Unit 3
Legal and Ethical Issues in Technology
In E-learning system Students are able to interact anytime from anywhere with different instructional material (text, sound, pictures, video and so on) through Internet. Furthermore, learners can even communicate with teachers and classmates both individually and as a group discussion with the use of message boards, instant message exchanges and video conferencing (Andersson, 2010). Therefore, E-learning has been defined variously, learning system using different carrying technologies and techniques like Computer Based Training (CBT), Internet-based training (IBT), Web-based instruction (WBI), distributed learning (DL), advanced distributed learning (ADL), distance learning, online learning (OL), mobile learning (or m-learning) or remote learning and learning management systems (LMS) (Clark and Mayer, 2011).
Anitha and Harsha (2013)pointed out that ethical issues on e-learning sites mostly start from improper usage of this influential resource known as Internet. It is not difficult to cheat on the Internet. Students either studying in a university or enroll on an online program can easily acquire fraudulent knowledge or information and use it for their coursework, projects, and Assignments. Therefore it is very important that the software developer for e-Learning sites is cautious design and managed with adequate checks and balances to minimize unethical practices by which student can cheat. This ethical issues can be resolved if the e-learning site software developer pay attention to the design of the e-learning site software (Masters and Ellaway, 2008). Khan (2005) stated that ethical issues, which may come across E-learning system implementation, are social, cultural, political, geographical diversity of the learner as well as learner diversity, legal issues, bias, integrity, equality, privacy and justice as these issues have been in traditional educational system.
There are various legal issues surrounding the use of e-learning sites in studying which we all need to be aware of, The most difficult (and often overlapping) legal issues are found in the areas of copyright, data protection and licensing(Mastrian, McGonigle, Mahan, & Bixler, 2011).
Copyright
There is an understanding of 'fair use' (unless specified otherwise) that allows reasonable use of materials for private study. Making multiple copies of resources without the express permission of the copyright owner, or a copyright statement acknowledging this as a fair use, is not acceptable (Mastrian, McGonigle, Mahan, & Bixler, 2011). Khan (2005) mentioned that institutions should build policies for instructors, learners, administrators and support services staff for legal issues such as plagiarism, privacy, and copyright. Learners should never publish without permission as participants personal views and biases which they may not want the outside world to know. Content authors, instructors, and students should be familiar about copyright issues pertaining to E-learning system.
Data protection
The website of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO, 2012) quotes eight principles of data protection that apply to all those processing and holding personal data. 'Personal data' encompasses both facts and opinions about an individual, and the Data Protection Act applies to any personal information held in a structured filing system. Data must be: fairly and lawfully processed, processed for limited purposes, adequate, relevant and not excessive, accurate, not kept longer than necessary, processed in accordance with the data subject's rights secure, and not transferred to countries without adequate protection.
Licensing
The license is the legal statement of how one can use an e-learning sites copyrighted material. In an educational setting, the license will usually state the number of machines a piece of purchased software may be used on. Normally, educational establishments will need a site license, a multi-user license or many copies of single-user licenses. Software and other resources must be used within the terms of the license (Mehrpouyan and Razavi, 2014).
References
Andersson, A. (2010). Learning e‐learning: The Restructuring of Students’ Beliefs and Assumptions about Learning. International Journal on E‐Learning, 9(4).
Anitha, C., & Harsha, T. S. (2013). Ethical Perspectives in Open and Distance Education System. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 14(1), 193-201.
Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2011). E-learning and the science of instruction: Proven guidelines for consumers and designers of multimedia learning. John Wiley & Sons.
Information Commission’s Office. (ICO, 2012). Monitoring under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Retrieved from https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisations/documents /1062/section-75-monitoring.pdf.
Khan, B. (2005b). Managing E-Learning Strategies: Design, Delivery, Implementation and Evaluation. Hershey, PA: Information Science Publishing.
Masters, K., & Ellaway, R. (2008). e-Learning in medical education Guide 32 Part 2: Technology, management and design. Medical teacher, 30(5), 474-489.
