DOPA actions?

I caught the tail end of the Teachers Teaching Teachers / EdTechTalk skypecast this evening on DOPA. My question after listening and text chatting a bit was, what do we do now?

I’ve created a short survey on KillerSurvey.com, asking what actions people think are most appropriate and realistic. There is also a space to submit other ideas. Give it a spin, you have to register, but everyone can see results. This is a free survey tool, similar to others I’ve tried before.

One good resource I learned about in the text chat was this three page PDF document from YALSA (the Young Adult Library Services Association) titled “Teens & Social Networking in the School & Public Library.” The first two paragraphs will give you a flavor for its message:

Social networking technologies have many positive uses in schools and libraries. They are an ideal environment for teens to share what they are learning or to build something together online. The nature of the medium allows students to receive feedback from teachers, peers, parents, and others. Social networking technologies create a sense of community (as do the physical library and school) and in this way are already aligned with the services and programs at the library/school

Schools and libraries are working to integrate positive uses of social networking into their classrooms, programs, and services. By integrating social networking technologies into educational environments, teens have the opportunity to learn from adults how to be safe and smart when participating in online social networks.

We need to promote safe digital social networking! Now we need to brainstorm together what to do, in addition to contacting our Senators, before they vote on DOPA. Hopefully we can encourage them to be more constructive rather than reactionary. For a decently reasoned perspective on this in the mainstream press, check out “House Misfires On Internet Safety” from CBS News. In the article Larry Magid writes:

While nearly everyone agrees that Internet predators should be “deleted,” this bill doesn’t address that issue. Unlike the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, which the President signed into law on July 21, DOPA does nothing to strengthen penalties or increase prosecution of criminals who prey on children. Instead, it punishes the potential victims and educational institutions chartered to serve them, by denying access to interactive sites at school and libraries.

It would be like trying to protect children from being injured or killed by drunk drivers by ruling that kids can no longer walk, ride a bike or even ride in a car or bus to school.

Via Will Richardson and Doug Noon and Susan’s comment on Doug’s post!

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On this day..

• 4th Grade Virtual Tour of a California Mission in Minecraft – 2013
• Oklahoma STEM Updates from Jeff Downs (August 2012) – 2012
• Identifying Barriers to Creativity in Schools #blackfootETC – 2011
• Online Learning with Montana Digital Academy #blackfootETC – 2011
• Filtering the Information Flood: Strategies for Effectively Teaching Online – 2011
• Dr Tim Tyson on our need for visionary educational leadership – 2010
• Notes from LoTi Administrator Institute led by Dean Mantz (afternoon) – 2009
• Notes from LoTi Administrator Institute led by Dean Mantz (morning) – 2009
• Congrats to Scott Hudson: Eagle Scout at age 36 – 2008
• Great day with Oklahoma A+ Schools – 2007