Week+8+What+Is+It+All+About?

**Code of Ethics**

The school is dedicated to providing students, faculty and staff with access to the most modern computing and technology services possible given the resources available. Students and faculty can expect:
 * K-12**
 * equitable access to computing and technology resources
 * availability of computing and technology resources that supplement and aid learning
 * safeguards in place to promote responsible usage of technology
 * adequate protection for learners against sites that pose a threat to learners
 * that privacy protection procedures are in place and in accordance to the department's privacy procedure
 * that intellectual property rights are respected and learners are taught to respect such rights in their work

University Computing Resources is a department dedicated to providing the campus community with a modern, technologically advanced, safe and environmentally friendly suite of resources to enhance learning and research. Constituents can expect:
 * University**
 * equitable, convenient access to resources both in labs and online
 * selected through careful research, the most appropriate and relevant resources made available within the confines of budgetary resources
 * competent staffing to promote usage of new technologies and to provide timely assistance
 * a privacy policy enforced for the protection of the community
 * foster an atmosphere that respects intellectual property rights based on the regulations of the university
 * reasonable protection against harmful sites and entities identified by computing resource administrators

The corporate IT department is tasked with providing employees with dedicated, advanced and user friendly computing and technology resources. The department strives to promote the following: 
 * Business**
 * access to all employees, resources that help them do their jobs more effectively, within corporate guidelines
 * continuous research to identify new technologies that can increase productivity and improve employee efficiency
 * provide the services of a help desk to address employee concerns and provide assistance
 * ensure responsible usage of corporate IT resources and data
 * provide reasonable safeguards to protect the privacy of the company and employees
 * protect corporate intellectual property via security equipment and procedures
 * Discussion Questions**


 * From the enGauge 21st Century Skills Academic Skillsets, I chose the following two to discuss. On the day that I accessed the** [|www.ncrel.org] **site, the relevant pages were not available. I have substituted them with what seems identical but taken from the website of** [|www.metiri.com].

[]

1. Among the new technologies available, what criteria would you use to select the most appropriate ones to use to promote interactive communications?

I would expect students to start discussing the types of synchronous and asynchronous communication tools available such as blogs, wikis, webinars, chat rooms etc. I will then lead them into a discussion with the point that you have to consider the following issues:
 * The audience- Know your audience. Use technologies that are within their realms of interest if possible as it is so much easier when you engage the learner.
 * Availability of the technology
 * Relevant ethical and value dilemmas to consider- Obvious examples is plagiarism and making available copyrighted material.
 * Etiquette unique to the new technology- Email is relatively informal communication method as compared to mailed letters, texting is even less formal. Communication is clearly trending towards informality and the probability of misinterpretation arguably increases.
 * Global communications- Language, time zone, diversity and cultural custom considerations.

2. Discuss the issues surrounding digital age literacy.
 * Availability of technology- discuss how availability is affected by socio-economic, governmental policy and global availability
 * Widespread use and acceptance of relevant technology
 * Basic literacy- digital age literacy does not displace basic language and math skills
 * Scientific literacy- a certain level of scientific and technological knowledge is assumed for digital age literacy


 * From Shift Happens, here are two discussion questions:**

1. “China will soon become the number one English speaking country in the world”

What implications does this have on education in the US?

The fact that a country with a language with no resemblance to English can have that many speakers shows that their educational objectives are very different. The Chinese as with most other countries in the world, does not look inward towards their future. I mean that they recognize the need to deal with foreigners and that they cannot depend on foreigners to adapt to their ways. The US has been ethnocentric in this regards for decades. Being more self sufficient than most countries, the mentality exists among the majority of the population that their immediate world is what they see in their daily lives.

Education must change this mentality. Recognize that with global trade, international affairs are a way of life. A second language should be mandatory. Math skills must improve and rigor added to the system to remotely approach the educational standards of other industrialized nations. The US is large and therefore has more reputable institutions of higher learning than most, this contributes to the impression conveyed to other that the US standard of education is on par internationally. Not necessarily true though, as many public schools and universities produce sub par graduates. A focus on technology is the other pillar for success. Technology must be available and embraced from an early age.

2. “Now you know”

So my question is, now that you know, what are you personally going to do about it? Assuming that my students are in the education industry, I expect each of them to come up with concrete steps they can personally make to further the goals presented.

I would expect answers such as the following: 
 * Weave different technologies into my classes to get students comfortable with different modes of learning
 * Spread the “gospel” of availability and accessibility of technology among the faculty and administration of my school
 * Organize clubs where students can get together and help promote the cause
 * Personal Reflection**

What excites me about instructional technology is the potential to increase the speed and retention of learning. In this day and age, communication takes on new forms every year. Education must follow the lead of its target audience or risk losing effectiveness and failing to meet required outcomes.

Through this course, I gained a stronger understanding in the objective of instructional technology. I became a great deal more aware of the issues surrounding the availability and accessibility of technology. It is something I never thought about seriously. One tends to delve straight into the types of technology and their uses, and the broader issue of access is taken for granted.

For me, this course set the framework for what instructional technology is all about and what I need t do to ensure that the benefits are the most inclusive they can be.