Filtering Dilemma

I am a primary decision maker for web content filtering in a school. We continually see comments with the groans, and the sighs about schools who "over filter" or block entire sites. We also hear the frequent "they don't get it!" label slapped onto the decision makers.

I'd like to point out something of interest. Not one of those who sigh or are critical of filtering decisions has their job on the line should Johnny access inappropriate content. Would those who are frustrated sit beside me in court or defend me in the court of public opinion? They certainly would not have to sit in the principal's office and explain to the sobbing mother who is clutching her book of faith.

For those who can't believe that YouTube is blocked, have you approached the Superintendent and volunteered to assume liability for the District should a student, parent, or family launch a lawsuit? As it stands today, many AUPs identify the Technology Coordinator, Technology Director, or Superintendent as the individual responsible for safeguarding students.

I have not yet read about the Instructional Technology Coach, the edublogger, the Ed. Tech consultant stepping up to assume responsibility and liability. It's sad but we live in a litigious society.

You see, I'm charged with making reasonable efforts to keep out inappropriate content. Is allowing YouTube reasonable? Is it reasonable to believe that a student browsing or searching YouTube will come across content that is inappropriate. So long as the law and the policy charge me with making reasonable efforts to keep out the inappropriate, YouTube and other services that allow inappropriate content will likely be on the black list.

Yes, we should use "accidental" access to inappropriate content as learning experiences. They should be viewed as an opportunity to learn to safely navigate the web. In reality, what happens is the parents call the office and the filtering policies, procedures, and decisions are challenged. "But I thought we had a filter??" "Why are we paying thousands of dollars for a filter if it doesn't keep out the bad stuff?"

In an effort to make this post part of the solution and not merely a rant, let's not continually bash the filtering decision makers. Rather, let's come together as a learning community and popularize those sites that only allow appropriate content. TeacherTube is a fine example. TeacherTube allows the filtering folks to safely open up the world of online video. Where's eduFlickr???

I know, I know... the walled garden is not the WORLD WIDE WEB.

Secondly, let's work with legislators to make sure that schools have a means to safely access Internet resources without having a single individual have to put his/her job and reputation on the line. Perhaps Scott can put a legal spin on this. What is my liability as the Technology Director should a student access inappropriate content? How can I act in a manner that is reasonable and prudent and still allow access to the dynamic Internet?

I'm the one sitting between the rock (filter) and the hard place (web) and being criticized by many. HELP!

Tags: filtering, web 2.0, policy

Multimedia Apps are the Latest Web 2.0 Victim

I'm going to date myself with this post. Of the two or three blog subscribers I have, I know of one other who can say they were a fan of HyperCard. Remember HyperCard. What COULDN'T you do with that application??

HyperCard then faded with the rise of HyperStudio. HyperStudio was a cool application too. Students really loved to create multimedia projects. The one drawback was sharing the projects. Posting to the web was always cumbersome in that you needed a browser plug-in.

Zoho Notebook caught my eye a few months ago. They've really done a nice job with it. Today Miguel sheds some light on Scrapblog. Watch the Scrapblog tour. I now have a new favorite web 2.0 application.

Scrapblog looks well on it's way to digital storytelling where the technology is nearly transparent. NICE!

KP

Tags: multimedia, web 2.0, paccio

Do You REALLY Know Web 2.0?

Now I've seen lists of web 2.0 sites in my travels. I've even read the web 2.o awards site from a while back.

I often read about new read/write web tools and I frequently try them out.
Here's an interesting site that is the web 2.0 mothership. Do yourself a favor and check this one out. Did you have any idea of the scope?? I had only heard about 20% of these sites.

The navigation of "GoToWeb2.0" is interesting too. Find the tiny purple tabs to scroll up and down. I kept finding myself looking for the scroll bars. Also be sure to try the search feature in the top bar. Yep, search by tag cloud. Interesting! It will take me some time to get used to that feature.

I'm sure there are some real treasures in there! Let me know what you find and don't forget the for:kpaccio tag!!

Web-based Presentation Application

How has this web 2.0 application flown under our radar for so long?? Two of the web-based presentation tools (Zoho Show, Slideshare.net) have shared the spotlight. The primary element that is missing from those two applications (at least they were missing when I last tried them) was slide animations.

Anyone who has incorporated presentation projects into their classroom knows how students use slide animations. (OK, so OVERUSE is probably a better term.) They are disappointed when the animations don't work in the online versions mentioned above.

Spresent.com is a web-based flash application that allows users to build presentations online. The presentations can incorporate pictures from Flickr or Bubbleshare, movies from YouTube, Vimeo, and much more.

I don't see a way to import an existing PowerPoint but I'm sure that's on the radar.

Check out some sample presentations created with Spresent.
Car show example
Features example

Open email Attachments in Google Docs

Within the last month or two I have seen a new feature in Gmail that I've not seen much fanfare about. I thought it would draw more interest.

When receiving a ".doc" attachment in a Gmail account you will now see the option to "Open as a Google document." Wow, what a nice feature.

If you often use a shared computer, your email attachments can now be opened, viewed, and saved to your Gmail account without a locally installed word processor! One more reason that you can "give me a browser and I'll see you in June."

PBwiki freebies

During my web 2.0 presentations I often include pbwiki, wikispaces, edublogs, google tools, etc.

Well, here's a nice bonus if you include pbwiki in your presentations:

PBwiki Presenter Packs
If you're giving a presentation about wikis, we'll ship you a free PBwiki
t-shirt, an easy-to-read PDF about wikis, a Powerpoint with pictures of
real PBwiki users, and 3 FREE Gold Premium wikis to give out to your
audience. We've already distributed over 100 Presenter Packs to educators
around the world, and we'd love to give you one, too.

Get your PBwiki Presenter Pack here:
http://educators.pbwiki.com/PBwiki%20Presenter%20Packs

The Gold Premium pack is a VERY nice offer. I've applied for mine! Get 'em while they're hot!

KP

Interactive Whiteboards- Are they worth it?

I've been negligent. No posts in a few weeks.

I had a conversation with one of Pennsylvania's most influential bloggers, Jim Gates, the other day. Our discussion, as it usually does, centers around current happenings in education technology. While it's not always the case, this time we agreed on the topic.

Interactive whiteboards were the topic of discussion. We spoke about the cost of whiteboards, the software requirements, connectivity, logistical considerations, and more. There is an undeniable "cool" factor that instantly happens in a classroom when a new whiteboard is introduced.

I have seen some very cool lessons involving whiteboards. What I haven't witnessed, on a regular basis, is a shift from the teacher-centered classroom. The whiteboard is typically used as a teacher tool.

At the elementary level, teachers often invite their students to interact with learning manipulatives. At the secondary level we most often see the whiteboard being used as a presentation device. Now I'm not suggesting that there aren't highly engaging activities that can be done. There are. But typically... it's a presentation device.

The cost, at $1100 - $1500 or more, is quite steep. There are cables and connectivity to consider. The boards are large and despite having a rolling stand, mobility is just not practical.
And the one that hits my school the hardest... locally installed software. With hundreds of teachers and a handful of techs, the continuous updating of locally installed software can be problematic.

What I'd like to see develop is (and I know I sound like a broken record) is web-based interactive whiteboard software!! Here's one that I've come to like and I hope you'll give it a try too. It's called Thinkature and it appears to have great potential. Upload your pictures, draw, comment, chat, INVITE OTHERS!

So with a $50 remote mouse and a web-based interactive workspace... homerun!!

There are other web-based spaces such as Skrbl but I've come to like Thinkature.

Tags: web 2.0, Internet, software, whiteboard, interactive whiteboard