Thursday, September 2, 2010
Internet Filtering
Internet “filtering” is the method public schools and public libraries use to limit inappropriate content to students. It was established as part of the original federal funding for these organizations under what has become called “E-Rate” funding. As a school leader how will you manage, consult or direct the filtering for internet content in your school or offices? Include in your response your beliefs, responses to violations of filtering policies and what you will do so that useful websites that are blocked may be utilized.
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To be an efficient school leader, I believe in delegation(it takes a village to run a school). The details would fall under the technology and security dept. In reference to the big picture, I think these filters are a necessity. One mispelling in the search box could open up many inappropriate items. In speaking with some 15 year olds (not my own of course but others) I understand that there are ways "around" the filtering. Putting these filters in place must be an ever changing process as with each new filter there are probably 10 different ways created to get around it. If there are websites that have been blocked but can be beneficial and should be utilized then I would recommend creating some sort of override password that is different every time but may be granted on a case by case basis when an appeal is made to the appropriate officials.
ReplyDeleteWith internet filtering we have had some problems of trying to unblock certain websites so students can access important subject matter. Although, the flip side is that some student would be on a bad site which is not educational at all. This year our school system has so to speak open the doors to Internet and put it on the staff to keep a better eye on them. I can see the good and the bad in this. Overall I have experienced both and the situation this year has brought about more directed classroom help than trying to get around everything to find a little something. In the past it seemed it was almost more trouble than it was worth.
ReplyDeleteAs a school leader one would have to have great insight to how the internet filtering took place and how more monitoring can take place. I believe that learning is vital and the Internet can be very beneficial to successful learning.
The concept of good leadership also involves the ability to surround yourself with great people, along with the ability to delegate authority effectively. Managing the E Rate documents of a school system could be an overwhelming task. Currently, at our school, there tends to be an issue where educational sites are blocked because of the filters that are placed on the computers. As the principal I would have the computer technician monitor the computer use and report back to the me any inappropriate use so that these issues can be dealt with immediately and appropriately. In each computer lab there should be a sign up sheet provided so that each computer can be monitored effectively. Policies should be in place prior to the beginning of the school year that would be dealt with as need arises. The education of the children should not suffer because of the inability to obtain information necessary to educate the students. Continuous efforts should be made to keep current filters available while providing every means to educate each child.
ReplyDeleteI beleive that dealing with internet fltering and the acceptance of certain websites is something that a school community can handle as a group. I think that formulating a group that oversees the internet according to policy and make judgement calls on what is appropriate for instruction or resource purposes. When handling requests to unfilter a web-site I believe taking that request to the group and having them review the site before unblocking it. For and violations to the policy the disciplinary actions taken should come from the handbook that should cleary state what to do....
ReplyDeleteI think that there would have to be a consistent monitoring of the websites that are allowed and not. There should be a system to allow and block websites. With "filtering" you really need to have a great ITR staff would be essential for it's success. While students are on computers more and more it is the teacher’s responsibility to take care of the students and their use. In our school system they have greatly reduced the filtering process and put a great amount of responsibility on the teachers. With this comes a great amount of added responsibility that most teachers are glad to meet since they can have a better experience in internet usage. This would be a direct correlation with students getting the proper exposure to the things necessary to get as much as possible out of their educational experience.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Internet filtering is critical in public schools. However, I do think that certain educational sites are blocked and could be utilized in the classroom. In my county, if we need access to a certian website, we have to request permission from our Director of Technology. I have had great success gaining access to needed sites after clarifying the need. It is a huge responsibility to monitor what the students and faculty are looking at and if the internet is used inappropriately, consequences must be given. If an individual signs an acceptable computer use form and it is violated, then their privileges must be revoked.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that Internet filtering is critical in public schools. However, I think that some school systems have taken it to the extreme. As Mary pointed out, there are some educational sites that are blocked that teachers could use in the classroom. I have found many things that I wanted to use with my students but I could not use them because the site was blocked. Because of this, the school system that I work in has recently removed some of the Internet filtering and unblocked the sites so that teachers and students can have access to them. The ITRTs have also been helping out by doing Internet safety classes with the students so they know what to do if they get on a site that is inappropriate. The technology department is also monitoring Internet usage to make sure kids and teachers are not going to things they should not be going to. I really like having more access to the Internet and my students now know what to do if they come to a site they should not be on. They also know that if they use the Internet inappropriately then their privileges will be revoked. As a school leader, I would work closely with the teachers and the technology department to make sure that useful websites were avaiable for everyone to use.
