Much of the content of this course so far has been fairly new for me. Despite growing up in a very digital generation, apart from social media, most technology and online tools are not things I generally gravitate towards. So, along with learning about these tools and platforms that are new to me, learning the best practices – and legal practices – that go along with this is equally as foreign and even more important.
Whether it be gathering proper consent or understanding copyright and fair dealing, I’m learning more and more that there is a lot going on behind the scenes that it is essential for teachers to know. As I delve into this, I also feel that a) some this should be top of mind for more than just teachers, and b) some of these conversations are ones I should have been having a long time ago.
Once we graduate high school, a common refrain seems to be “why didn’t we ever learn that!” I’ve said it myself in regard to taxes, financial planning and other practical subjects I wished I had been introduced to in the classroom during my teenage years – or earlier. While there may not always be the time or opportunity for teachers to inquire into all the legalities surrounding technology, FIPPA, and online activities, I believe there should at least be many more conversations around privacy and safety – ones that I at least was rarely having.
As technology and internet use becomes increasingly ubiquitous, these questions and considerations are only going to become more complicated, so I’m grateful I’m being prompted to look into this now – especially as I come into my new role in the education system.