Comments on: The Critic’s Corner http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/02/12/the-critics-corner/ Visit each TechnoTuesday to expand your knowledge in Classroom Technology Integration! Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:50:31 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Cathy Nelson http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/02/12/the-critics-corner/comment-page-1/#comment-438 Cathy Nelson Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:48:03 +0000 http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/02/12/the-critics-corner/#comment-438 Yes MaryAnn it was a slip when I was first being exposed to what our students would see and how they would react. No i do not want the quote used at all, and have let the group doing their "critic's corner" know this. The teacher has cautioned the students to make a positive spin and instead of focusing on dislikes, focus on ways to improve in a positive manner--no complaints accepted w/out a viable well researched solution to suggest. After experiencing the new log in over the last couple of days, I'm pleased to report the kids are not complaining much anymore. I am not "afraid" for anyone to read my blog or see my thoughts and feelings, hence the post. The comment was a reaction that was taken out of context. Nothing more. My students seem to be able to maneuver just fine, and the only dilemma we are facing now is how to get pictures (copyright friendly of course) for ongoing projects in light of right click being disabled. I'm sure we will manage fine, and I appreciate your help here. Yes MaryAnn it was a slip when I was first being exposed to what our students would see and how they would react. No i do not want the quote used at all, and have let the group doing their “critic’s corner” know this. The teacher has cautioned the students to make a positive spin and instead of focusing on dislikes, focus on ways to improve in a positive manner–no complaints accepted w/out a viable well researched solution to suggest. After experiencing the new log in over the last couple of days, I’m pleased to report the kids are not complaining much anymore. I am not “afraid” for anyone to read my blog or see my thoughts and feelings, hence the post. The comment was a reaction that was taken out of context. Nothing more. My students seem to be able to maneuver just fine, and the only dilemma we are facing now is how to get pictures (copyright friendly of course) for ongoing projects in light of right click being disabled. I’m sure we will manage fine, and I appreciate your help here.

]]> By: MaryAnn Sansonetti http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/02/12/the-critics-corner/comment-page-1/#comment-437 MaryAnn Sansonetti Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:13:02 +0000 http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/02/12/the-critics-corner/#comment-437 Cathy, I don't think this quote should be used. It was said out of your frustration. As you said in your post above you didn't think anyone was listening. Yes, there are restrictions. I don't like some of the restrictions in my district but I don't "attack" by being quoted by a student in a critics editorial. I do research. I present information and the whys. Its not about us against the district. Its about learning and teaching. Have you thought about why the students can't change their backgrounds? I worked in a school where the entire student body had laptops. They were not allowed to change backgrounds. Why? When the students had the privilege they used the desktop backgrounds to bully, show gang connections, and sexual preference (yes, it was a high school). I am not saying all students would use it for bad but remember even though its a student login its the property of the district. We are educators... educate people in a positive, professional manner. I imagine the IT department might listen if you request a meeting and present information compared to reading your quote in the Critic's Corner of the student paper. Cathy, I don’t think this quote should be used. It was said out of your frustration. As you said in your post above you didn’t think anyone was listening. Yes, there are restrictions. I don’t like some of the restrictions in my district but I don’t “attack” by being quoted by a student in a critics editorial.

I do research. I present information and the whys. Its not about us against the district. Its about learning and teaching.

Have you thought about why the students can’t change their backgrounds? I worked in a school where the entire student body had laptops. They were not allowed to change backgrounds. Why? When the students had the privilege they used the desktop backgrounds to bully, show gang connections, and sexual preference (yes, it was a high school). I am not saying all students would use it for bad but remember even though its a student login its the property of the district.

We are educators… educate people in a positive, professional manner. I imagine the IT department might listen if you request a meeting and present information compared to reading your quote in the Critic’s Corner of the student paper.

]]> By: Cathy Nelson http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/02/12/the-critics-corner/comment-page-1/#comment-436 Cathy Nelson Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:57:56 +0000 http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/02/12/the-critics-corner/#comment-436 Thanks for helping me review this clearly and from different perspectives. I did talk to a teacher who is from the business sector and she agreed the restrictions there are much more strict than at school. I am telling my students they may not use my comment at all, and instead suggest they try an angle that is not negative or defensive, as you have described. I also want them to "interview" this teacher, and maybe even someone (a parent, business partner to our school, or vendor that our school deals with) to see that our computer restrictions are in line with other institutions, and perhaps allow them to draw the right conclusions on their own (that perhaps it is real-world.) I'm also keeping further comments and opinions, especially ones like thatm to myself. Valuable lesson learned. Thanks for helping me review this clearly and from different perspectives. I did talk to a teacher who is from the business sector and she agreed the restrictions there are much more strict than at school. I am telling my students they may not use my comment at all, and instead suggest they try an angle that is not negative or defensive, as you have described. I also want them to “interview” this teacher, and maybe even someone (a parent, business partner to our school, or vendor that our school deals with) to see that our computer restrictions are in line with other institutions, and perhaps allow them to draw the right conclusions on their own (that perhaps it is real-world.) I’m also keeping further comments and opinions, especially ones like thatm to myself. Valuable lesson learned.

]]> By: David http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/02/12/the-critics-corner/comment-page-1/#comment-435 David Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:04:38 +0000 http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/02/12/the-critics-corner/#comment-435 I would let them use the comment. I think the students get a lesson that even as an adult in the working world you don't always get what you want to do your job effectively and you have to learn to work around it or strongly advocate for change. Maybe I'm too cynical but I don't think an "anonymous" comment will truly be anonymous in a middle school setting. I would let them use the comment. I think the students get a lesson that even as an adult in the working world you don’t always get what you want to do your job effectively and you have to learn to work around it or strongly advocate for change.

Maybe I’m too cynical but I don’t think an “anonymous” comment will truly be anonymous in a middle school setting.

]]> By: Lisa M Lane http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/02/12/the-critics-corner/comment-page-1/#comment-434 Lisa M Lane Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:46:37 +0000 http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/02/12/the-critics-corner/#comment-434 I would stand by my comment proudly. I'd also see if they could help answer my question! :-) I would stand by my comment proudly. I’d also see if they could help answer my question! :-)

]]> By: Cathy Nelson and students hearing a slip up | Crucial Thought http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/02/12/the-critics-corner/comment-page-1/#comment-433 Cathy Nelson and students hearing a slip up | Crucial Thought Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:30:20 +0000 http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/02/12/the-critics-corner/#comment-433 [...] Nelson has a marvelously interesting post today about her school/district’s restrictive new IT [...] [...] Nelson has a marvelously interesting post today about her school/district’s restrictive new IT [...]

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