In a district that not only blocks the sites from students but also teachers, I have yet to receive an answer for my question- why would teachers be blocked from You Tube and Facebook?
As I mentioned earlier, I’m attending NDCTE, and while I’m here I’m taking in all kinds of great educational tools, ideas, and techniques. Technology always comes up because all teachers want to make their classrooms rich in 21st century skills. That being said I have to return to my previous question. . . but in thinking about it, I’m brought back to a much earlier debate- is it ok to censor sites or types of media? If so, when and how should it be done? Are seniors in high school incapable of utilizing You Tube? Can 8th graders be trusted with Facebook?
Since many students are already using these technologies, I have to agree that at some point teachers need to help them explore fair/good use policies. At the very least teachers are responsible for teaching safety guidelines. With cyber-bullying on the rise and other predatory dangers, there is no way, in good conscience, to ignore this.
But how can teachers do this without lifting the censorship? And since I don’t believe in teaching a tool without having the students use them, the kids need to be able to use Facebook or YouTube or whatever is the newest and latest.
A great example for you: last year my students participated in a fantastic North Dakota DOT contest. They worked really hard to plan and create a commercial on drivers’ safety. One group was even a top ten finalist in the competition, so we were really excited to see the online videos and vote to try to win the contest. But where were the videos? Of course, they had been posted on YouTube. The students were trying to get the school to vote, but only teachers with the correct passcode could access the site. In the end the Director of Technology lifted the filter for the few days it took to vote. Problem solved. . . . but it still leaves me to wonder. ISTE says we should "promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility", but how do we do that if all kids see is YOU ARE BLOCKED?
I was incredibly surprised to note that Federal funding requires some kind of filtering of information. And I get it. I wouldn’t want any of my students to unwillingly or otherwise get ahold of pornographic or other harmful material, but what happens when they’re on their own?
Please let me utilize all these killer strategies I’m learning. Let me open a lesson with a You Tube video. Let me WOW! the students with a profile assignment on John Steinbeck or Mark Twain. No, they can’t just use a paper and pencil; that defeats the purpose.
Please District, please allow me to be a great 21st century teacher.
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