This week I am going to analyse an ethical dilemma in my practice using Rolfe’s (2001) model of reflection and Erlich et.al. (2011) ethical decision making model.
Step 1: (What) - I have two social media persona's - both personal and professional. Many of my friends are in education and there are blurred lines between the two. I have now noticed that parents of our tamariki are connecting with both my professional group Facebook page and my Makerspace website and blog which I post on everyday. To date I have had only positive comments, feedback and interaction but I have wonderings around how this sits ethically.
Ehrich et al. (2011) presents an ethical decision-making model (Figure 1) that helps to explain decision-making processes when teaching professionals encounter ethical dilemmas.
Step 1: (What) - I have two social media persona's - both personal and professional. Many of my friends are in education and there are blurred lines between the two. I have now noticed that parents of our tamariki are connecting with both my professional group Facebook page and my Makerspace website and blog which I post on everyday. To date I have had only positive comments, feedback and interaction but I have wonderings around how this sits ethically.
Ehrich et al. (2011) presents an ethical decision-making model (Figure 1) that helps to explain decision-making processes when teaching professionals encounter ethical dilemmas.
Step 2: (So What): When critically evaluating this dilemma using Ehrich's (2011) model, I was able to analyse this incident through more than one lens. I needed to consider Professional Ethics - Education Council (2017). What does the teacher's code of practice state? I also looked at it through the lens of Public Interest. What would the other parents and whanau think? I needed to consider the Institutional Context eg. what would other do so after having conversations with colleagues I was directed to the Education Council's (2018) guide for Teachers and Social media. I then questioned whether having a professional 'friendship' on Social Media was an acceptable platform.
Step 3: (Now What): To support the Education Council's (2018) guide for Teachers and Social Media there is also a website available at: https://teachersandsocialmedia.co.nz/ which has a series of thought provoking videos with scenarios and question prompts, these would be very useful in our staff meetings especially with growing numbers of millennial who see social media as an integral part of their being. I particularly related to this quote which I felt would make online interactions more transparent.
"Engaging in ongoing discussions with colleagues can help when you are unsure whether you should share, reuse or respond to content. Talking to colleagues about your activity on social media platforms means you aren’t acting in isolation and exposing yourself to a potential ethical dilemma."
I plan to use my own ethical dilemma as a ignitor for conversation around this topic and to bring the resources discussed to our teachers attention. I would also like to host a parent/whanau hui to set clear guidelines for our community as to how we intend to use social media.
"Engaging in ongoing discussions with colleagues can help when you are unsure whether you should share, reuse or respond to content. Talking to colleagues about your activity on social media platforms means you aren’t acting in isolation and exposing yourself to a potential ethical dilemma."
I plan to use my own ethical dilemma as a ignitor for conversation around this topic and to bring the resources discussed to our teachers attention. I would also like to host a parent/whanau hui to set clear guidelines for our community as to how we intend to use social media.
References
Education Council. (2017). Our Code Our Standards. Retrieved 10 March, 2018 from: https://educationcouncil.org.nz/sites/default/files/Our%20Code%20Our%20Standards%20web%20booklet%20FINAL.pdf
Education Council (2017) Retrieved 11 March, 2018. https://teachersandsocialmedia.co.nz/guidelines/commitment-profession
Education Council (2018). Guide to Teachers and Social media. Retrieved 11 March, 2018 from: https://www.educationcouncil.org.nz/content/teachers-and-social-media
Ehrich, L. C. , Kimber M., Millwater, J. & Cranston, N. (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
Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., Jasper, M. (2001) Critical Reflection Model. Retrieved from: https://my.cumbria.ac.uk/media/MyCumbria/Documents/ReflectiveModelRolfe.pdf
Education Council (2017) Retrieved 11 March, 2018. https://teachersandsocialmedia.co.nz/guidelines/commitment-profession
Education Council (2018). Guide to Teachers and Social media. Retrieved 11 March, 2018 from: https://www.educationcouncil.org.nz/content/teachers-and-social-media
Ehrich, L. C. , Kimber M., Millwater, J. & Cranston, N. (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
Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., Jasper, M. (2001) Critical Reflection Model. Retrieved from: https://my.cumbria.ac.uk/media/MyCumbria/Documents/ReflectiveModelRolfe.pdf
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