Thoughts on school district filtering

I’ve been having some non-blog conversations with folks about issues related to school district filtering of websites, including many read/write websites that could be used in powerful ways to promote student learning and collaboration– but often (particularly in US school districts governed by CIPA) those sites are blocked and teachers who submit requests (with legitimate, educationally-sound justifications) to have them unblocked are dismissed out of hand.

Miguel Guhlin has posted an interesting approach to this issue on his blog in “Be Aware of Consequences,” I posted a comment there, but I’d extend those ideas by observing that this is another example of CONVERSATIONS we need to be having at local, policymaking levels as well as at classroom levels with teachers and administrators. These questions are tied to ongoing discussions about DOPA and digital literacy. How can we help prepare students for good decisionmaking in an uncertain world, if the provided educational environment is so filtered, controlled and contrived that students don’t have opportunities to make digital mistakes and be corrected or redirected in digital “teachable moments?”

I think this is a question of leadership vision and pedagogic vision. What do the school leaders believe we need in the way of an environment to help students learn the skills they will need for life, and what does authentic teaching and learning look and sound like in the early 21st century? Sadly, too many school board members, parents and administrators (as well as many teachers) still think it should look and sound like a room filled with quiet students working compliantly on their worksheets. As Schlechty Center disciples will likely tell you, a person can’t tell from observing a classroom of students whether or not they are truly ENGAGED. You can observe on task and compliant behavior, but you have to dig deeper (and actually talk to students) to find out if engagement is happening. I think more educational leaders need to become not just concerned, but FIXATED on both ENGAGEMENT and cultivating 21ST CENTURY LITERACY SKILLS than we see today.

Check out Miguel’s “sort of in fun” (that’s my interpretation) administrative answer to Anne’s request to have Flickr unblocked at her school district. What would you say if you received a letter like that from your district IT department or Assistant Superintendent?

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On this day..

• How Are We Preparing Students for the Artificial Intelligence New Normal? – 2017
• First Android-Edited Video: WeVideo App – 2014
• Wii Remote Interactive Whiteboard for $60 – 2014
• Create iPad eBooks with Recorded Audio and Text Highlights FREE – 2013
• Mapping Media to the Common Core with iPads (Aug 2013) – 2013
• What is it about me you can’t teach? Five Simple Things to Reach Struggling Learners – 2012
• Present to 14 iPads Simultaneously with Idea Flight – 2011
• Lessons Learned About Enhanced or Multimedia EPUB eBook Validation – 2011
• Tell A Story in 5 Photos for Educators: S’mores! – 2010
• Discouraging lecture hall technology abuse – Encouraging interactive discussions – 2009