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Unblurring the picture
New technology and new media bring with them opportunities, but for the teaching profession, we need to have a clear focus on how they should be used
GTC Scotland has launched guidelines for teachers on the use of electronic communication and social media.
This is as a result of increasing casework in this area and receiving a number of enquiries from teachers and education professionals looking for clarification on how best to use these tools in their everyday work.
The increasing popularity of social media in recent years has allowed many teachers to enhance their classroom practice, introducing their pupils to new tools and deliver the curriculum in innovative and engaging ways.
The majority of teachers using these tools do so without encountering any difficulty. However, registered teachers and those who may be seeking registration in the future, (such as student teachers), should be aware of the many challenges and ramifications associated with the use of electronic communication and social media.
Chief Executive Anthony Finn said: "This professional guidance is not intended to constrain or 'nanny' teachers, but rather to advise them on the potential pitfalls of using social media and to suggest ways in which teachers can protect themselves from risk."
New Contexts for Teaching and Learning
The ability to communicate in real time with others, and access networks across the world using new technologies, brings with it great opportunities for teachers. It also offers great challenges as the boundary between teacher and pupil can quickly become blurred.
All professions are subject to wide scrutiny and it can be hard to tell the difference between perception and reality. Teachers, therefore, need to be alert to the risk that actions which might, on the face of it, seem quite innocent, can be misunderstood and misconstrued by others.
Private versus Professional
As GTC Scotland Codes state, teachers are individuals with private lives, however, off-duty conduct matters and may have bearing on their professional life. Therefore, sound judgement and due care should be exercised as conduct, which may not directly relate to pupils, may be relevant to a teacher’s fitness to teach.
Professional Vulnerability
A teacher can be vulnerable to unintended misuses of electronic communication.
E-mail, texting and social media encourage casual dialogue and very often, very innocent actions can easily be misconstrued or manipulated.
Electronic messages are not anonymous and can be tracked and live forever on the internet. Social media sites archive content posted, even when deleted from online profiles. Once information is placed online, the author relinquishes control of it.
Social media brings with it a new dimension and 'feel' to a relationship, and this is particularly important when a student and a teacher become 'friends' in an online environment. A teacher should never share information with students in ANY environment that they would not willingly or appropriately share in a school or school-related setting or in the community.
To find out how teachers can minimise risk to themselves and their pupils when using electronic communication and social networking, go to http://bit.ly/rN5n4R.
The Legal Implications
Unwise behaviour online can also result in criminal action or in some cases, civil action brought by others and therefore requires caution.
Fitness to Teach Implications
At the heart of GTC Scotland's Fitness to Teach framework is the protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults, and the trust the public has in the teaching profession. Therefore, all complaints are considered fairly and in the same way regardless of whether or not they are associated with the internet or involve electronic communication.
For example, the behaviours listed below have warranted disciplinary measures:
- inappropriate electronic communication with pupils, colleagues and parents/carers, including SMS and instant messaging
- posting/sending explicit pictures/images to colleagues or pupils
- grooming - whereby a teacher uses electronic messages with a view to establishing an inappropriate relationship with a pupil
- possessing, making, viewing or distributing indecent images of children
- using inappropriate YouTube content in the educational setting.