Comments on: Episode 19: Beyond the Filters http://virtualstaffroom.net/2007/11/22/episode-19-beyond-the-filters/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:27:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Don Wilder http://virtualstaffroom.net/2007/11/22/episode-19-beyond-the-filters/#comment-52955 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:56:36 +0000 http://virtualstaffroom.net/2007/11/22/episode-19-beyond-the-filters/#comment-52955 I realize this comment is more than a year late but my comment: Unfortunately all teachers are not as in command of their students as they should be. They tend to give students an assignment and step out in the hall for a conversation. Some teachers feel that it is too much of an imposition to be vigilant about what is going on in the classroom regarding anything other than the content they are presenting. Yes, these people have no business being in the classroom, but they are there. Regarding the use of computers in the classroom there are teachers who feel that the computer is not their responsibility. They are uncomfortable with the technology and don't want to be responsible for possible misuse - like plagerism, listening to a radio station, having more than an assignment related site open in the tray so they can switch back and forth. So for the person responsible for security it is easier to restrict access than to train or confront teachers about their role. For the person responsible for liability, probably a bigger problem in the US than in Britain, it is usually safer to err on the side of caution than on the side of more exciting and effective education. Unfortunately teachers and school systems in the US have found themselves both financially and criminally liable for student activity online. Thanks for an interesting discussing and lots of good ideas. I just wanted to help Chris understand what people in the US are worried about around security issues. Don Wilder I realize this comment is more than a year late but my comment:
Unfortunately all teachers are not as in command of their students as they should be. They tend to give students an assignment and step out in the hall for a conversation. Some teachers feel that it is too much of an imposition to be vigilant about what is going on in the classroom regarding anything other than the content they are presenting. Yes, these people have no business being in the classroom, but they are there.

Regarding the use of computers in the classroom there are teachers who feel that the computer is not their responsibility. They are uncomfortable with the technology and don’t want to be responsible for possible misuse - like plagerism, listening to a radio station, having more than an assignment related site open in the tray so they can switch back and forth.

So for the person responsible for security it is easier to restrict access than to train or confront teachers about their role. For the person responsible for liability, probably a bigger problem in the US than in Britain, it is usually safer to err on the side of caution than on the side of more exciting and effective education. Unfortunately teachers and school systems in the US have found themselves both financially and criminally liable for student activity online.

Thanks for an interesting discussing and lots of good ideas. I just wanted to help Chris understand what people in the US are worried about around security issues.

Don Wilder

]]> by: IP PBX http://virtualstaffroom.net/2007/11/22/episode-19-beyond-the-filters/#comment-52319 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:43:47 +0000 http://virtualstaffroom.net/2007/11/22/episode-19-beyond-the-filters/#comment-52319 thanks for this list about record this chat for a librarian’s research project she was working on about the use of Skype for educational purposes thanks for this list about record this chat for a librarian’s research project she was working on about the use of Skype for educational purposes

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