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One of the major missing items in the Computer/Technology SOL is attention to computer ethics. Just as we cannot teach Driver education or Sex eduation without some reference to the social impact of the subject, it has been clear for many years that similar attention must be given to the impact of the computer on the community. As an educator in a university I am continually astounded by the lack of concern for ethical behavior by students who regard the electronic environment as an environment devoid of rules and codes and feel that the apparent anonimity of a computer workstation gives them free rein to use the computer in an inappropriate manner.
I agree. Having spent a number of years living online I've noticed that the Internet has more than it's share of bullies and antisocial cretins. This seems to be due to the anonymity allowed by the internet. People of all ages seem to think that it's ok to behave in all sorts of unacceptable manners just because no one can walk up behind them and slap them in the head. It would be nice to see this issue addressed in the schools, although I have a sneaky suspicion that good manners is still something that must also be started early and at home.
I am a Supervisor of Technical Services for one of the largest School Systems in the United States. We purchased software, and are going through the painstaking process of installing it on over 7,000 PCs, to prevent access to inappropriate material on the Internet when students at grade levels K through 12 are using computers to meet state mandated standards of learning which require Internet usage. Needless to say this is a very daunting task to accomplish because we also troubleshoot all other problems, maintain the entire network, provide training to the teachers using the computers, and we still try to be friendly and understanding when things go wrong. The software must be configured individually because it's designed for multi-level configurations, based on what is to be delivered to the individual computer. What a mess! Legislators sometimes are forced, by parents, who are at each "end" of the technical spectrum, to incorporate standards for the delivery of technology based education. Many times neither the Legislators, parents, nor teachers are as "technically" proficient as the students we are trying to lock out of "inappropriate material" seem to be. The main point is, we can all spend $$$$ on applications designed to limit access and increase a teachers control, but when the students know more about the software and hardware than "those in charge", we should ask ourselves what are we really doing to further their education.
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By J.A.N. Lee on Tuesday, October 20, 1998 - 07:55 am:
I would be very interested in working with teachers to help develop guidelines for the inclusion of computer ethics in the lesson plans leading to meeting the SOLs in Computer/Technology. My point of view can be see on-line at: http://ei.cs.vt.edu/~cs3604/lib/Ethics/IFIP.WCC.1992.html
J.A.N. (JAN) Lee Professor of Computer Science Virginia Tech
By Chris O'Kennon on Tuesday, December 8, 1998 - 02:03 pm:
By 981130 on Thursday, February 11, 1999 - 11:43 pm:
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