Key points:
As technology that was cutting-edge just a decade ago becomes more accessible to everyone, people are finding new ways to incorporate that technology into long-standing and critically important industries.
edtech has fundamentally changed the way the K-12 ecosystem works, providing high-level knowledge and administrative management benefits for educators, and introducing students to a wealth of information and entirely new ways to learn it. Overall, the new system is largely beneficial for all parties involved, but such a radical change comes with new challenges to consider.
As K-12 students take advantage of this exciting technology, they must be ai/a-guide-to-ethical-considerations-in-edtech/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Taught how to use it ethically.. This is important not only for their personal safety but also to prepare them for a future in which similar tools will be present in almost every job they do. Teachers and administrators can structure their educational technology solutions in a way that rules out outside threats while also teaching students these vital skills, and we're about to break down exactly how.
Protection against external threats
First, when establishing a sustainable online educational environment that students will access regularly, there are several security concerns that must be taken into account. They are:
- Privacy: With a wide variety of organizations and entities seeking to confiscate and sell personal data, how can you protect your students' information while browsing?
- Cyber security: How can you prevent seedier elements of the web from intruding on your online environment?
- Transparency: Why do your edtech platforms use student data and how can you clearly communicate this to both parents and students? This is especially important if your solution uses some form of ai technology.
Fortunately, there are a large number of edtech/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>tried and true methods can be used to address these concerns, as well as others parents may have. Data encryption, for example, not only keeps your students' information safe while they browse the web, but it is also a necessary step in achieving regulatory compliance. Cybersecurity solutions can be part of your edtech stack, and most edtech systems have options to limit student browsing to secure parts of the web.
With respect to transparency, edtech organizations are typically very clear about what data they collect and why, and allow options for organizations to opt out of certain collection practices. As mentioned above, this is especially important for solutions that use ai-powered features, as there are still security concerns with LLMs. Knowing the what, how, and why of data collection will allow you to communicate the same to parents, building trust in your school and its systems.
Getting ready for the real world
Having access to educational technology in the classroom is essential to help technology-challenges-for-the-next-generation-of-inventors-to-solve/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The next generation solves big challenges.. Today's students who become scientists and innovators will address topics such as accessibility, the ethical use of ai, and the use of virtual reality in the professional world.
However, those technologies will have their own problems, especially as they continue to develop. So part of training these students for the real world is teaching them how to use these tools and orienting their thinking toward a positive application of them in the real world.
Critical thinking is the additional subject that no student directly knows they have enrolled in; and with educational technology, it is especially important. Introducing students to advanced technology at such an early stage presents teachers with several opportunities, including:
- Teach basic online safety skills
- Think about how and why they use a particular tool.
- Present opportunities to consider real-world problems.
While the first has more to do with teaching a set of basic skills that will be useful to them as they continue to use technology, the others are more geared toward critical future thinking. Allowing them to analyze how these tools work will lay a foundation of knowledge that can then be applied to more complex programs. Also, as they mature, it will prepare them to identify inefficiencies and encourage them to find their own solutions.
This is where the ethical component manifests itself most strongly; while your students discuss, for example, tech-for-agriculture/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>modern agricultural technology and how it can improve the lives of farmers, they may be inspired to consider other areas where technology can be beneficial. Discussing the topic of water conservation can teach basic concepts of environmental science. Combine that with a discussion about how precision agriculture and robotic planters can help, and you're ready for a thoughtful conversation about technology's contribution to the public good.
At the same time, recognizing the problems that sometimes arise from a higher level of technology can be healthy for your students. By investigating the flaws in the system, so to speak, they can come up with ways to fix those flaws and build a healthier future technology ecosystem.
edtech poses new challenges that educators and administrators must solve, yes; But if they build a system that properly protects and trains their students, they will be more than prepared to face whatever the future brings.
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