It is true that with the increased use of technology in education brings new challenges and ethical dilemmas to the teaching profession. This week I have considered how plagiarism and intellectual-property violation seems to be an accepted norm for the teaching profession. Sounds harsh I know, but true nonetheless. Now with technology and easy access to more information, plagiarism and the intellectual-property violation is on the rise. Since I have been teaching, I have known many teachers to copy from books, download videos, music and so on all in the name of enriching students’ lives.
Teachers are constantly on the hunt to present information to their students that is relevant and engaging. It is equally true that teachers’ salaries do not reflect the extra time, energy and cost that is spent in providing this information for their students. Hence, teachers are drawn to the internet. A one-stop shop for video’s, music and visual aids that are not only relevant and engaging but also easily accessible. Making these resources almost impossible to ignore.
On the other hand, we have the corporate entities who create these videos, music and visual aids, whose bottom line is to increase profit share for their shareholders. Obviously, if the corporation is unable to sell their products, then they are unable to fulfill their obligations to their employees, shareholders, debtors and so on.
The ethical dilemma comes when teachers do not have the resources to pay for copyright use. It is not that a teacher wants to be dishonest, rather that they don’t have the means to pay for the resources they feel they need, which in their minds justifies their dishonesty.
As I consider this dilemma in my own practice, I cannot help but wonder what message I send to my students when I download music and movies off the internet. I also think about my personal values and ethics that I want to be true to. Last year our schools' big idea was “integrity”. My students and I spent the year learning about what Integrity looked like in different situations. Our catchphrase “making the right choice, even when no one is looking” rings in my ears still today. If I expect my students to Have integrity, and the Education Council (pg. 2 2017) expects me to have integrity, “PONO: showing integrity by acting in ways that are fair, honest, ethical and just.” The solution for plagiarism is simple, do not do it. An accepted norm that is illegal does not make it right. “As teachers, we respect our trusted position in society and recognise the influence we have on learners, their understanding of the world and the future wellbeing of our society.” (Education Council 2017). As teachers if we don’t make the links of what the consequences to our collective actions are to the global picture, then how can we expect our students to.
REFERENCES
Lisa Catherine Ehrich , Megan Kimber, Jan Millwater & Neil Cranston (2011) Ethical dilemmas: a model to understand teacher practice, Teachers and Teaching: theory and practice, 17:2, 173-185, DOI: 10.1080/13540602.2011.539794
Education Council. (2017). Our Code Our Standards. Retrieved from: https://educationcouncil.org.nz/sites/default/file…
Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D. and Jasper, M. (2001). Critical reflection in nursing and the helping professions: a user’s guide. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
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