This chapter didn't necessarily touch on this issue, but it is one that I have thought about since the beginning of this class, and with the increase of school violence and shootings in America lately. The world wide web, email, and internet technology creates a much more public image of schools today then existed pre-1990. I wonder what the impact of the increased visibility of schools, school happenings, and the people of the school has done to the safety of the schools and students. We read about an activity earlier in the book where a teacher let students into the hallway to record a YouTube video. I have heard of several schools that go into a lockdown mode after the first bell since the Newtown incident, not allowing students into the hallways unaccompanied. This is one concern with increasing technology - where will it happen if we fear the world around us? Also by constantly putting more information on the web, you are providing more information about the private lives of the students - even a picture in a YouTube video can give an angry parent a location in the building or a school to target. I think with the new critical push on school security that it should be defined in relation to this new use of technology.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Chapter 9
Chapter 9 deals with different types of contracts and policies must be looked at when adding technology to a school situation. Like with any other item that is used in education today, guidelines and rules must be made to prohibit certain actions and to punish those people who do not follow the rules. Because the internet is expanding at such a rapid rate, and it is much more difficult to oversee the activities done by students, the verbage in these types of contracts is very important so that a variety of different situations are covered. In the policy documents that exist, it is important to create a standard of conduct that needs to be followed when using technology - especially technology that will have the name of the school or organization attached to it. This becomes an image of the organization and a bad image is hard to erase. Using a school webpage to post pictures of a party is no different then wearing the shirt for the elementary school you teach at to the bar - both can be seen by many people and can create a negative image.
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Wow, you bring up a really good point when it comes to potential school violence and the use of technology. You are right, while technology is a blessing, it can also be a curse. So often when we think of the dangers of the internet, typically concerned more about access to dangerous or harmful websites, but rarely do I hear very discussion on sharing too much information. I have wanted to start posting pictures or videos of classroom projects as well as a class schedule on my teacher website, but I am starting to reconsider that now that you mention potential threats. Perhaps, this can be done and protected so that parents must have a log on to your website or request membership to see these activities. In an effort to maintain who sees these pictures and the schedule, only allow parents to request membership in person. I think the key thing here is security and making sure that access is limited so we are protecting our students.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think it needs to be closely guarded and only allow access to parents. Maybe even go so far as only to parents that have come to meet with you so you are sure that it is not an ex trying to get back by hurting the child. I know in general when, am looking for something I will do a website search and if you were to tag a picture with something I was looking for it would come up, so what would stop anyone from stumbling over the pictures or information. I think security wise, schools really need to crack down and look at how well they protect their students and faculty.
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