We need to talk openly with the communities we serve about the role of social media and Web 2.0 in the classroom. We need our admins and tech departments to understand how and why we use participatory media. Otherwise, you wind up with situations like this.
And this isn't to speak poorly of Bill Ferriter. He's working his tail off.
Rather, it's to suggest that the fear that compels admins and districts to block sites is in direct proportion to the lack of an authentic and large-scale outlet for communication between tech savvy teachers and the communities and families they serve.
We need to talk.
Because blocked sites equal blocked minds.
Let's get beyond this. There's real work to be done. Good luck, Bill.
Sun in Capricorn I
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Capricorn I — The Headless Body, according to Austin Coppock‘s system —
begins on December 21 2024 at 4:20 am EST, and continues until 30 December
2024 at ...
I couldn't agree more, went through a painful time getting the school's ISP to unblock Wetpaint. They were blocking it because there were some pages with inappropriate content. Hello! The internet is full of inappropriate content, as is T.V., the movies, books and the sleazy person down the street. Parent's and teacher's jobs are to educate the students about how to deal with it / avoid it / report it.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible that school sysadmins just don't care about educating but only about their tech world? I understand they are trying to keep networks safe. They need to be a bit open-minded through.
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