Bit By Bit

3 responses so far ↓

• 1 Alice // May 24, 2006 at 7:51 pm

  Hear! Hear!
  I think this bill is a result of the media’s negative portrayl of My Space. Our jobs as teachers is to help students learn about making good choices. As Bob states, kids need to learn how to work in a social networking environment.

• 2 SEEDlings » Blog Archive » DOPA // May 24, 2006 at 7:59 pm

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• 3 Michael Weaver // Jun 9, 2006 at 12:10 pm

  This tends to be a double edged sword. On one hand, you want students to have the ability to work collaboratively without restrictions. The best way for students to learn anything is for them to jump in and get their hands on the material.

  Unfortunately, there are several forms of unwelcome elements out there on the Internet. It does distract from the teaching process for a teacher to have to stop and educate a student on what is safe and appropriate and what is not. Furthermore, teachers cannot observe what is on every monitor at all times. A lot of students could go into dangerous waters and the educator not know about it.

  Finally, there is the liability factor. Who is liable should a predator come into personal contact with a child after meeting on the school’s equipment? Yes, there are usage agreements in place, but does that absolve the school or educator from being liable? How many teachers could live with themselves if one of their students became involved with a predator right under their nose?

  The solution is not an easy one. However, I do believe in heavier moderation on the Internet for younger (K - 6) students. By the time students reach their teens, we should have educated them to have a stronger realization of what is appropriate and what is not, and therefore relax the moderation of content.

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