• Blurred personal and professional boundaries in electronic communication

The critical incident, which triggered the ethical dilemma.	I can remember unwinding with a few colleagues on a Friday evening. We decided to go to the local bar & restaurant, where consumption of alcohol was had, as well as a meal. One colleague without my knowledge decided to video record an event which was posted to Snapchat. Their Snapchat followers included children from our school. The video recording showed the consumption of alcohol, and showed myself being jovial. This was seen by the children, so they asked me the following Monday if I had enjoyed my evening. The video lasted 30 seconds and then it was deleted.
2.            Various sometimes competing forces, each of which impacts on decision-making from its own particular bias	My colleagues decision to post the video at the time was nothing more than showing enjoyment with the company of others. This unfortunately led to other assumptions. Alcohol was involved, so the people following the post had other ideas of what happened. In some ways I understand why my colleague posted the video, but on the other hand I prefer to keep those moments to myself and the people involved. Knowing the impact that post had, my relationship with the children changed.
3.            The individual’s values, beliefs, and ethical orientations in relation to the dilemma	The video was interpreted perhaps by some as a drunken night out. Though that is far from the truth but that 30 seconds of video changed that. This perhaps for some challenged my beliefs and values as a teacher as well as my responsibilities. But knowing what happen during that 30 seconds I was quite content.
4.            The choice, which could be no action or the action taken formally or informally, internally or externally	The action that was taken was no more than a reminder to my colleagues, not to post anything online without the permission of the people in the video. This raises awareness more than anything else and the spirit of the moment posts, within 30 seconds, can change what people perceive without knowing.
5.            The action (or non-action) can create particular types of implications for the individual, organisation and the community, and from which new incidents or dilemmas can arise	Social media is a powerful tool, but without context, without people knowing what happen, what people see is more of what the perceive in their own minds. This can determine the impact you have on the school and the wider community. You can only implement strategies that avoid incidents like the one above, which is awareness of what you post and asking permission to post it. Moreover you have a responsibility especially on social networks on what you post.

Ehrich, L. C. , Kimber M., Millwater, J. & Cranston, N. (2011). Ethical dilemmas: a model to understand teacher practice, Teachers and Teaching: theory and practice, 17:2, 173-185, DOI: