Practicing Caution: Guidelines for Electronic Communications

The opportunities to use social media and electronic communication for pedagogical purposes continue to expand on an almost daily basis.  Social media offers teachers exciting new ways to engage with students, parents and the wider school community.  While embracing these new opportunities makes pedagogical sense, expectations on us professionally dictate that we do so with proper safeguards in place and a vigilant eye to maintaining the standards of our profession.
When considering using social media to communicate with students, parents, or others in the school community, it is important to remember that the technology does not change the role of teachers and their professional obligations.  The principles that have traditionally governed how teachers communicate with the school community have not changed: professionalism, accountability, and boundaries continue to apply.  Always remember that material posted online, whether via e-mail, Facebook, blogging, twitter, or other media, is never truly erased.  If you would not utter a phrase or raise a particular topic in your classroom or in the presence of your principal or a parent, then do not communicate it by electronic means. 
At least three scenarios have pitfalls that demand teachers exercise caution: teachers communicating with individual students, parents, or the wider school community, through Facebook or other social media; teachers being careless about their personal use of social networking sites or what is posted about them; teachers failing to recognize social networking websites as an arena for potential cyber-bullying.

Tips: Given the potentially serious consequences of misusing e-mail and social networking sites here are some tips to consider:

• if you use social media as a teaching tool ensure that the proper safeguards are in place, including providing access to school administrators and parents;
• avoid communicating with individual parents/students through e-mail or social networking sites;
• never use your personal account to friend students or parents;
• if you communicate electronically, only do so from your board e-mail account and maintain the highest standards of professionalism;
• be vigilant in monitoring what is posted about yourself online.

By the Professional Relations Services of ETFO.

Notes to members:

TO REMAIN ON THE LIST

• Pay Ontario College of Teachers' fee by April 15th.  Those in an LTO assignment on January first will have had their fees automatically deducted by payroll
• Complete online Statement of Intent to Remain on the List by April 30th > Employee Portal
• Teach at least five (5) full days in an elementary site
• Complete Annual Offence Declaration on Employee Portal
• Complete mandatory online training by June 29, 2012
• Notify TVDSB of any changes to name, address and telephone number

  Upcoming events:
Designated paid PA Day at Althouse College on April 20th!
Registration is open and sessions are filling up.  Avoid disappointment and register today. 
Earn a day's pay while you learn.
Register on-line via the TVDSB Employee Portal.  Once logged in, click on "Registration Access" and make your selections.  Don't overlook the plenary morning session with Karen Greenham, formerly of TVDSB and Dr. Peter Jaffe.  Shuttle buses will run from the Huron Flats parking lot at UWO.

Spring General Meeting and Banquet on May 24, 2012 at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn.  Always a wonderful opportunity to socialize and meet fellow OTs, this meeting will provide current information leading up to Collective Bargaining discussions.  Please register on-line at tvotpd@gmail.com.