Ethical issues in instructional technology: an exploratory framework
Multicultural Education & Technology Journal
ISSN: 1750-497X
Article publication date: 21 August 2009
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore a framework for considering moral K‐12 instructional technology. It seeks to examine the extent that development of technology policies consider and respect affected parties' interests.
Design/methodology/approach
Interpreting morality as an economic concept that involves a reconciliation of societal members' diverse needs and wants, the authors describe moral instruction technology use as a negotiation of administrative, teaching and learning needs along five continua defined by Mason, in 1986 and Peace and Hartzel in 2002: property, freedom of speech, privacy, accessibility, and accountability. The paper commences with observations concerning research into technology‐based empowerment and associated ethical issues. It then describes the five continua of ethical instructional technology challenges within the contexts of K‐12 settings.
Findings
The authors encourage research through observational and survey studies to clarify understandings of these continua. Although presented separately, they acknowledge that these dimensions overlap and interact to comprise a mesh of moral dilemmas. If morality represents a concept designed to balance societal powers, then implementation of moral instructional technology processes respects the views of all educators. The authors argue that how educators interpret technology's placements along these moral continua have important consequences for practice. They encourage research that interprets these relationships and how they may best support classroom processes.
Originality/value
The paper presents an exploratory framework, offering insights into ethical issues in instructional technology.
Keywords
Citation
Lucey, T.A. and Grant, M.M. (2009), "Ethical issues in instructional technology: an exploratory framework", Multicultural Education & Technology Journal, Vol. 3 No. 3, pp. 196-212. https://doi.org/10.1108/17504970910984871
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited