In many extreme cases, one doesn’t need to search far to find a former teacher in the news caught up in an OnlyFans scandal that ruined their career and anyone else associated with that level of drama. Breanna Coppage didn’t exactly show any remorse in her Nightline interview stating, “I wasn’t doing anything illegal…I’m there to teach reading and writing. Like I’m not there to instill their morals” (ABC News, 2024). Her scathing remarks posit an underlying flaw in modern society’s predilection towards capital gains over any sense of moral verisimilitude. In today’s digitally connected world, educators need to play more of a crucial role in guiding students towards safe and responsible online behaviors.
As technology becomes further entrenched into the design of education, understanding and modeling proper online safety protocols is essential for longevity in this field beyond “doing the right thing” for yourself and those around you. This blog post explores key safety protocols appropriate for teachers, trainers, and instructional designers, and offers strategies for modeling these behaviors for students. Below you will find key strategies for educators to consider before posting online.
1. Mindful Sharing on Social Media
What Should and Shouldn’t Be Shared
Maintaining a professional online presence is essential for teachers and communities. Out of the interest of the staff and students, teachers need to refrain from sharing personal information, controversial opinions, or content that could be deemed inappropriate or unprofessional on public platforms. In addition to many other regulations and according to the National Education Association (NEA), educators should “be careful to avoid using offensive language or stereotypes” (NEA, 2023).
Some Examples of Appropriate Sharing:
- Professional Achievements: Sharing updates about professional development, certifications, or awards. “You will have more protection when your speech is public, focuses on larger issues rather than personal gripes, and is respectful” (NEA, 2023).
- Educational Resources: Posting lesson plans, educational articles, or classroom activities that can benefit others. “Schools cannot operate unless students and families trust educators” (NEA, 2023).
- Classroom Highlights: With proper consent, sharing general updates about classroom projects or events. Be careful that not too much information is shared that could be construed as private!
Examples of Inappropriate Sharing (What to Avoid):
- Personal Venting: Posting frustrations about students, colleagues, or administrators. “The public does not have a strong interest in hearing your employment-related complaints about your coworkers, bosses, or students” (NEA, 2023).
- Inappropriate Content: Sharing images or language that is offensive or unprofessional. “You should also monitor the social media groups you belong to” (NEA, 2023), because as the blog post states, these groups can turn toxic, sour and be filled with hate speech that can tie you to those words.”
- Confidential Information: Revealing details about students or school matters that are not public. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects student privacy and states, “schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student’s education record” (FERPA, n.d.).
Setting Boundaries for Interactions
The main objective for teachers and technologists regarding online interactions is to provide clear expectations for students, parents, and families on social media. The process for educators to use designated platforms or official school channels for communication needs to remain professional.
Modeling Behavior Examples:
- Professional Tone: As a teacher you need to have an elevated tone, so always communicate respectfully and professionally, even in informal settings that you “think” are private.
- Separate Accounts: If you are to have an online presence as a teacher, maintain a professional account for educational purposes and keep personal accounts private. You don’t want students to talk on backchannels about your online presence that is disruptive!
- Clear Communication Policies: One of the most important tactics is to inform students and parents about acceptable communication methods and adhere to school policies.
2. Guiding Students Towards Safe Online Experiences
Cultivating Digital Citizenship
Educating good online habits starts in the classroom, and teachers can use their position to help guide students to develop more positive digital literacy and citizenship skills. Common Sense Education even provides a Digital Citizenship Curriculum that helps students learn about online privacy, cyberbullying prevention, and ethical online behavior (Common Sense Education, n.d.). They include courses for each grade level to speak the language of the students, and get the conversation started early!
Modeling Behavior:
- Positive Reinforcement: Recognize and praise responsible online behavior among students. If students don’t know what this responsible behavior looks like, how will they ever be expected to model it?
- Interactive Lessons: Incorporate activities that teach students how to evaluate online content critically. This is essential from day one of class and throughout the students’ career.
- Open Discussions: Encourage conversations about online experiences and the impact of digital footprints. Ask what being online means to them and show examples of a good reputation versus a bad reputation.
Positive Impact Example:
Schools that have implemented digital citizenship programs report decreased incidents of cyberbullying and improved online conduct among students. Gillern et al. (2024) take digital citizenship one step further and conceptualizes 4 key concepts including digital ethics, participation and engagement, informed citizen and civic know-how, and determine that “these factors empower students to participate in online communities and civic spheres as safe, responsible and well-informed citizens capable of participating in and advocating for social change” (p. 2107).
