Influence of Law and Ethics on Professional Practice

 Legal and Ethical Contexts in my Digital Practice

“Teaching in schools has long been considered a moral activity (Wilson, 1967; Tom, 1984; Goodlad, Soder and Sirotnik, 1990) largely because it is recognized that how teachers fulfil their public duties influences the lives of vulnerable young people.” (as cited in Hall, 2001) Teachers are in a unique and privileged position. Everyday we get to work with young people and their families. The previous statement indicates teaching to be a moral activity, which I agree with. At times it feels like we are constantly being scrutinized because of the position we hold and the vocation we chose. To safeguard ourselves and those we are in contact with we are guided by the Code of Ethics for Certified Teachers. Teacher interactions are governed by the four principles of autonomy, justice, responsible care and truth. This document states how teachers will strive to uphold commitment to learners, families, society, and the profession. Education Council. (nd) As professionals in an ever changing society where technology is prevalent, it can present dilemmas. The use of media has recently become an issue, and it is an area that is ever evolving. The following quotation is interesting because it gives license for teachers to use their professional judgement, and not everything is compartmentalised. “The Code isn't a set of rules that must be followed. It is a set of principles that should be applied to situations, with careful reflection. Teachers should use the Code as a guide to help them make ethical decisions, recognising questions of ethics may not always have straightforward answers”. Education Council. (nd)

A Situation In My Practice I Have Knowledge of:

For this MindLab course and Applied Practice In Context paper the requirement  has been to blog online. The topics that have been set have indeed been topical. Each week I have had to think critically and look closely at my practice, and include my views in regard to the questions posed. Reflective online blogging is new to me. I have always reflected privately and only shared with immediate school leaders. This new forum has a much wider audience and at times it has felt as if I was baring my soul. To this end I have had to keep my posts honest and professional. It has taken a lot of energy and thought to convey these messages as our school is going through a period of change and re-adjustment. As mentioned before I am part of this era and at times it has been challenging. I write my posts and then go back later (usually after 24 hours) and re-visit them, trying to ensure they portray the situation and my thoughts. I have shared them privately with an experienced colleague and  peers to get their feedback to ascertain if my expressed views are appropriate, to share online. I am constantly thinking of those people in my CoP. Our school has a cyber agreement for students however there is not a policy for adults/staff using online media. This is something that needs to be addressed and followed up. I have spoken to other teachers and some schools now have specific policies in place. The document Digital Technology Safe and Responsible Use in Schools, (Ministry of Education, 2015)  could be a starting point as it provides advice and guidance for schools using digital technology.

References:

Education Council. (nd). Code of Ethics for Certificated Teachers. Retrieved from https://educationcouncil.org.nz/content/code-of-ethics-certificated-teachers-0

Hall, A. (2001). What ought I to do, all things considered? An approach to the exploration of ethical problems by teachers. Paper presented at the IIPE Conference, Brisbane. Retrieved from http://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/Culture/Developing-leaders/What-Ought-I-to-Do-All-Things-Considered-An-Approach-to-the-Exploration-of-Ethical-Problems-by-Teachers

Ministry of Education. (2015). Digital technology- Safe and responsible use in school. Retrieved fromhttp://www.education.govt.nz/assets/Documents/School/Managing-and-supporting-students/DigitalTechnologySafeAndResponsibleUseInSchs.pdf: