Comments on: Should we filter? http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/should-we-filter/ Visit each TechnoTuesday to expand your knowledge in Classroom Technology Integration! Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:32:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Kate O. http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/should-we-filter/#comment-566 Kate O. Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:02:13 +0000 http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/should-we-filter/#comment-566 Cathy - I'm so glad you just wrote this post, I've been dealing with very similar filtering situations to what you describe here and it's a very difficult way to work. I really agree with your comment that giving flexibility with filters, it sounds like you work in a wonderful environment - one I'm jealous of! As for your last comment about the corporate world, it's so true and the monitoring software is getting more and more strict. There's a serious different between educators and other jobs, although I don't think anyone should have to work in a filtered environment. The difference is this: we, as educators, are being blocked from tools that allow us to do our job in the most effective way possible. Thanks for a great post! Cathy -

I’m so glad you just wrote this post, I’ve been dealing with very similar filtering situations to what you describe here and it’s a very difficult way to work. I really agree with your comment that giving flexibility with filters, it sounds like you work in a wonderful environment - one I’m jealous of! As for your last comment about the corporate world, it’s so true and the monitoring software is getting more and more strict. There’s a serious different between educators and other jobs, although I don’t think anyone should have to work in a filtered environment. The difference is this: we, as educators, are being blocked from tools that allow us to do our job in the most effective way possible. Thanks for a great post!

]]> By: » Student Teachers: No Access = No Learning | Kate Says http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/should-we-filter/#comment-565 » Student Teachers: No Access = No Learning | Kate Says Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:39:22 +0000 http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/should-we-filter/#comment-565 [...] Should we filter? - Cathy Nelson (added April 11, 2008) Teaching, Tools [...] [...] Should we filter? - Cathy Nelson (added April 11, 2008) Teaching, Tools [...]

]]> By: Cathy Nelson http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/should-we-filter/#comment-563 Cathy Nelson Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:27:58 +0000 http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/should-we-filter/#comment-563 WOW talked with a friend from the corporate world about filters. If the workers try to go to a site not related to the corporation or the job at hand, the screen freezes and they are summoned to their superior to explain why they were on non work related content on the network. Now that is a filter to beat any I've heard about in a school setting. WOW talked with a friend from the corporate world about filters. If the workers try to go to a site not related to the corporation or the job at hand, the screen freezes and they are summoned to their superior to explain why they were on non work related content on the network. Now that is a filter to beat any I’ve heard about in a school setting.

]]> By: Cathy Nelson http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/should-we-filter/#comment-562 Cathy Nelson Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:11:19 +0000 http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/should-we-filter/#comment-562 @Doug Johnson - Thanks for the link. I hope others will take the time to read it too. I also like that there is one machine per building unfiltered for reviewing purposes AND that someone can unblock a requested site on site. I'm positive the staff appreciates this courtesy and professionalism they are treated with. Thanks for the information. @Robin - Bob Noe seems to want to spearhead an attempt to educate educators, so hopefully we can all find some good examples of educators using the tools we would like loosened up. @Pat - I'm afraid you are right. There will always be that 20%, no matter the issue. It doesn't even have to be about the current topic. It could be fire drill behavior, and those 20% will continue to dance on the edge. @Doug Johnson - Thanks for the link. I hope others will take the time to read it too. I also like that there is one machine per building unfiltered for reviewing purposes AND that someone can unblock a requested site on site. I’m positive the staff appreciates this courtesy and professionalism they are treated with. Thanks for the information.

@Robin - Bob Noe seems to want to spearhead an attempt to educate educators, so hopefully we can all find some good examples of educators using the tools we would like loosened up.

@Pat - I’m afraid you are right. There will always be that 20%, no matter the issue. It doesn’t even have to be about the current topic. It could be fire drill behavior, and those 20% will continue to dance on the edge.

]]> By: Pat http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/should-we-filter/#comment-561 Pat Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:57:43 +0000 http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/should-we-filter/#comment-561 Great post! I agree that we need to teach students to use tools appropriately. Students write inappropriate notes to each other with pen and paper but we don't take them away. I just wish the district would trust teachers to unblock what they need for educational purposes. Let's face it, the lazy teachers wouldn't unblock it because they probably wouldn't even bother to use it. Great post! I agree that we need to teach students to use tools appropriately. Students write inappropriate notes to each other with pen and paper but we don’t take them away. I just wish the district would trust teachers to unblock what they need for educational purposes. Let’s face it, the lazy teachers wouldn’t unblock it because they probably wouldn’t even bother to use it.

]]> By: Robin http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/should-we-filter/#comment-560 Robin Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:18:46 +0000 http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/should-we-filter/#comment-560 Thank you for extending the filter conversation..We block everything that streams videos, pretty much anything that involves active X (except if I have proven it to be a valuable tool) as well as YouTube, Blogs (including my own), etc..I am working on "proving their validity" in education, however, we are still at the mindset of protecting the students from the 20% that continue to ventue to off.... Showing examples from other classrooms at schools that have implemented Web 2.0 has helped me convince "the powers that be" to allow access to those specific sites... Thank you for extending the filter conversation..We block everything that streams videos, pretty much anything that involves active X (except if I have proven it to be a valuable tool) as well as YouTube, Blogs (including my own), etc..I am working on “proving their validity” in education, however, we are still at the mindset of protecting the students from the 20% that continue to ventue to off….

Showing examples from other classrooms at schools that have implemented Web 2.0 has helped me convince “the powers that be” to allow access to those specific sites…

]]> By: Doug Johnson http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/should-we-filter/#comment-559 Doug Johnson Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:58:28 +0000 http://technotuesday.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/should-we-filter/#comment-559 Hi Cathy, The questions you raise are all good ones that I believe all schools struggle with on nearly a daily basis. This little article from a couple years ago explains how our district manages its filter (and we get few complaints about over or under blocking). http://dougjohnson.squarespace.com/dougwri/maintaining-intellectual-freedom-in-a-filtered-world.html The key, I believe, is to have a process that takes decisions out of the hands of a single individual and into the hands of a wide range of stakeholders. All the best, Doug Hi Cathy,

The questions you raise are all good ones that I believe all schools struggle with on nearly a daily basis.

This little article from a couple years ago explains how our district manages its filter (and we get few complaints about over or under blocking).

http://dougjohnson.squarespace.com/dougwri/maintaining-intellectual-freedom-in-a-filtered-world.html

The key, I believe, is to have a process that takes decisions out of the hands of a single individual and into the hands of a wide range of stakeholders.

All the best,

Doug

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