Re: A Question of Ethics

[Jane Coffey <RLEDUJane@AOL.COM>]

I find this very interesting...As the Technology Support Specialist in an
elementary school, part of my job is to run the Technology Center (computer
lab), but I have NEVER been asked to list projects, etc., nor do I have to
make monthly or weekly reports. I post a schedule at the first of  the year,
the teachers sign up...an hour and a half of each day is made available for
projects that require extra time (Powerpoint presentations are currently
being developed by the second and fourth graders), but I do not make one
comprehensive list of what goes on daily.

I always invite the admininstration INTO the Center for large events online,
for demos of projects currently in progress, and I usually duplicate at least
one example of each project and post them in the room. Being highly visible
and being open at all times, I feel this shows accountability.

I guess my question would be why would an administrator WANT or CARE to know
what type of research is being conducted, unless there have been problems? We
are so open at my school, that when there is a problem (and we did have one
child who insisted on surfing Pokemon, etc. during research time), I pulled
the child and sent him to the office. The principal, within five minutes,
came down to the TC and held a mini-reminder speech of the consequences of
the school AUP, and suspended the boy from the lab for two months!

Our site treats the teachers as professionals, as it should. We instruct the
teachers as to the "expectations" of using the technology, in your case, the
library, and that is that. I truly believe that a good administrator trusts
his staff and treats them with the respect they deserve.

I wonder, as stated by another poster, if perhaps the administrator in
question was simply requesting more information as a general comment...In
other words, he/she was not prying, just simply wondering how the library
resources were being used--i.e., the Internet, periodicals, or was this
research done on the teacher's part or did it involve your time? Our
administration is BIG on the staff learning to be competent users of all
media; perhaps the same is true of yours.

In short, I don't see any hidden agenda here...and, as one other poster
stated, perhaps this administrator was simply musing and doesn't really
expect an answer...just felt you might comment next time as to the nature of
the research... A simple statement: "WWII war heroes research, using the
Net," etc...If you are normally required to be accountable, this just seems
to be a way of clarifying...

I wish you well. I have to admit I am glad I do not have to turn in written
reports such as these; however, as I said, we are so open and I DO often send
informational emails to my administration inviting them to the TC, that
perhaps they see no need for one more document to read! ;-))

Good luck!

Jane ;-)
Jane Coffey
Director/President
The Read In!/The Read In Foundation
http://www.readin.org

Over 120,000 participants will be joining us in May...Have YOU registered??!

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