Charlotte Spencer EDLD 5344 School Law October 6, 2010
NOTICE – THIS IS A DIFFERENT ASSIGNMENT THAN THE ONE LOADED IN THE
EPIC COURSEWARE.
DO NOT USE THE ASSIGNMENT IN EPIC. USE THIS ALTERNATE ASSIGNMENT
FOR ED TECH STUDENTS.
Week 5: Reflection
Reflection
Throughout this course we have discussed a number of legal issues facing today’s public-
school educators. For your final assignment, you will select three legal issues that you feel will
be most relevant to you as a school technology leader. One of these issues will focus on
student management; a second on personnel management. The third can relate to any topic
we’ve covered in the course. By giving your responses to the questions that follow, you will 1)
record what you have learned in this course, 2) reflect on its significance in your professional
life, and 3) develop a plan to further increase your knowledge and skills.
Follow These Steps
1. Reflect upon what you have learned about law and public education.
2. Use the guiding questions in each section to stimulate your thinking as you write three
150-word essays. The questions are meant to guide you, but you may not necessarily
provide specific answers to all of them.
3. Write reflectively instead of in “question and answer” style, and feel free to add any
related thoughts that go beyond the scope of the writing guidelines.
4. Use formal writing style and cite Essential Readings and court decisions that support
your ideas. You should use APA style.
5. Submit your three completed essays by the end of Week 5.
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Charlotte Spencer EDLD 5344 School Law October 6, 2010
Rubric
Use this rubric to guide your work.
Needs
Week 5: Reflection Accomplished Proficient Unacceptable
Improvement
Reflection Completes all 3 Completes 2 essays Completes 1 essay Did not submit
essays of the of the reflection of the reflection reflection
reflection assignment assignment assignment
assignment using (5 points) (3 points) (0 points)
the minimum 150-
words requirement
(8 points)
Mechanics No mechanical One to four More than five
writing errors mechanical writing mechanical writing
(2 points) errors errors
(1 point) (0 points)
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Charlotte Spencer EDLD 5344 School Law October 6, 2010
Essay 1: Student Management and Technology
Respond to the questions in the red box. Your essay should:
Use citations from the research when applicable.
Use professional writing protocols.
Use professional language.
Which of the student-management issues as they relate to the topic of Cyber Law
discussed in this course and in your Cyber Law text is most relevant to you as a school
technology leader?
How have your views changed about the proper policies and procedures to employ
regarding student management?
How will the knowledge gained on this topic help you become an effective school
technology leader?
How will it help your staff and your students?
Type your essay in the space below.
The student management Cyber Laws issue that I feel is most relevant to me as a technology leader are
the privacy laws such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 and the
Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) of 2000. I feel that I must understand and have knowledge
about both of these privacy and internet acts because as a technology leader, I need to be able to
understand the policies and procedures when I am working with students’ records, grades, or other
important student information and the student disclosure information as well.
My views on the proper polices and procedures of Cyber Law dealing with student management did not
change after reading the Cyber Law textbook, but I did become knowledgeable in the area of sharing of
student information, student disclosures, privacy rights, online safety and security and the accessing and
filtering of internet information. I can now use the information that I learned about in the textbook to
share and with others and keep them aware of the acts and laws that protect students’ privacy and security
of their records and information as well as Internet safety and security. I definitely agree with the
statement that in order (Bissonette, 2009)“to effectively address privacy concerns, schools need to
formulate plans with regard to all three privacy trouble spots: inappropriate disclosure of information by
the school, information sharing among teachers and staff, and student self disclosure”. In order for a
school to operate effectively with the student management issues plans must be in place.
I feel that I can become an effective school leader by providing the necessary information regarding the
proper policies and procedures of student management issues dealing with technology to the staff,
parents, teachers and administrators. My campus will become knowledgeable and not negligent when it
comes to the student management dealing with various technology issues as well as student’s privacy and
security rights, polices and procedures because I will provide staff development time to share the
important and relevant information needed for my staff to effectively and efficiently provide students and
parents with the proper handling of these student management issues and the role the school plays and it’s
responsibility with the student management issues.
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Charlotte Spencer EDLD 5344 School Law October 6, 2010
Bissonette, A. (2009). Cyber Law: Maximizing Safety and Minimizing Risk in Classrooms. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Corwin.
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Charlotte Spencer EDLD 5344 School Law October 6, 2010
Essay 2: Personnel Management
Respond to the questions in the red box. Your essay should:
Use citations from the research when applicable.
Use professional writing protocols.
Use professional language.
What have you learned about teacher evaluation and remediation that you did not know
before taking this class?
How will the information presented in this course help you become a better leader with
school employees?
What aspect of school personnel management do you feel you need to learn more about?
How do you plan to gain this knowledge?
Type your essay in the space below.
I have learned a lot about teacher evaluation and remediation from this course. I was not aware
of the due process in the Texas Education Code concerning non-renewed teacher contracts. I was
not aware of that probationary and term teachers must give a 45-day notice prior to the last day
of instruction if their contract is not going to be renewed. This course has helped me to
understand the various school laws and special education laws as well. Teachers are usually
given information but yet do not fully understand the information about school laws.
As a leader, I can use the information that I learned in this course to help me effectively manage
my staff by understanding the various school laws, policies, procedures and guidelines. I have
learned after the readings, viewing the videos and doing the assignments that the most critical
part of my job would be to document everything, especially when it come to personnel issues. I
feel it is necessary because it is evidence in any given situation. The fact remains that the burden
of proof is always on the employer provides a strong case with thorough documentation whether
dealing with a contract non-renewal, teacher evaluation or other school legal matters.
I will definitely continue to learn and become knowledgeable about teacher evaluation and
remediation by attending staff development training on these topics. If I had the opportunity to
intern and assist the administrators, I would learn a great deal of information and knowledge
needed to maintain a great staff and better personnel management.
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Charlotte Spencer EDLD 5344 School Law October 6, 2010
Essay 3: Improving Professional Practice
Respond to the questions in the red box. Your essay should:
Use citations from the research when applicable.
Use professional writing protocols.
Use professional language.
Select another legal topic covered in the Cyber Law textbook that you feel affects you as a
school technology leader.
What have you learned about this topic, and how will this new knowledge affect your
decision-making as a technology leader?
What professional development opportunities can you spearhead in your school to
inform teachers about this issue?
Type your essay in the space below.
A legal topic that I feel strongly about as a technology leader is ethical Issues. I feel that both
students and teachers should be aware what is ethical or not when utilizing the Internet to
access social networking sites, emails, blogging and instant messaging. Good decisions and
common sense must be used when determining what is ethical or not when using the Internet.
I have learned that a lot of computer users do not know how to effectively use the computer
when ethics are involved. I have seen a number of poor decision making problems with the use
of the internet such as teachers posting unethical information or pictures to social networking
sites which ended in job termination and I have seen where student’s were prohibited to use the
internet due to posting cyber bully material or pictures that were not appropriate. I also have
learned that schools need to offer the proper ethical training for both the teachers and students.
“Ethics training is necessary for all computer and Internet users”. (Bissonette, 2009). As a
technology leader, I will provide several professional development workshops for teachers and
staff to know and inform them on about the proper ethical use of the Internet. I will provide them
the support needed if they aren’t sure or familiar with the ethical laws and what is inappropriate
and shouldn’t be posted. I would also ensure that teachers effectively train students at the
beginning of the year about the ethical use of the Internet in their classroom and discuss
computer ethics before students begin using the computers.
Bissonette, A. (2009). Cyber Law: Maximizing Safety and Minimizing Risk in Classrooms. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Corwin.
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