Today in this week’s blog I will discuss the dangers of using technology as a teacher. Technology can be seen as a blessing and a curse. It has provided us with countless opportunities to connect ourselves to the world. But this information can also hurt us. Teachers are role models for the children around the world and if they are posting inappropriate or immature content they are painting a bad picture and losing their credibility. In an article from 2014, Governor Christie signed legislation that required school boards across the state to produce policies that restrict or censor social media use for teachers. Further information on the legislation can be found in the link below.
One of the ways professionals are fired is when they “friend” their students on Facebook or other social media platforms. Teachers are supposed to keep professional relationships with their students and it should strictly be conducted within the classroom. For example, my dad who is a teacher uses his middle name as his last name on facebook. In this instance, it would be a bit harder for his students or parents to try and find his Facebook. Of course, this does not mean he can post anything he wants, but it certainly deters students or parents from finding more personal information on him.
Teachers can be fired for posting inappropriate comments or pictures on their profiles. In the following article, they discuss several examples of when teachers were fired from their positions. In one of the first examples, a teacher from Ohio posted on her MySpace, provocative and sexual comments. Other people confessed that she has also taken drugs. In another example, a teacher from Connecticut was fired after conversating with two students on MySpace. The comments he made to the student seemed harmless, but the federal court ruled that these conversations online disrupt the learning environment. Teachers have a responsibility to maintain a professional relationship with their students, not one as their peers.
http://www.nea.org/home/38324.htm
Thank you for reading my blog this week!