Week 28 Legal and ethical contexts in my digital practice

Social media can be an effective tool for engaging with learners and communicating with parents, whānau and communities. Educators who model good social media use will grow learners who apply positive, respectful values in their interactions on social media platforms.

I will reflect on a case I faced a few years ago using Rolfe’s model of reflection.

What?

A learner said to me. “ Mr … had a party last night”, while covering a class for a faculty member.

“How could you know that” I asked. “On Facebook Mr ... was tagged in a post by his friend”.  I am a friend of Mr … on Facebook”.

I discovered many learners in the class were Facebook friends of the educator.

The educator was a PCT teacher and TIC of Māori at the school. I knew that Māori learners preferred to have closer relationships with their educators. Māori learners like hearing about their educators’ lives. However, as HOF, I believed there was an issue concerning professionalism that needed addressing.

So What?

I followed Ehrich’s framework to help address the dilemma.  

Professional ethics

I believe that educators need to maintain a “professional distance” between themselves and their learners at all times.

Organisational culture/institutional context

In New Zealand schools the concept of AKO is essential to the teacher-learner relationship. Educators should be good role models for learners.

Bishop et al. (2009), “found that the quality of teacher-student relationships and interactions was a central factor in improving Māori student achievement” (p.32). I assume this applies equally to all ethnicities. I doubt it is possible to maintain good relationships with learners if you do not separate your personal and professional lives.

Public interest/society & community

Educators are similar to public figures. They need to be aware of this reality.  Learners and Whānau keep tabs on them. I believe there needs to be a distinction between one’s personal and professional lives to help maintain professionalism.

Individual - values

However, learners who were friends of the educator would be disappointed if they were removed as friends from the educator’s Facebook, affecting their relationships and learning, especially between a Māori educator and their Māori learners. Will they be able to continue trusting the educator? What are the most important factors that contribute to maintaining trusting relationships between educators and learners?   

Forsyth (2007) suggested students “felt [that] respectful relationships within the teaching/learning environment were perhaps the most important factor in allowing them to feel valued, accepted, and welcome (p.91).”

Now What?

The Education Council (2017) stated “engaging in ethical and professional relationships with learners that respect professional boundaries” (p. 10) They suggest educators should observe boundaries with their learners.

I discussed this matter with the Principal before talking with the educator and tried to approach it  as mentoring. Hall (2001) stated that “in ethical decision making it is important to brainstorm accounts without judging them until the list is complete”.  

After some discussion, the educator decided to create two separate Facebook profiles, one for professional and one for personal use. He created groups for his classes and invited the learners to join and the Whānau were informed as to how Social Media was being used as a tool to help learners.

We also discussed the changes with the learners reflecting the restorative aspect of the school.

References:

Chauvel, F., & Rean, J. (2012). Doing better for Māori in tertiary settings. Review of the literature.

Education Council of New Zealand | Matatū Aotearoa. (2017). Our Code Our Standards Code of Professional Responsibility and Standards for the Teaching Profession Ngā Tikanga Matatika Ngā Paerewa Nga-Tikanga Matatika mo-te Haepapa Ngaiotanga me nga-Paerewa mo-te Umanga Whakaakoranga. https://doi.org/978-0-908347-28-5

Hall, A. (2001). What ought I to do, all things considered? An approach to the exploration of ethical problems by teachers. In IIPE Conference for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance, Griffith University, NAthan Campus, Brisbane, 8 April. Retrieved from http://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/content/download/545/4465/Hall 2001.pdf