Moral Implications of Education in a Digital World

TTIX 2010Salt Lake City, UT

June 10, 2010Michael C. Johnson

Back channel on Twitter#moraledtech

& use conference hashtag#ttix10

Are there moral implications/considerations when

teaching and learning with technology??

What makes teaching a moral endeavor is that it is, quite centrally, human action undertaken in regard to other human beings. Thus, matters of what is fair, right, just, and virtuous are always present.

(Fenstermacher, 1990, p. 133 as cited in Osguthorpe, R. T. et al., 2003)

Using technology in education actually increases or enhances those “human actions taken in regard to other humans”

Frerieke. “funny things on my laptop?” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/frerieke/3354048198/.

Edenpictures. “Eden Through the Looking Glass.” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/edenpictures/3460562429/.

Frerieke. “Day 58_a reveiling day.” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/frerieke/3313869283/.

Wonderlane. “Student and Teacher.” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/37531816/.

Vancouver Film School. “Foundation Visual Art & Design – Life Drawing class.” Flckr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouverfilmschool/4423008460/.

USACE Europe District. “Yes we can: USACE employees help students manage can construction project.” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/europedistrict/4419592724/.

Technology Changes Roles

• Student becomes a teacher• Teachers become students

Mott & Wiley, 2009

As our roles changes, our responsibilities towards each other change… Doesn’t this imply some moral issues?

Some are tempted to think of life in cyberspace as insignificant, as escape or meaningless diversion. It is not. Our experiences there are serious play. We belittle them at our risk. We must understand the dynamics of virtual experience both to foresee who might be in danger and to put these experiences to best use. Without a deep understanding of the many selves that we express in the virtual we cannot use our experiences to enrich the real. If we cultivate our awareness of what stands behind our screen personae, we are more likely to succeed in using virtual experience for personal transformation.

Turkle, 1995, p. 268 as cited in James, et al., 2008

What are some of the moral challenges or concerns for students?

Jarvey, Dean (dmjarvey). “I Swear, He Is Texting Everywhere He Goes (2).” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/28009451@N03/4512714161/.

J_O_I_D. “cyb-bullying-hd.” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/winning-information/2314384136/.

Shainsky, Jack (ifyr). “Working at home.” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifyr/70594643/.

De Los Reyes, Paul (Noize Photography). “Texting! =O.” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/noizephotography/3223125310/.

English 106. “facebook.” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/english106/4357227835/.

Hicks, Michael (Mulad). “img_1256.” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mulad/4419275082/.

Kontokanis, Andreas (karpidis). “Facebook GAP.” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/karpidis/2454706500/.

Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS. “A close up of a young woman snorting cocaine during the 1920s.” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/foxtongue/3128716789/.

Gonzalo Baeza Hernández. No title. http://www.flickr.com/photos/gonzalobaeza/4096838046/in/photostream/

Farrant, Tiffany (GDS Digital). “Riskiest US online cities.” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdsdigital/4514262654/.

“‘We can’t make the awareness of Web issues solely person- and relationship-centered,’ said Joseph Turow, a professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. ‘Children should learn things like what a cookie or a Web virus is, and how corporations profit from tracking consumers online,’ he said” (NY Times).

Ozvold, Jeff (ozvoldjj). “University of Oregon.” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffozvold/2253108077/.

Seyfang, Mike (MikeBlogs). “Copyright Symbols.” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeblogs/3020966268/.

Zanarini, Pietro (zipckr). “Web 2.0 icons.” Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/zipckr/3925513417/.

Michael C. Johnson. “Teaching with Technology Google Search Results”

Pascale PirateChickan. “89/365 aaAAAaaaaAhhHhHhHh!!” flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/piratechickan/2965571299/.

What are other moral considerations and implications should we be concerned about ?

Learning in a Networked World• Will there be appropriate amounts of help/feedback available

to students? For us learners (in professional development)?• Will we and our students be willing to reciprocate and offer

appropriate levels of help/feedback to others• Are we sensitive to other’s needs and feeling, or simply seeing

our own self interest?

Professional Preparation• Preparing students adequately for the world of work (to

be able to use technology that they will need to)• Promoting creativity?• Promoting problem solving (for moral ends or do we

foster self-serving individuals)?

Learning to Learn• Do we help students not only learn how to locate information

and resources (including human resources)?• How to evaluate resources that will be most helpful?• Do we help them learn strategies to learn new knowledge?• Do we help them learn how to apply knowledge?• Etc.?