ReplyDeleteAmy Woodard
The filtering process is a very grey situation in public schools. You can have too much or too little, its a very fine line. As Isreael stated earlier, our school divisions has loosened the reins and has let more sites through. To my knowledege, this has been more beneficial than detrimental in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteShane Reed
I feel as a school leader, that the staff is a group of individuals that are professionals and in saying that, I trust their decisions and methods of intergrating technology into the classroom. However there must be strict guidelines if there is any improper use of the internet.
I believe the best thing to do is stick to the school systems acceptable use policy. That is already layed out to all employees and students. If an acceptable site is blocked then I would speak with the tech folks to see if we could get the system to allow that site.
ReplyDeleteJake Leonard
Since a technology policy is already in place, I would follow those policies. I would work hand in hand with our coordinator of technology as well as our technology teachers to determine what needs to be done to filter appropriate websites from our students if one is happened upon unexpectedly. I would encourage my staff members that if they come across a website that would be beneficial at school and needs to be "unblocked" to write up a proposal as to why this website should be used at school.
ReplyDeleteSam
I like our division's policy. Different log-ins have different website privledges. As a teacher, I can log on to Facebook and a few other sites that students cannot. I do think at school social networking sites 'should' be off limits and the filters should be set fairly strict. For teachers, however, I believe the filters should block inappropriate sites and that's it. Teachers are professionals and should be treated as such until they prove otherwise.
ReplyDeleteA technology policy should already be in place for appropriate technology use. Also, I would have the technology specialist keep an updated filtering list, since new sites pop up all the time. If the acceptable use policy is violated, teacher or student, then they should be disciplined according to the acceptable use policy.
ReplyDeleteFiltering of the internet and technology resources is necessary to prevent intentional and unintentional access to inappropriate websites. Although filtering always cause the issue of trying to balance keeping out the inappropriate while allowing the appropriate. Our school and division has ways that a teacher can request that a website be unblocked. All use of school computers and network is recorded and the students are made aware of this. And of course it is essential that teachers monitor the use of technology resources by students.
ReplyDeleteFiltering is an essential component in maintaining a healthy and effective learning environment for each student. Without filtering educators couldn't really trust students to use the internet successfully and productively. My repsonse to this would be to follow the policy set by the school division and have teachers who are better equipped to handle filtering issues. I think that individual teachers should communicate to the Tech Dept on ways that students are getting through the filters. Also I think that teachers should have free access to the internet as long as it remains for instructional purposes rather than personal. There are many videos, audio clips, animations, etc. that teachers could use off of websites like Youtube. I know in some divisions even teachers are blocked from visiting such sites. I think that teachers, mainly the younger ones, should be mature enough to make the right decisions for positive student growth.
ReplyDeleteJoshua
I tend to agree with Amy W., I see the neccessity of filtering in the school system. I do however get frustrated when I cannot access to some instructional web sites. I must say things have greatly improved over the years, as educators have indicated the need to access to cetain sites. Currently we can usually get to most educational sites. Our technology department is prompt in their response to our needs, when we do ask for their asssitance.
ReplyDeleteMisty Zyvoloski
To ensure that educational sites are not being blocked, I will periodically ask teachers for specific sites that are not able to be accessed and pass on the information to the IT department. I will also asks teachers to inform me immediately of any sites that are accessed that they believe to be inappropriate. It is imperative that we keep students safe and free from inappropriate content in the school setting.
ReplyDeleteThe first step in managing the filtering process would be to meet with the technology staff to establish permissible websites for students and adults to view. I would allow students’ access to the most up to date information online while still honoring the code of ethics and internet safety agreement. My belief is that technology, with proper controls and regulations, is one of the most effective tools a teacher has when engaging students during instruction. Technology must be encouraged from administrators for teachers to embrace it. If students were found guilty of violating internet policies then I would implement consequences based upon a discipline plan designed specifically for internet violations, including losing privileges and suspension if needed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with how Fairfax County has managed internet filtering, actually. With the standard connection in the school, computers have very tight restrictions; many blogs are blocked, facebook, YouTube, and other common sites are blocked and images that one might click on from a Google search are often blocked. However, teachers can log on to a secure server and all of the blocks disappear, so any content can be accessed for instruction, but students cannot access it on their own. Of course, students with smartphones now have facebook, YouTube and their own email at their fingertips all the time, so I think the issue might have an added layer, not just related to school computers, but to the general wireless nature of the school. Now that all schools in my district are wireless hotspots, the issues are less about internet filtering, and more about smartphone policing.
