ICT POLICIES
AND SAFETY
ISSUES IN
TEACHING AND
LEARNING
Policies and Issues on Internet and Implications to Teaching and Learning
One method of improving and controlling ICT usage is to develop and enforce
policies to influence effective decisions.
Definition of ICT Policy
Policy
is a course of action, adopted and pursued by a government, party, ruler, statesman.
ICT Policies
are required to lay out a road map or plan of action for different states,
organizations, and agencies involved with ICT to follow.
It includes principles and guidelines in the use of ICT which cover three main areas:
Telecommunications (telephone)
Broadcasting (radio and television)
Internet
The New ICT Technologies
➤ The three recent group of technological innovations that increased the reach and speed of
communication
1. Information Technology
It includes the use of computers, which has become indispensable in modern societies to
process data and save time and effort.
2. Telecommunication Technologies
Include telephones(with fax) and the broadcasting of radio and television often through satellites.
Transmission of information through various technologies.
3. Networking Technologies
Best known of networking technologies in internet, but has extended to mobile phone technology,
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) satellite communications and
other forms of communication are still in their fancy.
Some Issues on ICT and Internet Policy and Regulations
Global Issues
Access and Civil Liberties are two sets of issues in ICT Policy which are crucial to the
modern Society. Access to the Use of Internet and ICT. Access means the possibility
for everyone to use the internet and other media.
Issue No. 1 Freedom of Expression and Censorship
Under international human rights conventions, all people are guaranteed the rights for free expression.
The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides that everyone has the right to freedom
of thought, conscience, and religion, likewise the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
Example:
1. creating a blog or vlog
A young person stars a YouTube channel sharing their thoughts on online
learning during the pandemic. They are exercising freedom of speech by
expressing personal views even if some people disagree with them.
2. Tiktok or Facebook removing posts
If someone posts fake news or hate speech, tiktok or facebook may take it
down or ban the account. That’s a form of platform level censorship to
protect users and follow policies even though some might argue it limits free
speech.
Issue No. 2 Privacy and Security
Privacy policies are an issue. Most commercial sites have a privacy policy. When
someone uses a site and clicks “I agree "button, it is as if you have turned over private
information to any authority that may access it.
There are several types of privacy as shown by the following examples:
1. Form most, privacy
“personal privacy” the right of individuals not to have their home, private life, or personal
life interfered with.
2. Privacy of communication
refers to the protections from interference with communication over the phone or internet.
3. Information privacy
is related to the use of computers and communications system which can hold and process
information about the large numbers of people at a high speed.
Issue No. 3: Surveillance and Data Retention
The use of electronic communications has enhanced the development of indirect
surveillance. In indirect surveillance, there is no direct contact between the agents and the
subject of surveillance. Antiviolence is the use of personal information to monitor a
person’s activities.
Issue No. 4: E-pollutants from E-waste
Large amount of e-waste is generated by ICT. These are, terminal equipment used for
computing (PCs, laptops), broadcasting (television and radio sets).
Implication to Teaching and Learning
How do the policy guidelines, projects and issues relate to the teaching and learning?
There are great implications of this lesson to both the teachers who are teaching and
the learners who are learning. A few od these are as follow:
For the Teachers and Teaching
1. Guide the teachers on what they should teach that relate to ICT, and how to teach it.
Teachers might be overwhelmed by the rapid development of ICT. Temperance in its use is
a caution that should be looked at.
2. Technology should never replace any human teacher. The human touch of the teacher is
still a vital component in teaching.
3. There are rules and regulations that govern the use of technology. Teachers must be
aware that technology may jeopardize your privacy and security.
4. All the issues and many more shall be part of the teaching content as each teacher will be
encouraged to use technology in teaching.
For the Learners and Learning
Learners of the 21st Century are even more advanced than some of the teachers. However,
they still need guidance on how to use, regulate technology use. There are positive and
negative effects of technology use, learners should also know what technology can do to
them and how can they be protected from that.
Both the teachers and learners should be mindful of the e-waste that being thrown away to
the land and to the atmosphere. Thus, safety in the use of technology shall be presented in
the next lesson.
