- being able to access email at our school
- filtering of some websites, like MySpace
- Privacy issues for our students
- Safe online interactions
- Not enough $$ to buy applications needed
- Not enough time to do all of this monitoring of the blogs
- We don't have the right equipment
- Justifying your purpose
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Managing Communication Projects - Strategies
Today we discussed many options for connecting our students to the global community. We also addressed some concerns or considerations that must be addressed in order for these opportunities to be successful. Some of the concerns were:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
19 comments:
Of the items on the list, I've probably had the most experience with kids' privacy issues. I've often wanted to post pictures of our class on our website but don't want to have my students identified. Ultimately, I've asked families to give permission to post photos- some agree and some don't. I like to keep names separate from photos to help with privacy as well. Anyone have other ideas?
I think there's a lot we can do about the money situation. One way is to use free stuff first, document and provide data related to student achievement, present this information to the school board or budget committees and advocate for more resources.
Grants are out there, too. A colleague of mine and I believe strongly in the use of the arts to teach, especially student with special needs, and we wrote and received a grant for all sorts of supplies. Just a local community grant. It's a lot of work upfront, but really once you have a good rationale and keep adding to your evidence stash, you can reapply/apply for new grants fairly easily.
In our school, an issue came up with a student-created and managed blog about events at school mainly to boost school spirit and activity awareness. When our administration found out about it, their knee-jerk reaction was to find the kids responsible and make them pull it. Several teachers knew who the kids were and we just didn't tell because they were doing such a great job, very responsible & positive. I know some staff was afraid of cyber-bullying and comments getting out of hand, but kids LOVE to organize and manage stuff like this. I think many kids could be given the responsibility, along side an adult, to keep a school blog. You could even have links to the library page!
I've had the privacy issue at my school as well. Our school sends home some internet form??? at the beginning of the year, where they can give permission or no. When I wanted to post our interview videos, I asked the specific parents who had said no for permission, and then they all said yes. I told them I wouldn't use last names, though.
As far as other issues go, I think cyberbullying is a big one. Mostly, this would show up on blogs, I would think, so it seems like the teacher would have to monitor all the comments before they could actually be posted. I guess it's not an impossible task, but it seems pretty time-consuming.
It seems that some of the activities suggested would have to be screened through a checks and balance system. Whether it's the principal, a department head or a group of peers, you would need to get feedback to make sure safety and guidelines are met in your district.
I know that at our middle school we have had the Seattle Police Dept. do a presentation about safety issues and most of the kids thought it was really funny that an adult would do that. They didn't think it could happen to them. I really don't have any strategies for this problem other then continue to find stories about the predators that are out there on the web. Hopefully when they get a little bit older and mature they will see the danger that can present itself if they're not careful.
On the privacy issue, I think using false identities can help (members of my family have done this when posting something on the Web). I wonder too, in the case of e-mail, if using accounts belonging to an adult (probably from home, perhaps from school)would help. I agree with Shelly on the value of getting feedback for proposed activities, and I like Cate's idea about separating names and photos. Also, beyond keeping names and contact info private, you have to teach kids about the privacy risks of posting on the Web, what to look for and avoid, and how to, if necessary, write something that leaves no personal clues for an online predator to follow.
By the way, if this winds up getting posted twice, it's because I didn't see it show up after first attempt to post it.
This past school year was the first year that I developed a class website. We have a grade level website that includes curriculum info. The one I made is basically a place to post photos and to give a brief description of activities from class. It is not linked to the grade level site or the school site. Initially, I was asked not to link it since not every 1st grade teacher has her own site. Teachers did not want other parents to complain that not every class had one. I only gave the parents, my principal, and a few other teachers the URL. Parents do sign a school form allowing pictures and first to be used but I don't use students names. In my class they all signed it. It is not completely safe but people are not going to get much information from the site.
The 6th post from "henry" was actually me. If anyone's interested, I'll explain what happened tomorrow.
Richard
This is a response from Bette that I'm posting for her (password issues that are being resolved): Cate, I think that is a very difficult issue. Ultimately, it boils down to what is the purpose of posting the pictures -- maybe the solution comes from identifying that. If the purpose is to share the pictures with the kids - maybe the website isn't open to the public (can we do that?) Otherwise - if it is for the public, maybe the students aren't identified at all -- they are just included in the action shots. - Bette
I agree with Cate. We have very strict restrictions concerning posting any pictures on the Web of our students. I wonder if having parents coming in and attending workshops would help eleviate the fears. Strict guidelines could be established such as not using names. Heather also mentioned money and being able to use some of the free software that is available. Maybe once parents/administration witnesses the quality products that students can produce they would be more willing to help fund programs that would enhance the learning of the children as long we established clear information on how students will turn information from these new tools into knowledge. This also falls into justifying your purpose. We not only need to convince administration, but parents because they are the one that pass or fail our bonds.
Scary story - my cousin's 17 year old daughter (good student, nice, smart kid) met someone online, was abducted, taken from TX to OK, found through the Amber Alert and taken home safely to her mom. She's safe and much more aware of privacy and the internet. We need to stress how to protect our kids without scaring the daylights out of them.
Response to Cate's post: I think it's great that you get permission. If they say no, then respect that. No names really are necessary for most photos of classroom activities, etc.
Debi, Katy and I were talking about having students search MySpace sites looking for identifying information to show how easy it is for anyone to figure out where you live or go to school. Having students be the detectives is a hands-on in your face way for students to learn that safety is important.
As for posting photos on websites, I think not having any names attached is a simple solution as long as the school has written permission to post the child's photo.
I have to agree with Heather about the money. It's amazing how many grants are out there. If each school had a few parents and teachers focus on grant finding and writing I think a school could bring in $$$. I wrote grants the past three years through my husband's company and received $$$ for three different schools. Grant writing is a pain but once you have a few under your belt it's much easier.
Response to Heather's Post: Yes!! Once you do one, SAVE the documentation and do others!! Most just ask the same questions. Great ideas.
Who's Henry? Anne? Lana? Debi Downer? You three don't have posts here so I'm assuming it's one of you?
BTW, at the bottom of our replies, there's a link "Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)" where you can add this to your Google homepage. That way, you can see the new posts without going to the blog. IF you're interested in that sort of thing!
Oops, I see Henry is Richard. Didn't read far enough down. Sorry all!!
Debbie - A SHAME that you couldn't link your site because other teachers would feel badly. Remarkable.
All the concerns on the list are equally viable. I want to respond to the e-mail issue. In my opinion - the students should be able to access their e-mails at school. First of all, it is our noble duty to provide access to all information possible. Secondly, our students often use their e-mails for saving their assignments. Also, some students don't have computers at home (it still happens especially in rural schools); so for them school computers provide them the only option to communicate with the community at large via e-mail. Thank you!
All the concerns on the list are equally viable. I want to respond to the e-mail issue. In my opinion the students should be able to access their e-mails at school. First of all, it is our noble duty to provide access to all information possible. Secondly, our students often use their e-mails for saving their assignments. Also, some students don't have computers at home (it still happens, especially in rural schools); so for them school computers provide the only option to communicate with the community at large via e-mail.
Post a Comment