Scenario 1
Miss Starbuck decided to have her reading students use Blogger to create blog posts. The students were really excited about the idea. Many started to log in from home to create posts and comment on each other's work, but their posts quickly got out of hand. One student figured out how to post photos and included dangerous details like names and locations. Other students posted mean comments about classmates. An angry parent complained to the principal, who was unaware that Miss Starbuck was using Blogger in the first place.
There are many issues with this situation. First of all Blogger has an age requirement of 13, if the students were not 13 this should have stopped this train before it even left the station. Second issue is that Ms. Starbuck obviously did not set controls for the comments being posted on the blog. I have have used KidBlog in the past which allowed me to moderate the comments that the students were making on each others posts, Ms. Starbuck did not do this or have this safety measure in place. She also did not notify her principal or her parents which is a huge issue. The principal needs to be aware of what is happening in the classroom so that he/she can support a teacher if issues arise. Parents need to be kept in the loop as well to prevent angry calls to the principal.
I have used KidBlog in the past and set the comments to be moderated by me. Some of the students tried to use it as a social forum but once they realized that I would not publish comments like that they gave up trying.
Mounds View Resources helps to implement technology because of the rules that are in place. Follow the rules and you will be good to go.
One procedure that I would implement in my class and PLC regarding Blogging is that the principal would need to be informed first of the plan. A blog site that allows teacher controls would be used and lastly parents would sign permission slips.
Scenario 3
Mr. McFly has decided to get with the twenty-first century and have his economics students create videos for their final project. He has each student create a YouTube channel to post their projects, without notifying his principal or his students' parents. He also didn't teach students how to change privacy settings, so kids start getting inappropriate comments from unknown users.
Miss Starbuck decided to have her reading students use Blogger to create blog posts. The students were really excited about the idea. Many started to log in from home to create posts and comment on each other's work, but their posts quickly got out of hand. One student figured out how to post photos and included dangerous details like names and locations. Other students posted mean comments about classmates. An angry parent complained to the principal, who was unaware that Miss Starbuck was using Blogger in the first place.
There are many issues with this situation. First of all Blogger has an age requirement of 13, if the students were not 13 this should have stopped this train before it even left the station. Second issue is that Ms. Starbuck obviously did not set controls for the comments being posted on the blog. I have have used KidBlog in the past which allowed me to moderate the comments that the students were making on each others posts, Ms. Starbuck did not do this or have this safety measure in place. She also did not notify her principal or her parents which is a huge issue. The principal needs to be aware of what is happening in the classroom so that he/she can support a teacher if issues arise. Parents need to be kept in the loop as well to prevent angry calls to the principal.
I have used KidBlog in the past and set the comments to be moderated by me. Some of the students tried to use it as a social forum but once they realized that I would not publish comments like that they gave up trying.
Mounds View Resources helps to implement technology because of the rules that are in place. Follow the rules and you will be good to go.
One procedure that I would implement in my class and PLC regarding Blogging is that the principal would need to be informed first of the plan. A blog site that allows teacher controls would be used and lastly parents would sign permission slips.
Scenario 3
Mr. McFly has decided to get with the twenty-first century and have his economics students create videos for their final project. He has each student create a YouTube channel to post their projects, without notifying his principal or his students' parents. He also didn't teach students how to change privacy settings, so kids start getting inappropriate comments from unknown users.
There are many issues with this situation. First of all youtube could be a dangerous land to travel to if you are not informed and Mr. McFly clearly was not. Secondly, he should have notified the principal, if given approval he then should have gotten permission from parents. Thirdly, the students should have received instruction on how to create youtube channels that are private and don't allow comments. Youtube can be very useful but you have to make sure that you have implemented all the proper safety procedures so that students don't get into situations that could land you in hot water with parents and the principal.
Mounds View Resources helps to implement technology because of the rules that are in place. Follow the rules and you will be good to go.
One procedure that I would implement in my class and PLC regarding Youtube is that the principal would need to be informed first of the plan. I would also only use the Youtube as a teacher tool....I don't think that I would allow students to create their own youtube accounts under my watch.
YOU are so smart....SMRT!
ReplyDeleteIt really sounds like you have gotten some good use out of your classroom set of Chromebooks. I'm excited to get some of your guidance as I began my own little dance with this devil. Luckily we'll have access to pick your brain during our PLCs.
ReplyDeleteMost of all I like you moderated comments from the kids; that seems essential in any middle school classroom.
The student created youtube account is something I struggle with. We don't currently have a good solution for recording and housing student created video. I'm always at a loss when this comes up.
ReplyDelete