3. Protecting Student Information Online
Understanding Legal Obligations
Educators must be aware of laws like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which protects student education records and, on their website, can provide resources for parents, students, and how to file a complaint. Posting identifiable student information online without consent violates federal law. One thing to note is “When a student reaches 18 years of age or attends an institution of postsecondary education at any age, the student becomes an ‘eligible student,’ and all rights under FERPA transfer from the parent to the student” (FERPA, n.d.)
What Can Be Posted
Allowed:
- General Classroom Updates: Sharing activities or project descriptions without specific student details. Being vague and as general as possible will keep you out of trouble!
- Anonymized Work Samples: Sharing student work without names or identifiable information. Be very careful when doing this!
- Group Photos with Consent: Posting images only after obtaining written permission from parents or guardians. Good rule of thumb, “When in doubt, don’t post it out!”
Not Allowed:
- Confidential Information: Any information that could compromise student privacy. You will always have to err on the side of caution!
- Personal Identifiers: Full names, addresses, or any personal details of students (this may be obvious).
- Academic Records: Grades, test scores, or behavioral reports.
Modeling Behavior:
- Educate Students: Teach students about the importance of privacy and obtaining consent before sharing.
- Obtain Consent: Always get written permission before sharing any student-related content. If there is a form to print off, keep the link on your desktop or in a file at your desk.
- Use Secure Platforms: Share sensitive information through secure, school-approved channels.
4. Controlling Oversharing and Overposting
For Teachers
Oversharing can blur the lines between professional and personal boundaries. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) advises educators to “model and promote management of personal data and digital identity” (ISTE Standards, 2024). For just sixty-five dollars educators can go through a course that provides an introduction to these ISTE standards. Good to have you or your team go through these materials at least twice a year!
Strategies:
- Regular Privacy Checks: Review and adjust privacy settings on social media accounts. Better safe than sorry!
- Mindful Posting: Reflect on the necessity and impact of each post before sharing.
- Professional Content Focus: Keep postings relevant to education and professional interests.
For Students
Teach students about the long-term implications of their online activities. Encourage them to think critically about the content they share and its potential impact.
Modeling Behavior:
- Create Guidelines: Work with students to develop a class agreement on appropriate online sharing.
- Role-Playing Exercises: Simulate scenarios where oversharing could lead to negative consequences.
- Positive Examples: Highlight stories of individuals who use social media responsibly and the benefits it brings.
5. Examples and Non-Examples of Safety Protocols in Practice
Positive Examples:
- Student Work Portfolios: An educator could use a digital portfolio platform like Seesaw or Google Classroom to showcase student work. Only students and their guardians have access to their specific portfolio, and any feedback provided is private between the teacher and the student.
- Online Discussion Forums: Using platforms like Edmodo or Padlet, educators can facilitate discussions on academic topics while keeping the platform secure. Student participation is monitored, and only usernames or avatars are used to maintain anonymity, protecting students’ personal information.
- Classroom social media Page: A class Instagram or Twitter account could be used to share project highlights and achievements, but no student names or identifying information would be posted. Consent from parents is required for any student-related content, and the page is set to private to restrict viewership.
- Virtual Class Newsletters: Teachers could create a digital newsletter using tools like Mailchimp or Google Docs to send weekly updates to parents. The newsletter would include general classroom updates, upcoming events, and project highlights, avoiding any personal or sensitive student information.
- Video-based Learning Updates: Teachers can record general class activities and projects, then upload videos to a private YouTube or Vimeo channel. Only parents with the direct link have access, and any student appearances in the videos are included only with consent, with no identifying details like names or addresses mentioned.
Negative Non-Examples:
- Unprotected Virtual Classrooms: A teacher hosts virtual classes via Zoom or Google Meet without password protection or security settings, allowing unauthorized individuals to enter the class, potentially exposing students to inappropriate or disruptive behavior (commonly known as “Zoom-bombing”).
- Posting Student Photos Without Consent: A teacher shares classroom photos, which include identifiable students, on a public website or social media platform without obtaining prior parental consent. This can lead to privacy concerns and violates the parents’ right to control their children’s online exposure.
- Sharing Graded Work Publicly: A teacher posts photos of students’ graded assignments or test results on a public forum or social media platform without anonymizing names or scores. This can lead to embarrassment, breaches of privacy, and potential FERPA violations.
- Using Unsecure Platforms for Communication: A teacher uses a public, unencrypted messaging platform like WhatsApp or a personal email account to communicate with students and parents. This could result in sensitive information (such as grades or behavioral reports) being exposed to unauthorized individuals or hackers.
- Unmonitored Online Group Chats: A teacher sets up a group chat for students on an unmoderated platform like Discord or Snapchat, where the conversations go unmonitored, leading to bullying, inappropriate content sharing, or off-topic discussions that may violate school policies.
- Recording Students Without Permission: A teacher records classroom activities or individual student presentations and shares them publicly on YouTube or other platforms without securing permission from students and their guardians, leading to privacy breaches.