Mastrian, K. G., McGonigle, D., Mahan, W. L., &Bixler, B. (2011). Integrating technology in nursing education: Tools for the knowledge era. Sudbury, MA.: Jones and Bartlett
Mehrpouyan, A., & Razavi, G. K. (2014). Legal Issues of Intellectual Property Rights and Licensing for E-Learning Content in the United Kingdom. E-Learning and Digital Media, 11(3), 272-277.
The internet is a challenge to instructors. While it allows us to reach a broader and more divers audience, it also make it easier to borrow thing that are not our own. The temptation is there and it can catch us all unaware. I remember hearing of a peer who was invited to present at a conference and in her PPT she used some ready pretty pictures that she found on the internet. Unfortunately, the owner of the pictures was in the audience and since the speaker was getting paid (allot of money) for the presentation, the owner of the pictures took her to court, and won.
ReplyDeleteThings are a little different for use as instructors as there are rules that allow for the use in educational setting, most of the photographic information found on the internet with out asking the owners permission.
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ReplyDeleteWeaam, you have created an informative post! In addition to what you have said here, I would like to focus more on the ethical issues that are associated with online education or eLearning. The ethical dilemma with on-line education is more than cheating or improper use of others’ works that require permission to use (copyrighted materials). The issue is related to the quality of the delivered education comparing to face-to-face, which leads to academic misrepresentation to the educational program. Brown (2008) indicates that the businesses of eLearning face the same moral dilemmas that other online business face; however, eLearning experience additional major ethical issues such as: “first, the eLearning provider is faced with a host of moral challenges related to the quality of the learning outcomes; and second, the eLearning consumer faces a variety of moral challenges related to engaging in the learning process” (p. 2012). The author also indicates that academic dishonesty such as cheating is more likely to be higher among students who study online than those who study on campus. According to the National Survey of Student Engagement in 2007, about 60% of the students enrolled in eLearning try sort of academic fraud, meaning that the effectiveness of the educational program cannot be evaluated using evidence from eLearning.
ReplyDeleteHere are some of the common legal and ethical issues arise when using technology in the higher education
1. Inappropriate assistance on examinations
2. Misuse of sources on papers and projects
3. Writing assistance and other inappropriate tutoring
4. Breaches of computer ethics
5. Lack of adherence to copyright and copy-protection;
6. Inappropriate assistance to others
7. Lack of adherence to academic regulations.
I believe that teaching nurses moral issues of academia and nursing ethics does not immune nursing students from engaging in one or more than one of the academic dishonesty issues; therefore, in the eLearning environment, it is a shared responsibility between students and “eTeacher” or eLearning provider to avoid ethical problems associated with online education. It is a professional and moral obligation for teachers to use secured educational software and tests as much as possible to deter academic fraud.
Reference:
Brown, T. (2008) Ethics in e-Learning, iBiZ2008 Workshop for Net Business Ethics, Feb. 10-11, 2008. Retrieved from http://www.gsim.aoyama.ac.jp/ORC/iBiZ2008/papers/Brown.pdf
Weeam,
ReplyDeleteI have faced many new challenges when I began teaching in an online environment. I communicate with many students via email and through the Learning Management System (LMS) that the University uses. I had to review the FERPA guidelines and have a firm understanding of the information that could and could not be released, and to whom.
Another area that I found interesting in the online learning environment in which I teach is that student conferences could be recorded in a virtual chat room. I found this very helpful when discussing a performance plan with a student. I could then share the recorded link with the student and she could always access the information.
Another area that I found fascinating was the online exam testing software. The software utilizes a camera in the student's exam room. The walls must be covered in plain white sheets and all material removed from the room, except the computer and camera. The student is required to scan the entire room, from floor to ceiling, and all the way around at the beginning of the exam and again at the end of the exam. A live reviewer monitors the exam. The reviewers are watching for particular eye and head movements. The professor is notified if the student is flagged. Then the professor reviews the recording and discusses the findings with the student. The University has an entire policy about cheating on exams, which includes a faculty volunteer and the student council. It is an amazing process.
I didn't really consider all the legal and ethical issues that I deal with on a daily basis. I really enjoyed reading your posts, Weaam.