Sunday, January 24, 2010
Social Networking Hits Wall
I love the whole idea of social bookmarking and blogging. However, a problem I've encountered over and over again is that the technology department is not on the same page as the teachers. When I find cool sites (Wallwisher, for example) and want to share them with the students, I'm running into the big "Access Denied" sign due to all of the filters in place. With this idea fostering choice for students through RSS, Social Bookmarking, and Blogging, we've got to ALL be working from the same script. Many of my students have access to technology only at school, and if teachers and students can't access the "tools" that will make these kids ready for the 21st century, what good will the tools be to us? We are moving quickly with these ideas of engaging technology and we all need to be moving in the same direction.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Filters are in lace due to the law known as CIPA. CIPA simply states that for schools to get technology funding (specifically Internet access), they must put in place measures to protect students from pornography and other inappropriate sites. IMHO filters are too tight across most k12 schools, simply because we live in a litigious society, and schools are afraid of lawsuits. Moreover, the hands that set and control the filter have more than likely NOT had a single course in pedagogy, therefore do not look upon sites as how they fit into the grand scheme of teaching and learning. Make inquiries in your district on the process for getting a site unblocked. Prepare lesson plans that show direct correlation to standards, and get your administration on board to back you. Often times when standards are addressed, the filter is unblocked at least for a time if not permanently. The worst action you can do is inaction. If we do not ASK/DEMAND access to the content, then we are essentially cheating our students.
ReplyDeleteok Brenda, what are you doing blogging at 7:52 am? Anyway, does this mean our district has denied access to wall wisher in school? I agree we all have to be on the same page, I have a hard enough time getting them to answer my blogg on our website at school
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy...You have great advice. Don't give up Brenda....Use Olga in the process.
ReplyDeleteBill
I agree with Cathy Nelson. If you can show the administration how it will benefit your students and how you have a carefully planned lesson using that particular tool, you might be able to show them why it is important to unblock that filter.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Brenda. I also agree with Cathy. We do have to come up with ways to work around the system. I wonder if we could social bookmark, blog, or wallwish on our class web page?
ReplyDeleteThis is my frustration as well. I made a wallwisher site for my students to post about Ancient China and they were able to access it for one day! then, all of a sudden, it was blocked! I loved the wall wisher. It gave me a quick glance at what my students knew. AAAAAAA!
ReplyDeleteIt is frustrating...but as we all know, postive change comes slowly in education. Unless, someone has access to monetary gain when a change occurs. (Ooops...I meant to just think that.) Everytime I have a good idea, and I try to persuade the powers-that-be to jump on the bandwagon, I'm told that "well, let's think about it," or "let's talk it over with so-and-so," or any other of the multitudes of excuses to frustrate me enough to forget about the idea entirely. One more bubble popped!
ReplyDeleteI guess we are all in agreement about districts using filters and blockers which render us helpless to use new technology. Perhaps now that Olga has taken this class we can speak to her about our concerns and she can speak to the powers that be.
ReplyDelete