Comments on: Teacher Code of Conduct… Revisited http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/04/05/teacher-code-of-conduct-revisited/ The Magic of Learning through Technology. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:13:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Langwitches http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/04/05/teacher-code-of-conduct-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-29548 Langwitches Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:00:01 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=3732#comment-29548 @ Andrea I agree with you that teachers can and should use social network sites to connect with their students. It is a way to "meet them" on their turf, acknowledging the way and means that they prefer to learn in and with. You can be "real" as a teacher without being unprofessional and without loosing your role as a "teacher" not a "friend". @ Andrea
I agree with you that teachers can and should use social network sites to connect with their students. It is a way to “meet them” on their turf, acknowledging the way and means that they prefer to learn in and with. You can be “real” as a teacher without being unprofessional and without loosing your role as a “teacher” not a “friend”.

]]> By: Andrea http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/04/05/teacher-code-of-conduct-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-29502 Andrea Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:12:13 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=3732#comment-29502 Personally, I'd be pretty concerned if my daughter's teacher was describing his mood as "dirty" on his social networking page. Why would someone in the teaching profession advertise that to the world? I think being selective of what personal information you post online is necessary in any profession, especially teaching. Teachers can be "real" without sharing that level of information. Personally, I’d be pretty concerned if my daughter’s teacher was describing his mood as “dirty” on his social networking page. Why would someone in the teaching profession advertise that to the world? I think being selective of what personal information you post online is necessary in any profession, especially teaching. Teachers can be “real” without sharing that level of information.

]]> By: Sean Nash http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/04/05/teacher-code-of-conduct-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-29488 Sean Nash Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:06:36 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=3732#comment-29488 Excellent (and thorough) post. I like to read posts that take time to explore an issue rather than just race to be "first" on a particular topic. There are two things I could comment on. If the term "friend" was not used in FB, a large portion of the issue would have never arisen in my opinion. I think much of the difficulty is a result of this remnant. As far as FB (or any other online media for than matter) I feel MORE comfortable with this type of communication with students because I know it leaves a digital trail that will great stickiness. I have to think that if you are responsible in your actions and words, then you won't shy from digital communication with students, etc. If all is essentially "recorded" in at least some way on the web... I feel a pretty solid "insurance policy" against any potential "he said/she said" situation. As far as the bullet list on what might be acceptable/unacceptable... I agree that your entire short list there would classify as quite inappropriate for any school teacher if they have any idea what is good for them and/or their students. However, the "swimsuits" bullet is sort of impossible when you teach a class that requires them for one week out o the school year: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nashworld/sets/72157616761811732/ But... I certainly DO know where you were likely going with that one. I'm betting the difference between appt/inappt is pretty simple there for most folks with some degree of "withitness" if I can use that term. ;) Nice Twitter discussion there as well..... Sean Excellent (and thorough) post. I like to read posts that take time to explore an issue rather than just race to be “first” on a particular topic.

There are two things I could comment on.

If the term “friend” was not used in FB, a large portion of the issue would have never arisen in my opinion. I think much of the difficulty is a result of this remnant. As far as FB (or any other online media for than matter) I feel MORE comfortable with this type of communication with students because I know it leaves a digital trail that will great stickiness.

I have to think that if you are responsible in your actions and words, then you won’t shy from digital communication with students, etc. If all is essentially “recorded” in at least some way on the web… I feel a pretty solid “insurance policy” against any potential “he said/she said” situation.

As far as the bullet list on what might be acceptable/unacceptable… I agree that your entire short list there would classify as quite inappropriate for any school teacher if they have any idea what is good for them and/or their students.

However, the “swimsuits” bullet is sort of impossible when you teach a class that requires them for one week out o the school year: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nashworld/sets/72157616761811732/ But… I certainly DO know where you were likely going with that one. I’m betting the difference between appt/inappt is pretty simple there for most folks with some degree of “withitness” if I can use that term.
;)

Nice Twitter discussion there as well…..

Sean

]]> By: Heather http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/04/05/teacher-code-of-conduct-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-29487 Heather Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:52:33 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=3732#comment-29487 I don't post anything the I would be embarressed if a students saw, but if a parent has a different view, that could cause trouble. For example, I went out to a St. Pat day event with some friends. A picture of me and two girl friends toasting a beer was posted by one of the women and I commented on it. If a parent saw that, they might view is has unprofessional. Whose right? I wasn't drunk, arrested, naked? This is one issue where the line isn't easy to draw. I don’t post anything the I would be embarressed if a students saw, but if a parent has a different view, that could cause trouble. For example, I went out to a St. Pat day event with some friends. A picture of me and two girl friends toasting a beer was posted by one of the women and I commented on it. If a parent saw that, they might view is has unprofessional. Whose right? I wasn’t drunk, arrested, naked? This is one issue where the line isn’t easy to draw.

