tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1737036618055673789.post5151944335490813330..comments2024-03-28T08:30:21.261-07:00Comments on @theresashafer: Seriously, STOP Blocking & Banning for Educators!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01665064670450584027noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1737036618055673789.post-15905599089001340202013-04-08T04:17:04.384-07:002013-04-08T04:17:04.384-07:00The argument you use –
"Stop blaming the Te...The argument you use –<br /><br /> "Stop blaming the Technology<br />Facebook does not cause bullying. If you have a bullying problem in your school, that is a culture problem and all of the blocking in the world isn't going to make it better. Blaming the technology is an excuse for not solving the larger problem..."<br /><br /> - is basically the same one spouted by the N.R.A whenever people try to bring in some form of gun control. The trouble is, that like the N.R.A. you have a vested interest - Your primary interest is IT, not student welfare so you come at the problem from one end of the spectrum, the opposite end from those whose ultimate responsibility is that of the welfare of students - The important thing to remember here is that students are 'ENDS IN THEMSELVES' whereas IT/social media is 'A MEANS TO AN END' The second can never trump the first. No amount of social media in the classroom is worth a few parents coming home to find a child hanging from a banister by their school tie. No doubt there can be a happy medium found somewhere, no sane person would argue against the importance IT/social media can play in our schools turning out pupils fit to compete in the modern world - Perhaps the onus lies in the ability of IT experts to design better faster filtering safeguard software designed specifically for the school environment that can negate the problems of student misuse. The one thing that can never change is the fact that the primary responsibility of any school will always be the safety and wellbeing of each and every child that walks through its gates – something this article seems not to address.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04176541292422339755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1737036618055673789.post-66289839923069268302013-03-01T09:23:34.463-08:002013-03-01T09:23:34.463-08:00Ultimately the classroom management should be wher...Ultimately the classroom management should be where the "filter" is when it comes to social networks. The teacher has to decide how to use the technology in the classroom for the subject matter that she or he is trying to deliver instruction on. I am in the Tech department, I don't believe we should block the social networks. I do believe we need to have teachers learning new ways to use the technology to engage students. While engaging students in learning maybe we (the schools) can become relevant in students lives again. Trying to prevent students from using technology will drive a wedge between you and them and you will not have a relevant connection.Dhousemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04767939422807732227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1737036618055673789.post-22072644779497928842013-03-01T09:16:44.772-08:002013-03-01T09:16:44.772-08:00Internet filters can help ensure that malware and ...Internet filters can help ensure that malware and other inappropriate content is not accessed mistakenly. There are many websites that exist that are only one letter away from a commonly accessed site.<br /><br />In addition, there are filters that are specifically built to provide a wide range of options to ensure that the filter is granular enough to provide access to students at various levels. This technology is available to educators so that they can assure that the instructional content students need is available and offensive content is not accessed accidentally.<br /><br />Unfortunately many schools buy filters that are not designed for schools. The manufacturers of those filters do not understand the needs of the educator and as a result there filters are not designed to work in a school environment.<br /><br />Here is a link to a paper that speaks to this issue.<br /><br />http://www.bascom.com/images/BASCOM_Why_Choose_a_Web_Filter_Built_for_Learning_20130212.pdf <br /><br />Fred McKenna, retired educator and Director of Special Projects, BASCOMFred McKennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07521037893368559660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1737036618055673789.post-41240504978442333652013-02-15T07:31:16.127-08:002013-02-15T07:31:16.127-08:00Love this post. So inspiring! Can't wait to ...Love this post. So inspiring! Can't wait to meet you in March :)Todd Nesloneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04998414184770066999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1737036618055673789.post-11243632491879216072012-09-11T13:18:48.056-07:002012-09-11T13:18:48.056-07:00I agree in premise and I think we are on our way t...I agree in premise and I think we are on our way there. But, no matter how adept I was at working with teachers on tech integration, I just didn't belong in the server room! So I think we need both.<br />It depends on the structure & number of people in your IT department. For example, at my last school, we had two "tech people" but an educator w/ a tech experience was the director (me). This was a great partnership and led to fantastic collaboration. That being said, there were many times when conversations like this happened"<br />IT guy: Why in the world would a teacher request that bullfights be unblocked on youtube, that's ridiculous and it's not getting unblocked.<br />Me: Who is the teacher? What is the course, what are they studying? Spanish history & culture for 3rd yr Spanish? unblock<br />The IT guys weren't TRYING to make curricular decisions, but it was just easier to say no, then try to understand what the teachers needed.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01665064670450584027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1737036618055673789.post-46506141488364770272012-09-07T12:41:15.331-07:002012-09-07T12:41:15.331-07:00Great post Theresa. One "I wonder" that ...Great post Theresa. One "I wonder" that I have is in reference to your comment "The tech dept should not be making curricular decisions." What would happen if schools realized that the integration of teaching into pedagogy was just as important as the dispersing of technology as a tool? The natural evolution of our education system is leading us to a point where our curriculum is completely intertwined with technology. Should the person who knows the most about technology in the building have a solid understanding of curriculum and instruction? T. Hursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08658540789880482263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1737036618055673789.post-31130885272663710782012-09-02T08:09:54.392-07:002012-09-02T08:09:54.392-07:00Love this post! We really need to all embrace the ...Love this post! We really need to all embrace the fact that social media is a part of everyday life. Instead of blocking sites, we should be teaching our students how to use social media tools effectively and professionally. If everything they post online could affect opportunities (college, employment, etc.) down the road, we should be teaching students how to use this to their advantage instead of to their detriment.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09025084422261929614noreply@blogger.com