Jeremy-- I am dealing with the same type of issues here. Admin is quick to request I open up the firewall door to these things, and I've accommodated them (although not Facebook yet) but I worry and fret about the ramifications to the students, the staff, and the district. So many of the requests for collaborative web sites are driven by individual teachers, and it seems like there should be a means of evaluating what we'll allow and what we won't, rather than just letting any teacher make any request.
1. We have Internet access at all grade levels in our district, but all access requires logging in, with the exception of one teeny-tiny SpEd laptop that I just put out there, but that's another story. 2. The students in grades K - 4 have simple class logins that are alike for each homeroom. There's a home directory for each of those class groups and some classes use them more than others. Starting in 5th grade, students get their own login and their own home folder. 3. I share your concerns about wasted time. I'm always blown away when I do take the time to look at email logs and Internet usage logs to see how much paid time is spent in what are probably personal pursuits. On the other hand, I think that's an administrative issue to solve, and I have begun to err on the side of allowing access to more and more Web 2.0 tools with the stern admonition to staff that they are responsible for what their students post. I was berated once for scaring the staff, but I stand by what I think is the huge responsibility we take on as educators when we allow our students to post anything publically. If nothing else, it could be embarrassing to the district, and we need to be constantly vigilant. My feeling is that we should spend more time formulating policy before we lean towards fewer access limitations to the Internet. However, there are more than a few who tend to think I'm just getting too old to understand. "Come on," I want to say, I've been using Facebook as a way to stay in contact with family and friends for a long time! Looks can be deceiving. And by the way, when was the last time you blogged?" :o) I'm VERY interested in this discussion. What's everyone else doing? Sarah Sarah M. Freking, District Technology Director Storm Lake Community School District Storm Lake, IA 50588 Phone: 712-732-8100 Fax: 712-732-8101 The important thing is not to stop questioning. - Albert Einstein info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us writes: >Everyone- > > I have a few questions I would like to pose to the group for input. > > 1 At what grade do you start giving students Internet access? > Our elementaries >would like to not have to log in to computers as special internet accounts, >they just want the >Internet to work for them. Our current practice would require someone to log >the computer in with >an account that would have Internet access. I assume that whatever your >situation is, you expect >the teacher to still supervise their use. > > 2 At what grade do you start giving kids their own personal > login, with a home >directory and internet access. We are doing home directories at 5th grade, >and Internet access at >7th grade. > > 3 Facebook. We have 3 interested groups ready and wanting to > create a Facebook >group or a Facebook Page for their specific group. We have talked about >privacy, and what kids >post about themselves there and how we as District employees are mandatory >reporters. From my >limited playing of Facebook, I cannot limit access to specific facebook site, >it is either give >them (staff only, not students) access to Facebook or not. All or none. >Their thinking in >wanting to create a Facebook page is because that is what the kids are doing, >when they arent at >school. My concern is the privacy and lost work time with people maintaining >their personal >Facebook, Mafia War or Farm Town creation. Give me your thought, the >discussions you have had, >and we can kind of go from there. > > Thanks for your time and help. > >Jeremy > > > >_______________________________________________ > >Jeremy Pearson >Supervisor of Information Technology > >Fort Dodge Community School District >104 South 17th Street >Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 > >[ http://www.fort-dodge.k12.ia.us ]http://www.fort-dodge.k12.ia.us > >(515)574-5676 voice >(515)574-5324 fax > >
