Reading+Reflections,+Technology+Facilitator+Standard+VI,+Social,+Ethical,+Legal,+and+Human+Issues

A sentence grabbed me right away."Technology facilitators and leaders must be guardians of digital equity, monitoring, advocating, and acting in ways that promote benefits for all and the exclusion of none." (ISTE) Just as the text states, I wholeheartedly believe in school being an equalizer for disadvantages. (ISTE) Because we all desire to have career opportunities that allow us to showcase our strengths and our skills, disadvantaged backgrounds or lack of resources should not detract from what we can offer. Students expect and deserve schools that provide safety, structure, and tools that allow them to thrive. Today, it is essential that all students have access to computers, tablets, mobile devices, and more so that they are best prepared for entering a workforce that leverages Internet technology everyday.

The chapter also discusses FERPA and CIPA, two pieces of legislation that technology facilitators must work to uphold. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act obligates schools to protect the privacy of student records. CIPA, the Children's Internet Protection Act, requires schools to have mechanisms in place that filter or block content that is not appropriate for students. Schools install firewalls and other such protection. However, broad use of social networking makes all of this much more complicated.

Two suggestions offered include publishing student work with pseudonyms and also password-protect access to student work. I am proud of my current school district which has implemented both of these procedures and adopted them as policy. We seem to be on the right track for protecting students from dangers associated with working online.

Williamson, J., & Redish, T. (2009). //Iste's technology facilitation and leadership standards, what every k-12 leader should know and be able to do//. Intl Society for Technology in educ.