Reported Results:
Positive Outcomes
- Increased Student Engagement: Educators who set clear, professional boundaries while using educational platforms (like Google Classroom) and modeling respectful online communication often see students engage more confidently, knowing the environment is safe and structured.
- Improved Parent-Teacher Relationships: Teachers who communicate with parents through appropriate channels (such as email or a parent-teacher communication app) foster trust and transparency. Parents appreciate the professional approach and are more likely to collaborate on their child’s education.
- Enhanced Classroom Atmosphere: By maintaining professional behavior both in person and online, teachers model maturity and respect. This often leads to a more positive, respectful classroom environment where students emulate the responsible behavior they observe.
- Stronger Trust and Respect: Educators who keep personal and professional lives separate (e.g., avoiding sharing personal details with students) build a foundation of trust. Students feel comfortable approaching them for academic support, while respecting the teacher’s authority and professionalism.
- Career Advancement: Teachers who maintain professional boundaries and exhibit ethical conduct in and out of the classroom may be considered for leadership positions or roles with more responsibility, as their behavior exemplifies trustworthiness and strong ethical standards.
Negative Consequences
- Loss of Student Trust: Teachers who overshare personal details with students, either in class or via personal social media accounts, can create confusion or discomfort. Students may lose respect for the teacher and question their judgment, leading to disengagement and a breakdown of trust.
- Parental Complaints: A teacher who contacts students through personal messaging apps (e.g., texting instead of using the school’s official communication channels) may face backlash from parents, leading to formal complaints and damaging the teacher-parent relationship.
- Disciplinary Action: Teachers who blur professional boundaries—such as accepting friend requests from students on personal social media or attending student parties—may face disciplinary action from school administration for violating professional conduct policies.
- Legal Repercussions: If a teacher shares confidential student information (e.g., grades or behavior reports) in public forums or personal settings without proper consent, they may face legal consequences, particularly if it violates laws like FERPA or district policies on student privacy.
- Damage to Professional Reputation: Teachers who behave inappropriately outside of school (e.g., sharing controversial opinions or personal details on public platforms) may suffer reputational damage that could limit career growth, reduce job security, and erode trust with students, parents, and colleagues.
Conclusion
By adhering to these key safety protocols, educators can protect themselves and their students while fostering a positive digital environment. Modeling responsible online behavior not only safeguards privacy and professionalism but also equips students with the skills to navigate the digital world safely. One must always consider these positives and negatives before posting!
Action Steps for Educators
Stay Informed:
Educators have a responsibility to stay updated on the latest online safety laws, school district policies, and best practices regarding digital tools in the classroom. Laws surrounding privacy, like FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act), regularly evolve to address new technologies. By engaging in professional development workshops, attending webinars, and reading educational journals, teachers can ensure they remain compliant with legal standards and district policies. Staying informed also helps educators identify emerging threats like cyberbullying, phishing scams, and inappropriate content, so they can preemptively safeguard their students.
Example: Attending a yearly school district seminar on digital privacy helps a teacher identify risky behavior, like sharing student information through unsecured email, and encourages them to adopt encrypted tools for communication.
Model Digital Citizenship:
Teachers play a crucial role in modeling responsible and ethical online behavior for their students. This includes demonstrating respectful communication in emails and online discussions, adhering to copyright laws when using online content, and practicing safe browsing habits. By embodying digital citizenship in their own online actions, teachers set a positive example for students, showing them how to navigate the online world responsibly. Ethical online behavior also builds a trustworthy and transparent professional image that students, parents, and colleagues can rely on.
Example: A teacher who credits online sources in their presentations and avoids using pirated or copyrighted materials without permission not only follows the law but teaches students the importance of intellectual property rights.
Educate Students:
In today’s digital world, students need more than just academic knowledge—they need digital literacy and an understanding of digital citizenship. Integrating lessons on topics such as online privacy, cyberbullying, digital footprints, and the ethical use of technology equips students to make informed decisions. By embedding these concepts into the curriculum, teachers can help students develop the critical thinking skills needed to navigate social media, online forums, and digital platforms safely and responsibly. Regular discussions about appropriate online behavior and the risks of oversharing personal information reinforce good digital habits that students can apply outside the classroom.
Example: A teacher includes a project on identifying reliable online sources, helping students discern credible information from misinformation, and emphasizing the importance of cross-referencing facts before sharing them online.
Set Clear Boundaries:
Maintaining clear professional boundaries with students is essential, particularly in digital spaces. Educators should use official school communication channels, such as Google Classroom, district email, or learning management systems, rather than personal messaging apps or social media. This not only protects the teacher but also ensures that interactions with students remain professional and transparent. Setting these boundaries helps avoid potential misunderstandings or inappropriate interactions and reinforces the teacher’s role as a professional guide rather than a friend.
