Rights and Responsibilities

Technology has opened up our world more than I ever thought possible. Both in good ways and bad ways. Students need to know that technology affords them so much power and they must act responsibly with it. Acting responsibly includes keeping their information safe, using their right to free speech in a way that maintains the right of privacy for others, and obeying the laws of the country. The consequences of irresponsible behavior on the internet should be communicated to students every time we grant them access to technology. Hopefully these conversations will help students realize how big of a responsibility technology is and not just something fun to play around with.

Technology has indeed changed our world, which does indeed mean having responsibilities along with the right to online information and open communication.  The explosion of the Internet has changed so much with communication and information.  Our students may often not fully realize or recall what a privilege but yet a great careful undertaking is involved when using Internet.  
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A great deal of information is stored and can be found online, albeit some of which may not be accurate.   Online storage is not always safe from hackers, too.   So, hopefully, students will realize and recall that they must not just appreciate the depths of Internet information, but also realize that they must be cautious.
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Students must be cautious when communicating online as well.  As the videos reminded us, students must realize the scope of the wide world online, and how far it reaches for many years.  All of us Americans have Free Speech and Intellectual Freedom, but all of us must be cautious when posting personal information that could be kept forever by another and maybe passed on to still others.
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As a teacher librarian or school librarian, I and all others in the library field has had to take a class just on copyright.  We studied Intellectual Freedom a lot throughout library courses.  As a result of those courses, the bottom line is that I feel like I need to promote Intellectual Freedom and protect copyright laws even more strongly. So I push and teach a lot of cautious use of the Internet for information and when communicating online.  
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The world of extensive and somewhat easy information and easier communication is well known by our students. Now, it is indeed up to educators to remind students many times that using online information and communication is a right, and with a right comes responsibilities to be cautions.