Digital ethics in higher education: Modernizing moral values for effective communication in cyberspace

Abstract

The digitalization of education is critical to transforming the education system in the face of the challenges of the post-pandemic technologized world. This research aims to determine the content of digital ethics and its role as a tool of effective communication in the cyberspace of each college, suitable for the practical solution of the assigned educational tasks. The data come from a questionnaire of 150 students and 60 faculty members in bachelor's and master's degree programs, conducted in April-May 2021 as part of a distance learning program. In addition, 30 administrators and 20 graduates were interviewed. The research results show that traditional moral values are undergoing significant change and must be modernized and codified. Relationships in the digital environment should be based on moral norms: duty, the self-discipline of the actors involved, mutual responsibility, and respect. The moral qualities displayed by individuals in the digital environment using digital technologies are the leading indicators of their professional suitability. The article mentions the main problems faced by the actors: digital literacy, personal image, place of implementation of pedagogical interaction, and rules of remote dialog. The study will contribute to further analysis and evaluation of the adequacy of specific measures taken by higher education institutions to develop and implement programs for ethical modernization of the educational process within the tasks of state educational reforms.