]]> By: Nancy http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/04/05/teacher-code-of-conduct-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-29486 Nancy Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:45:30 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=3732#comment-29486 Let's face it, we're all leaving digital footprints, and we are seeing more and more of these 'feet' kicking us in the rear. Just as there are codes of conduct vis-a-vis teacher-student relationships in a face-to-face environment, so to should these be extended to the digital realm. One issue we must grapple with is that there are no longer any geographical boundaries in our lives and as such we are exposing ourselves to a much larger audience. How will this play out in the future? I don't know that we have the answer to that yet. As with venturing into this new territory, some of us will go into hiding and not come out until the path has been cleared, others will take tentative steps on newly cleared roads, while others will bulldoze right on through the forests until they've reached a clearing. Regardless, I'm sure that there will be casualties as we forge ahead. Let’s face it, we’re all leaving digital footprints, and we are seeing more and more of these ‘feet’ kicking us in the rear.

Just as there are codes of conduct vis-a-vis teacher-student relationships in a face-to-face environment, so to should these be extended to the digital realm.

One issue we must grapple with is that there are no longer any geographical boundaries in our lives and as such we are exposing ourselves to a much larger audience. How will this play out in the future? I don’t know that we have the answer to that yet. As with venturing into this new territory, some of us will go into hiding and not come out until the path has been cleared, others will take tentative steps on newly cleared roads, while others will bulldoze right on through the forests until they’ve reached a clearing. Regardless, I’m sure that there will be casualties as we forge ahead.

]]> By: Janetta Garton http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/04/05/teacher-code-of-conduct-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-29483 Janetta Garton Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:21:00 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=3732#comment-29483 Here's our first attempt at a Social Networking Best Practices for teachers: http://www.willard.k12.mo.us/co/tech/Document/SocialNetworkBestPractices.pdf Here’s our first attempt at a Social Networking Best Practices for teachers: http://www.willard.k12.mo.us/co/tech/Document/SocialNetworkBestPractices.pdf

]]> By: Langwitches http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/04/05/teacher-code-of-conduct-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-29436 Langwitches Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:37:04 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=3732#comment-29436 Looking forward to reading what your district comes up with. Looking forward to reading what your district comes up with.

]]> By: Setting Expectations for Online Behaviour in a School Community | An Expat Educator in Asia http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/04/05/teacher-code-of-conduct-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-29412 Setting Expectations for Online Behaviour in a School Community | An Expat Educator in Asia Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:53:54 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=3732#comment-29412 [...] read Sylvia Tolisano’s excellent post on this issue on her Langwitches blog this week. I urge you to go and read it for yourself but here are some [...] [...] read Sylvia Tolisano’s excellent post on this issue on her Langwitches blog this week. I urge you to go and read it for yourself but here are some [...]

]]> By: Leslie Healey http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/04/05/teacher-code-of-conduct-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-29411 Leslie Healey Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:34:07 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=3732#comment-29411 Teaching is not "just" a job...teachers can have a more powerful influence on their students than even parents. I teach high school, and I enjoy every second with my teens, but I am always clear about the line between us...it is for them more than for me. Use common sense when choosing settings on FB, etc. I AM NOT THEIR FRIEND--they have those. I am something different and just as important, and I respect that. We are models, whether we want to be or not. Teaching is not “just” a job…teachers can have a more powerful influence on their students than even parents. I teach high school, and I enjoy every second with my teens, but I am always clear about the line between us…it is for them more than for me. Use common sense when choosing settings on FB, etc. I AM NOT THEIR FRIEND–they have those. I am something different and just as important, and I respect that. We are models, whether we want to be or not.

]]> By: Kimberly http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/04/05/teacher-code-of-conduct-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-29410 Kimberly Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:06:27 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=3732#comment-29410 Personally I don't post anything I wouldn't want my parents, grandparents, or bosses to see. Now I've criticized some decisions our district has made on my blog - and said the exact same thing to my boss's face in a meeting. I wouldn't work long for a district that tried to restrict my freedom of speech or press outside of work hours. Personally I don’t post anything I wouldn’t want my parents, grandparents, or bosses to see.

Now I’ve criticized some decisions our district has made on my blog – and said the exact same thing to my boss’s face in a meeting.

I wouldn’t work long for a district that tried to restrict my freedom of speech or press outside of work hours.

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