CyberEthics - By Stephen Epp
As more and more students become familiar with computers and the World Wide Web the topic of Cyber Ethics continues to rise. In the Article The New Frontier written by Janna J. Baum she believes that more and more students are using bad judgement when it comes to using information through technology. In a recent study Baum found that 48% of juveniles do not believe that hacking is a crime. Within another study it found that 25% of post-secondary students cut and passed text from online sources while failing to cite their sources. However, is this because the students do not know what is acceptable or is because they do not care about the consequences of plagiarism? Within the article Baum describes five things that educators can do to teach students of ethical dilemmas found within technology.
1. Initiate a CyberEthics Curriculum
2. Teach CyberEthics in the classroom
3. Use the internet as a tool to teach CyberEthics
4. Create an acceptable use policy with students
5. Have students make a pledge to become responsible and honest web users.
Although much of this article outlines the ethical issues in post secondary schools, is this a topic that should be addressed within the high school curriculum?
Other sites
- CyberEthics for Kids:
http://www.cybercrime.gov/rules/kidinternet.htm
Web Resources for CyberEthics:
http://www.cteresource.org/publications/featured/cyberethics/
Safer Internet @ CyberEthics:
http://81.21.43.186/saferinternet/index.php
6 comments:
This is a test. Will comment later.
-John M
I think that the ethics of taking credit for someone elses work is something that can be taught to students of any age. They may need to be reminded of it from time to time, and taught how to cite information properly. As to students buying written papers, I think they are already aware of the ethical issues behind that, its only after they get caught that they try to excuse their way out of it.
Sure, cyber ethics should be taught in high school, junior high, even elementary school. Once the internet is in their lives, the ethics of using it are as well.
....Sheila
I definately think that any curriculum about web pages, html coding and the internet should also include at least 1 lesson about cyber ethics.
Students may not realize that their actions on the internet have consequences just as serious as in real life. Students need to know that there are dangers on the internet that may not be obvious. Finally students need to know that plagiarism has serious consequences and that relying on this to pass school courses will have a drastic impact later in life.
Many students will learn about ethics at home but just like other issues, not all famillies will have tackled this isssue.
-John M
Sheila I really enjoyed your blog entry. I also think students who are buying papers already understand the ethical issues they just want to find the shortest way to achieve an advantage on other students. I guess that the only advantage they get is not doing the work which would result in them not learning anything from the task. I agree with your comment about teaching cyber ethics through out all school grades. I think cyber ethics should be a major focus in the earlier intermediate years and should be less of a focus when students are at the senior high level. I just think that by the time they reach senior high they should have a good understanding of what not to do when using the internet.
~Blake Tobacca
I think that you are right John. MOst students do not even realize the trouble that they can get into when plagarizing other work. Within Universities and Colleges and even high schools students should be more aware of the trouble that they could get in.
Sheila I totally agree with the fact that students should be taught in Elementary school about Cyber Ethics. Why not teach students at the earlies possible age so that they have time to learn how to use cyber ethics before they get older and many times its too late before they learn about it.
Stephen
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