meaningful online instruction, consider how you might overcome those obstacles. Do any of your solutions require collaboration? You also may notice that some of the obstacles are only problematic in asynchronous settings (when the students are not with you in real time) and some only occur in synchronous settings (real-time, face-to-face virtual interactions). Many solutions will be specific to asynchronous or synchronous settings, and it is important to differentiate between them as we have these discussions.
Consider this quote by superintendent Laura Schwalm that Michael Fullan uses in his book The New Meaning of Educational Change: “If you want to move something that’s difficult to move, everyone needs to be pushing in the same direction, [otherwise] very good people can build very effective silos.”
As Fullan points out, "change is a process, not an event" (p. 196) and this process requires teamwork. Our teams (i.e., schools, departments, grade levels) should be moving in the same direction, which means we must collaborate.
In this section, you are asked to create a virtual support system graphic for yourself or your school/ department/ grade level. Include the technology skill that will be required in virtual settings, the person or people who have that skill or can easily develop it, and a method of collaborating. For example, I might include that my grade level needs to learn to create engaging instructional videos, that Mr. Smith who teaches science is great at this, and that we will schedule a Zoom call with the entire 7th grade next Tuesday to have him show us his process.
Use Google Draw to create your visual of the support system. You can use the template I created or be creative and make your own graphic organizer.
Once you are finished, post a comment below. Is there something you wish you had support for but don't? Is there something you wish other teachers would ask you to help them improve on? Do you have a team that already collaborates well? If so, how could another team replicate your success? Do you have solutions for synchronous learning but not asynchronous or vice versa?
The New Pedagogy and Ethics
As educators incorporate more and more technology into our classrooms, it is essential to consider how we ensure that our teaching practices remain ethical. For many years, the field of education did not have a code of ethics--at least, not one that applied to the entire discipline. Now, we have the Model Code of Ethics for Educators that can apply to all teachers in all content areas at all grade levels. The rationale for the MCEE and additional resources associated with the document are beyond the scope of this course, but I encourage you to read through the documents and reflect on the importance of a code of ethics particularly in the digital age.
Please go to the MCEE website and read Principle V: Responsible and Ethical Use of Technology.
Now, using Xodo, read the document a second time and add annotations. Highlight important passages, ask questions at confusing parts, add anecdotes that might help others understand a confusing concept. This is a collaborative document, so others will be able to see what you write. Most importantly, consider in what situations and scenarios each sub-principle might apply and add your insights. The goal is for this to become a robust document that truly helps us understand how to become ethical digital teachers. You need to make an account in order to participate, but you should be able to join using a Google account. If you are unable to add annotations, you can physically write yours and compare your notes with what others have said.
Cybertraps for Educators
Once you have read and annotated the MCEE document, listen to Frederick Lane discuss Cybertraps for Educators on the Kathryn Zox show. You can also access a slideshare of his presentation on cybertraps at his website fredericklane.com. Reflect on 2-3 things you might change about your teaching, your online presence, and/or your virtual relationships with students after listening to the interview. Share these ideas when you meet with your virtual support team.
Once you have reflected on the changes you might make, take the next step to investigate where you could engage in professional development on the topic. There are wonderful, free courses at Coursera, edX, and Microsoft Learn, and Google has a lot of resources at the G Suite Learning Center. Share any great resources that you find on the Professional Development Resources Forum.
Congratulations on completing Module 2 on Ethical Considerations of Online Learning. In this module, you reflected on virtual learning as a new pedagogy and considered the ethical implications of online teaching and learning. In the next module, you will learn about practical implementation and integration of technology. If you have feedback on this module or questions about what you learned, please email me.