Cyberconduct and Electronic Communications:
Important Information and Guidelines for Teachers

Why Be Concerned?
NLTA policy on Cyberconduct and Cyberbullying defines ICT as: Equipment that includes, but is not limited to, any current and emerging stationary or wireless technologies or systems that can be used by individuals or groups for the purpose of communication, entertainment, data management, word processing, internet access, image capture/recording, sound recording and information transmitting/receiving/storing.

The broad range of devices and technology captured by this definition clearly illustrates the wide scope of potential issues and concerns for teachers. Some of the reasons the NLTA feels there is a need for caution and concern are:

• lack of privacy or security;
• websites or social medial postings that malign teachers;
• increase in incidents of cyberbullying;
• anonymous messages and social media postings;
• messages, photos, videos, etc. posted or distributed without permission;
• on-line access to personal information; and,
• potential blurring of professional boundaries.

While advances in technology have had certain positive effects on teachers’ work lives, growing reliance on and expectations regarding the professional use of ICT also raise workload related issues. On-line listings of school and district staff e- mail addresses, homework sites, etc. have opened up new lines of communication for the entire school community. In some ways, this has been a positive development. However, teachers must be cautious that expectations not become unreasonable. Ongoing communication at all hours to and from parents, students and district officials is not acceptable and teachers need to set reasonable limits in this regard.

Also, teachers need to be conscious of the risks inherent in any use of ICT, either at school or at home. It is always important for teachers to remember that off-duty conduct can have employment consequences if it has a negative impact in the professional context. As professionals, teachers are expected to model ethical and appropriate use of ICT. Teachers hold a position of trust with students and can be held accountable if their actions expose students to inappropriate material or communications. Texting, e-mail, and all forms of social media can be risky, especially when personal or intimate information is shared. This is an even greater concern when teachers are using school technology. It is crucial to remember that school districts own the computers and Internet connection in schools. Nothing is private when you use digital communication. School boards may access browsing histories and any electronic communications that have gone through their servers or have been accessed using district equipment.

Guidelines and Advice
In light of the above referenced concerns and risks, some general advice and principles that should guide teachers’ electronic communications and social media usage are:

• always maintain a professional demeanor in electronic communications with students, parents, colleagues and administrators. Avoid slang or casual language and use Canadian grammar and spelling checks as well as a signature that includes your name, assignment/title and school name; • do not write messages in all CAPITAL letters – this comes across as aggressive;
• make sure to use appropriate greetings (“Dear ___”, “Hello ___”, etc.) and sign offs (“Sincerely ___”, “Yours truly ___”, etc.) for emails, etc.; a failure to do so may be perceived as terse or unprofessional;
• save or keep a printed copy of all work-related e-mail messages;
• avoid lengthy, detailed e-mail exchanges. This increases workload, and protracted written exchanges are prone to misinterpretation. Respond to complex messages from parents by telephone or in a face-to-face meeting;
• do not use your personal e-mail account or cell phone for work related contact with students or parents;
• place reasonable professional limits on contact with students and parents outside of regular work hours and exercise extreme caution in using texts, e-mail, or social media for personal contact with students or parents;
• ensure your privacy settings on social media sites are at the highest possible level for all content; check and update these periodically;
• be extremely cautious of: posting, or allowing others to post, your personal information and images on-line; participating in blogs, chats, social media and dating sites, etc. Monitor regularly all content you or others post to your social media accounts and remove anything that is inappropriate. Ask others not to tag you on photographs without your permission;
• students should NOT be your “friends” or “followers” on Facebook, Instagram or any other social media site. Maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times;
• never leave your computer unattended if it is logged into the school district server or your work email account;
• protect your user name and password from identity theft in order to prevent unauthorized e-mail under your name or access to school documents and other confidential information;
• do not forward or post content, links or comments that might be considered offensive, discriminatory or inconsistent with professional or ethical standards;
• be aware of and comply with your school district’s acceptable use of technology, social media and email policies;
• set a good example of digital citizenship – model the behavior that you expect to see online from your students;
• obtain consent forms before tweeting or posting any student work, digital pictures or other identifying information on social media or websites;
• never use electronic communications, including social media, to share confidential information or criticize students, parents, colleagues, administrators or your employer. This information could be accessed by or forwarded to others without your knowledge or consent.