Safety Issues on the Use of ICT including E-Safety Rules
Some Risks in the Use of ICT and e-Networking
Technology is a phenomenon that seems to be uncontrollable. Safeguards and protections
should be the primordial role of parents, teachers, and schools. There are so many risks that
we have to be aware of in the use of digital technologies.
These may include the following:
1. Exposure to inappropriate content, including on-line pornography, extremism
(exposure to violence associated with racist language);
2. Lifestyle websites like self-harms and suicide sites, and hate sites;
3. Cyber-bullying in all forms, receiving sexually explicit images or messages;
4. Privacy issues including disclosure of personal information;
5. Health and well-being (amount of time spent on-line, internet gaming and many more;
6. Prolonged exposure to on-line technologies, particularly at an early age;
7. Addiction to gambling and gaming;
8. Theft and fraud from activities such as phishing;
9. Viruses, Trojans, spyware and other malware; and
10. Social pleasure to maintain online networks via texting and social networking sites.
Minor Misuse of ICT
In school, some minor misuse made by learners include the following:
Copying information into assignment and failing to acknowledge the source
(plagiarism
and copyright infringement)
Downloading materials not relevant to their studies
Misconduct associated with subject logins, such as using some else’s password
Leaving a mobile phone turned on during class period
• Unauthorized taking of pictures or images with mobile phone camera, still or moving
E-Safety
e-Safety takes care not only of internet technologies but also of electronic
communications via mobile phones, games consoles and wireless technology. It
highlights the need to educate children and young people about the benefits, risks, and
responsibilities of using information technology.
Here are some issues of e-Safety:
e-safety helps safeguard children and young people in the digital world,
e-safety emphasizes learning to understand new technologies in a positive way,
e-safety educates children about the risks as well as the benefits so we can feel
confident online, and
• e-safety supports young learners and adults to develop safer online behaviors,
both in and out of school.
Network Management
1. Safety in the Use of Network in Schools
A. Make clear that no one should log on as another user.
B. Require all users to always log off when they have finished working.
C. Maintain equipment to ensure health and safety.
D. Provide students with access to content and resources through guided e-learning.
E. Set up a clear disaster recovery system in place for critical data that include secure,
remote back up of critical data
F. Secure wireless network to appropriate standards suitable for educational use.
G. Install all computer equipment professionally and meet health and safety standards.
2. Password Policy
1. Review the school ICT system regularly with regard to health and safety and
security.
2. only authorized users will have individual passwords. Users are not permitted to
disclose their passwords unless they got permission from the owner or from the
management. The equipment that keeps the personal information shall be locked
when unattended to prevent unauthorized access. Computers should be set to a time
out if they become unused for a certain period of time.
3. Personal mobile phones and mobile devices
1. All mobile phones shall be kept away in a box away from the children or learners
and access is only allowed at break time or at the end of the classes or when needed
during the class period.
4. Camera
1.Taking pictures only from parents or caregivers and not from any other family
member or friend while the child attends class.
2. Any picture taken of children shall be on cameras solely for the purpose.
Setting Up an Educational Technology Room
Schools that plan to dedicate a room where students can access technologies for
learning should include the following basic safety rules:
1. Provide tilt table tables. These tables can be tilted and adjusted to the height of the
users.
2. Provide anti-glare screen filters.
3. Provide adjustable chairs.
4. Provide foot support.
5. Make sure lighting is suitable.
6. Make sure work stations are not cramped.
7. Plan work at a computer so that there frequent breaks.
More specifically safety rules that can reduce risk of accidents in the working
stations should include:
1. No trailing wires across or around the room which people can trip on.
2. Electrical sockets should not be overloaded.
3. Electrical equipment should be safety-tested at least once a year.
4. There should be adequate space around desk for people to move.
5. Bags and obstacles should be stored out of the way.
6. Food and drinks should not be placed near machines.
7. Heating and ventilation should be suitable for the working environment.
8. Fire extinguishers should be available.
9. Fire exits should be clearly marked and free from clutter.
