Course Overview
This course enables candidates with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, and abilities to prepare their own students to become cyber-savvy—safe and productive citizens in the cyberspace community. Candidates gain an understanding of issues regarding privacy, security and the wise use of Internet resources by:
- Examining equitable and ethical applications of technology in learning environments
- Reflecting on the issues involved in the pervasive use of the Internet by children via computers and all types of hand-held devices, including cell phones, both at school and at home
- Discuss the responsibility of the school and teachers in teaching and policing students' use of the Internet
- Developing a curriculum for the grade level of their choice on the safe and responsible use of the Internet
In the course project, Unit Plan: Safe and Responsible Use of the Internet, candidates create a unit of lesson plans at the grade level of their choice that addresses ten components of safe and responsible use of the Internet. The project is a key assessment for candidates in the MEd in K-12 Instructional Technology programs, and it is designed to demonstrate mastery of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Technology Facilitation Standards.
This course includes field-based activities that take place in a K-12 school/district community setting.
Course Learning Objectives
- Promote and enforce privacy, security, and online safety related to the use of the Internet by students.
- Identify, communicate, model, and enforce social, legal, and ethical practices to promote responsible use of technology in education.
- Promote practices that advocate for equity of access to technology resources that enable and empower all learners and educators.
- Develop/support policies that clearly enforce copyright law and assign ownership of intellectual property.
- Apply technology to enhance and improve communication, productivity and professional practice.
- Model and teach legal, ethical, and safe practices, as related to technology use.
- Effectively present information and make recommendations about technology and the Internet to a variety of stakeholders, including, but not limited to staff, parents, and students, and promote effective strategies for increasing the use of technology resources in support of student instruction.