We teach them in order that they may soon not need our teaching…We must aim at making ourselves superfluous. The hour when we can say ‘They need me no longer’ should be our reward.

Lewis (1991, p. 50)

Moral Reasons to Use Technology• Failure to use technology that would benefit

the student– Technology that would help them learn– Technology that is part of their field/content area

• Use of technology that is not in the best interest of our students

Yuya Tamai. “injection”. Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tamaiyuya/180619143/

Educational Malpractice?

Moral and Character Outcomes• Has using technology made us lose our moral compass? • Consideration of other’s feelings• Promoting character outcomes and moral development?

We need educated men and women who not only pursue their own personal interests but are also prepared to fulfill their social and civic obligations.

(Boyer, 1998 p. 7)

Peterson and Seligman’s (2004) Character Strengths and Virtues

1. Wisdom and knowledge2. Courage3. Humanity4. Justice5. Temperance6. Transcendence

Davidson, Lickona, and Khmelkov’s (2008) Moral Character and Performance Character

Performance Character:• Diligence• Perseverance• A strong work ethic• A positive attitude• Ingenuity • Self-discipline

Davidson, Lickona, and Khmelkov’s (2008) Moral Character and Performance Character

Moral Character:• Integrity• Justice• Caring • Respect• Cooperation

Davidson, Lickona, and Khmelkov’s (2008) Moral Character and Performance Character

A student should become a:1. lifelong learner and critical thinker;2. diligent and capable performer;3. socially and emotionally skilled person;4. ethical thinker;5. respectful and responsible moral agent;6. self-disciplined person who pursues a

healthy life-style;7. contributing community member and

democratic citizen; and8. spiritual person engaged in crafting a life

of noble purpose. (p. 379)

R. T. Osguthorpe (2009)

• Agency• Love

Institutional Issues• Providing students with the right kinds of technology that

enhance education• Responsibility• Usage Policies• Privacy• Keeping in mind the goals of education (are they purely

vocational?)

•Providing educational opportunities and resources to previously underserved populations•Other issues??

How do we address these perils and other considerations

?

I am not sure… but here are a few ideas that might be

applicable!

TPACK

Source: http://tpack.org

Howard Gardner’s Ethical Fault Lines• identity (how do you present yourself online?); • privacy (the world can see everything you write); • ownership (plagiarism, reproducing creative work); • credibility (legitimate sources of information); and • community (interacting with others).

James, et al., 2008

Courtesy Policy

“Generally, courtesy means we interact with one another in positive, respectful ways”

(Frey & Fisher, 2008)

Berkowitz & Fekula (1999)Five Elements of Postsecondary Character Education

1. Teaching about character (morality, ethics, and so forth)– Ethics across the curriculum, Espoused values, Guest speakers,

symposia, and so forth, Publications

2. Displaying character– Role-modeling, Institutional policies and behavior

3. Demanding character– Academic standards, Behavior standards, Enforcement policies and

behavior

4. Apprenticeship, or practicing character– Democratic governance, Community service, Experiential learning

5. Reflecting on character– Service learning, Mentors, Journals

Additional Perspectives

• Teaching in Moral Ways: Pure intent, sincere effort, willingness to change on part of teacher and learner (Osguthorpe, R.T. & Osguthorpe, R. D., 2000)

• Consciousness of Craft, of Membership, of Sacrifice, of Memory, of Imagination (Green, 1999)

Additional Perspectives• Moral Reasoning – Kohlberg

– Level 1. Preconventional Morality (Stage 1. Obedience and Punishment Orientation, Stage 2. Individualism and Exchange), Level II. Conventional Morality (Stage 3. Good Interpersonal Relationships, Stage 4. Maintaining the Social Order) Level III. Postconventional Morality (Stage 5. Social Contract and Individual Rights, Stage 6: Universal Principles)

• Post-Kohlbergian Moral Development (Bebeau, Rest, and Narvaez, 1999)– moral sensitivity, moral judgment, and moral motivation, and moral

character

Additional Perspectives

• Golden Rule/Silver Rule• Levinas Hypostasis: “putting the other first”

and “being-for-the-other,” (Inouye, Merrill, & Swan, 2005)

Additional Perspectives

Possible Applications of (Johnson, et al., 2010)• Don’t ignore moral/character issues in content

(or related to the tools you use)• Engage students in meaningful conversation• Establish a positive relationship with students• Invite students to apply what they are learning

and to use their agency to make good choices.

“We must become the change we wish to see”

Gandhi

Questions?Comments?SuggestionsConcerns?