Example: A teacher uses the school’s learning platform to respond to students’ questions about homework rather than texting them directly, ensuring that all communications are appropriate and visible to school administrators if needed.
Protect Privacy:
Student privacy is a legal and ethical responsibility for educators. Teachers must be vigilant about what information they share about their students, both online and offline. This includes ensuring that student names, grades, and personal details are not posted publicly or shared without consent. If sharing student work, projects, or photos in newsletters, blogs, or social media, educators should always obtain the necessary parental consent and ensure they comply with school policies. Protecting student privacy also extends to securing digital records, using password-protected systems, and teaching students how to manage their own online privacy.
Example: A teacher who wants to showcase a class project on a blog gets written consent from parents before posting photos or student work. They ensure that only first names (or pseudonyms) are used and avoid sharing any personal details that could compromise a student’s privacy.
References
ABC News Network. (2024, August 15). Teachers’ OnlyFans side hustles lead to resignation, public battle. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/teachers-onlyfans-side-hustles-lead-resignation-public-battle/story?id=112799593
Common Sense Education. (n.d.). Digital Citizenship Curriculum. Retrieved from https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). (2024). ISTE Standards for Educators. Retrieved from https://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards-for-teachers
Edutopia. (n.d.). Teaching Digital Citizenship. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/article/facilitating-digital-citizenship
Gillern, S., Rose, C., & Hutchison, A. (2024). How students can be effective citizens in the digital age: Establishing the teachers’ perceptions on digital citizenship scale. British Journal of Educational Technology, 55(5), 2093–2109. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13434
National Education Association (NEA). (2023, April 4). Educators’ Rights on Social Media. Retrieved from https://www.nea.org/resource-library/educators-rights-social-media
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/ferpa
Annotated Bibliography:
1. Common Sense Education – Digital Citizenship Curriculum
Link: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship
Description:
Common Sense Education offers a K–12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum designed to teach students the essentials of online safety, privacy, and ethical online behavior. The curriculum covers important topics like cyberbullying, online privacy, and the ethical use of information. As you research the website you can see how it includes lesson plans, videos, and interactive activities that can be adapted for various grade levels. Additionally, the platform provides a fair amount of family resources to help parents reinforce these lessons at home. Teachers are encouraged to use these materials to build a culture of responsible technology use in the classroom and beyond, fostering safe online habits that students can carry throughout their lives.
2. ISTE Standards for Educators
Link: https://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards-for-teachers
Description:
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) builds a framework of standards for educators to help bring effective and ethical technology integration in the classroom. The standards itemized on the ISTE website emphasize the role of teachers as facilitators of digital learning and how teachers are role models for responsible technology use. The core elements to these standards are putting student data privacy at the forefront, promoting the ideals of digital citizenship, and integrating innovative learning practices while at the same time adhering to ethical guidelines. Educators are encouraged to model the ethical use of technology, foster critical thinking about online content, and develop students’ media literacy in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
3. Edutopia – Teaching Digital Citizenship
Link: https://www.edutopia.org/article/facilitating-digital-citizenship
Description:
The Edutopia website provides a wealth of resources and practical strategies for teaching digital citizenship in the classroom. Their articles and tools focus on helping educators guide students through safe online practices and teach us to navigate the internet with critical thinking and responsibility. Topics include the responsible use of social media, understanding digital footprints, and practicing cyber ethics. Edutopia’s content is aimed at creating a holistic understanding of digital citizenship, allowing students to recognize the long-term impact of their online behavior and encouraging them to be active, respectful participants in the digital world.
4. National Education Association (NEA) – Social Media Guidelines for Educators
Link: https://www.nea.org/resource-library/educators-rights-social-media
Description:
The NEA Social Media Guidelines for Educators provides essential guidance on maintaining professional boundaries and conducting oneself responsibly online. The resource covers key topics like interacting with students on social media, privacy considerations, and the potential consequences of blurring personal and professional lines. It offers practical advice on how teachers can leverage social media to enhance learning while ensuring that all communication and content-sharing respects students’ privacy rights. The guidelines also help educators navigate the increasingly complex social media landscape in ways that protect their professional reputation and prevent potential disciplinary issues.
5. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Link: https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/ferpa
Description:
FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records and applies to all schools that receive funding under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. This resource offers a clear explanation of educators’ legal responsibilities in safeguarding student information and outlines the strict guidelines for how student data can be used or shared. FERPA provides details on what constitutes educational records, who has access to them, and under what circumstances disclosure without parental consent is allowed. By understanding and adhering to FERPA, educators ensure compliance with privacy laws and protect their students from unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information.
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