ReplyDeleteOne are that I think can and should be imrpved on is the monitoring of students’ computer use when they are logged on to a school computer. Since students each have tehri own secure username and password, it should be relatively easy to monitor each students’ internet history and I do think that should be done periodically, especially in conjunction with other disciplinary issues.
Last year, I wanted to post interesting YouTube videos for students to see, but there was no way for them to access them at school. I created a group on facebook and invited students to join (without “friending” them) and I posted several clips there. I think I was on to something, but I did not continue with it this year. I think that there is the possibility for administrators to embrace technology more and be more in tune with WHAT students are accessing, instead of just being punitive, we can have our fingers more on the pulse of major issues like bullying.
Since filtering is required by law, I agree that it is very important and something that should be closely followed. As a principal, I would trust that my TRT and teachers would collaborate to teach the students what their responsibilities are when they access the internet. My county has a log of when a student accesses an inappropriate site. In my classroom, I usually see this happen on some game sights that may be a link from something as benign as Fun Brain. When violations happen I think the age of the student should be taken into account and consequences should be appropriate.
ReplyDeleteIn the county where I teach, teachers and students are given a copy of the update computer use policy each year at the beginning of the year, there should be no misunderstanding of what is acceptable and what is not. Teachers should be discussing these standards and guidelines and they should be discussed from ITRT to the teachers. Since filtering is a mandatory regulation it should be practiced and followed as written in the acceptable computer use policy. Filtering is monitored from central office and ITRT through each computer and students/teachers logging on leave a footprint there should be no question as to IF someone is not following policy. In our county students may lose their ability to use computers and programs if they do not follow proper guidelines. There are also consequences for each level of abuse if policy is not followed. I have found it sometimes difficult as a teacher to use the computer/ internet for purposes in the classroom due to blocked sites. I can always request a block to be lifted for use in the classroom. The procedure is to contact ITRT in central office and request it for educational purposes. I have had sites that were very beneficial for use in my classroom yet could not use until a request was made for use of the particular sight was made so they could be utilized. I think this is just a way for us to be diligent in student use of technology and filtering is just one of the ways for a school/division to do this.
ReplyDeleteAs a school leader I would consult with the school ITRT and strategize ways to improve technology use in the school. I would use filtering software. I believe that the safety of students is very important. However, I think an override system should be in place for teachers to be able to access certain educational sites that would be beneficial to the learning process of the students. Students that would violate the filtering policy would receive disciplinary action and could loose their privileges to use the computer systems in the school depending on the severity of the offense.
ReplyDeleteAs a school administrator within the larger technological community the school has the responsibility of developing productive citizens that understand the ethical issues with regard to Internet use and the responsible use of information in the digital age. Filtering systems help us as administrators to monitor our way through the learning. They are our “eyes and ears” much in the same way a teacher monitors the conversations that go on in her classroom.
ReplyDeleteThere are policies in place set by the school board to address filtering violations. As an administrator I would want to know about these involving students and staff members at my school. Children are learning to be responsible for their actions; adults are responsible so that the appropriate action must be taken when someone on the staff violates the policy.
When we first switched to our new filtering system many useful sites that were always available were now blocked including United Streaming (for some reason!) creating a lot of frustration. This had to be handled on a site-by-site basis where we called tech services and explained the situation and it was eventually unblocked. Better to err on the side of caution with a strict filtering system and adjust as you go than allow something questionable to fall through the filtering cracks.
I belive that all teachers and students should have to follow an internet acceptable use agreement that would be signed at the beginning of the year. Until that agreement is signed, that person is not allowed to use the internet. The filtering system that we currently have at our school does seem quite strict, but I feel that it needs to be to keep students off of the inappropriate sites. If teachers/administration are blocked from what they feel is a safe site, then we contact our "technology person" to get that particular site opened. This seems to be working at our school and I would probably implement this at a school where I am fortunate enough to be an administrator.
ReplyDeleteWhat a "hot topic"! This is such a problem in my county. Years ago, teachers and administrators were permitted unrestricted access while on school computers. A teacher (or teachers) were found to be in violation of the acceptable use policy and we (teachers) have since been given only restricted access. Our filtering mechanism is extremely conservative and it is very frustrating. We can get sites unblocked by asking permission in advance. Our instructional technology team will reviews the site and allows access if it is deemed appropriate. The punishments that are in place for staff that violate policy - it ranges from verbal warnings to termination.
ReplyDelete