Technoethical Audit

Why a Technoethical Audit?

Being a Teacher Ambassador means you are a representative for the company. Like an influencer, your "job" is to use and talk about their product. This also means that the product and company often times becomes an extension of yourself. People associate that thing with you. Thus, it is really important that we, as educators, are choosing to partner with companies that align with our own ethical values and beliefs about education.

Here is where, as the creator, I've drawn some assumptions. In the creation of this tool I've had to assume that we all have a similar views of what education means. I assume that we all believe education is a public good, that it is about learning and growing, that it molds future citizens who can think critically for themselves, that it is community oriented, that it protects all students and their needs, and that teachers are a vital part of this process and thus their needs, rights, and safety are also of the utmost importance.

So, if you are going to be a Teacher Ambassador for a company it's important that they too believe these things about education. That the two of you are "ethically" aligned. 

As a way of inquiring into this ethical alignment I've crafted a document that is adapted from the Civics of Technology Technoethical Audit worksheet. The purpose of this document is to provide you with the space to reflect on the company, thinking deeply about the intentions, design, and outcomes of the product while also reviewing their business practices. 

Overall, I hope this Technoethical Audit pushes you to consider whether this company ethically aligns with your views of education: Do they have you and your students best interest in mind? Are they keeping you both safe? Is the product in support of education as a public good? Is it truly helping students to learn and grow as citizens of their community, country, and world? 

So let's dig in!

Make a copy of the Google Document below and answer as many of the questions as you can. Once you've finished click the button at the bottom of the page that says "I finished the audit!" and go to the next page. Once there you will use the answers from your Technoethical Audit to answer your first Teacher Ambassador Audit question.