Ethical precautions in synchronous interactions in the context of online classes

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has demanded emergency responses from all levels of education. Teaching has intensified the use of digital information and communication technologies (ICT). Virtual interaction between teachers and students has become a significant challenge, determining the need for professional training and expanding discussions about this model. This research aims to answer questions about ethical care in the context of online classes. It presents an analysis of the ethical care in synchronous interactions in the online classroom setting, considering the exposure of the participants’ image in synchronous meetings, the privacy, and the surveillance situation in the context of online classes. This is an exploratory, qualitative literature review study developed from articles published in journals available in the Capes repository, blogs in the education and communication area, and materials posted on video platforms between 2011 and 2021. The results showed that teachers and students are vulnerable to exposure, lack of privacy, and the surveillance context established by online education. The absence of normalization of conduct in digital spaces weakens teachers and students and provides opportunities for conduct that reach judicialization. Ethical care in synchronous contexts should be addressed at all levels of teacher training, and students should be educated to present ethical conducts as subjects of this virtual educational relationship.