Complaints?Twitter: @michaelcjohnsonemail: michaelcjohnson@yahoo.comdiigo:http://www.diigo.com/user/michaelcjohnson/%22moral+considerations%22

ReferencesBalmert, M.E., & Ezzell, M.H. (2002). Leading learning by assuring distance

instructional technology is an ethical enterprise. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Adult Higher Education Alliance, Pittsburgh, PA.

Berkowitz, M.W. (2002). The science of character education. In W. Damon (Ed.), Bringing in a new era in character education (pp. 43–63). Stanford, CA: Hoover Press.

Berkowitz, M.W., & Fekula, M.J. (1999). Educating for character. About Campus, 4(5), 17–22.

Bebeau, M. J., Rest, J. R., & Narvaez, D. (1999). Beyond the promise: A perspective on research in moral education. Educational Researcher, 28(4), 18-26.

Boyer, E. L. (1987). College: The undergraduate experience in America. New York: HarperCollins (Harper & Row).

Bugeja, Michael J. (2009). Reduce the Technology, Rescue Your Job. Chronicle of Higher Education, 56(12), A36-A38

ReferencesClifford, . (April 8, 2010). Teaching about web includes troublesome parts. New York Times.

Retrieved April, 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/09/education/09cyberkids.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Davidson, M., Lickona, T., & Khmelkov, V. (2008). Smart & good schools: A new paradigm for high school character education. In L.P. Nucci (Ed.), Handbook of moral and character education. New York: Routledge.

Frey, N. & Fisher D. (2008). Doing the right thing with technology. English Journal, 97(6), 38-42.Gismondi, A. (2006). The downside of the Internet: Cheating and technology in higher education.

Journal of College and Character 7(5). Retrieved March 10, 2010 from http://journals.naspa.org/jcc/vol7/iss5/5/

Green, T. F. (1999). Voices: The educational formation of conscience. Notre Dame, IN: Notre Dame Press.

Inouye, D. K., Merrill, P. F., & Swan, R. H. (2005). Help: Toward a new ethics-centered paradigm for instructional design and technology. IDT Record. Retrieved September 25, 2006 from http://www.indiana.edu/~idt/articles/documents/Inouye_print_version.pdf

References

James, C., Davis, K., Flores, A., Francis, J. M. , Pettingill, L., Rundle, M., & Gardner, H. (February, 2008). Young People, Ethics, and the New Digital Media: A Synthesis from the Good Play Project . GoodWork® Project Report Series, Number 54, Harvard Graduate School of Education. Retrieved June 8, 2010 from http://pzweb.harvard.edu/ebookstore/pdfs/goodwork54.pdf

Johnson, M. J., Osguthorpe, R. D., & Williams, D. D. (2010). Pedagogical considerations that may encourage character development in a distance education course. Journal of College and Character 11(2). Retrieved April 30, 2010 from http://journals.naspa.org/jcc/vol11/iss2/11/

Lewis, C.S. (1965). The abolition of man or reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of English in the upper forms of schools. New York: MacMillan Publishing.

Lewis, C.S. (1996). The screwtape letters (Revised ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster.Lickona, T., & Davidson, M. (2005). Smart & good high schools: Integrating excellence and

ethics for success in school, work, and beyond. Cortland, NY: Center for the 4th and 5th Rs (Respect & Responsibility), Washington, D.C.: Character Education Partnership.

References

Osguthorpe, R.D. (2009). On the possible forms a relationship might take between the moral character of a teacher and the moral development of a student. Teachers College Record, 111(1). Retrieved April 4, 2008, from http://www.tcrecord.org.

Osguthorpe, R. T., (2009). Power of Teaching Seminar, October 15, 2009. Video available at http://education.byu.edu/media/watch/345

Osguthorpe, R. T., Osguthorpe, R. D. Jacob, W. J., Davies, R. (2003). Moral dimensions of instructional design. Educational Technology, 43(2), 19-23.

Osguthorpe, R. T., Osguthorpe, R. D. (2000). Learning to be Good while Becoming Good at Learning. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA, April, 2000.

Peterson, C., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Turkle, S. (1995). Life on the screen: Identity in the age of the internet. New York: Simon And Schuster.

Image Works Cited• Image Bibliography (in order of appearance)• Most Images used under Creative Commons Attribute License, attribution

is on each image, except:• Society Super Cala Fragalistic. “Digital World.” Students of the World.

http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/sites/society/img/27319_ist2_1804351_digital_world_globe.jpg.

• Slide 14: Distracted Driving cartoon by Jeff Parker, Florida Today at http://CagleCartoons.com