Comments on: The Filter Web Sites Dilemma http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/ Exploring the IDEAL School Library…with a dash of practical application Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:30:20 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Bill Burger http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/comment-page-1/#comment-195 Bill Burger Mon, 18 Feb 2008 03:37:01 +0000 http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/#comment-195 I originally was the advocate for no filters what-so-ever, and I have now been educated that this is not possible nor something I feel so strongly about any more. I will still be advocating as much as possible for as little filtering as possible and ease of unblocking sites as needed by SBISD employees (Not sure about students-I wouldn't let my middle school students have this option at this point). 1. I like the idea of a filter free IP Address that allows teachers access to all sites. How they can transfer this info to an actual lesson or presentation is a question I still have. 2. This is my first real use of a blog and it is quite amazing. I can see how this could be used as a learning tool especially by students that this is just a natural part of their day to day activities. I originally was the advocate for no filters what-so-ever, and I have now been educated that this is not possible nor something I feel so strongly about any more. I will still be advocating as much as possible for as little filtering as possible and ease of unblocking sites as needed by SBISD employees (Not sure about students-I wouldn’t let my middle school students have this option at this point).

1. I like the idea of a filter free IP Address that allows teachers access to all sites. How they can transfer this info to an actual lesson or presentation is a question I still have.

2. This is my first real use of a blog and it is quite amazing. I can see how this could be used as a learning tool especially by students that this is just a natural part of their day to day activities.

]]> By: Karen http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/comment-page-1/#comment-194 Karen Sun, 17 Feb 2008 17:35:16 +0000 http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/#comment-194 I think there is better access than what we used to have in our district. Also, the time it takes for unblocking sites seems to be improving. The categories like "entertainment" need to be re-evaluated. Why can we get to Yahoo music, but the Houston Ballet was blocked ? - until we requested access to it. Secondly, could we have a better system for tracking down the student violators using the web inappropriately and consistent consequences? I had a student from Canada who told me they had a system in their district whereby each printout at school included the students' ID # at the bottom of the printout - so it was easy to find the person printing out inappropriate items. Equally, it seems to be very hard for teachers/administrators to delve into the history on our computers for specific users. Instead of blocking things for "everyone" - why not be more consistent with dropping privilege to those few who violate? This is a system which punishes everyone because of a few who don't follow policy. Monitoring is also a key component to freeing up the Internet to students. Teachers should be knowledgeable users with regards to web searches & searching databases before they assign research projects. In this way monitoring takes place at site & not a blanket block for all. Teachers need help in creating research that steers students towards valuable web sites/databases. I have witnessed well meaning teachers who asked students to "get on the computer & find out everything you can about - Greek Mythology" .. Uh Oh !! I think there is better access than what we used to have in our district. Also, the time it takes for unblocking sites seems to be improving. The categories like “entertainment” need to be re-evaluated. Why can we get to Yahoo music, but the Houston Ballet was blocked ? – until we requested access to it.

Secondly, could we have a better system for tracking down the student violators using the web inappropriately and consistent consequences? I had a student from Canada who told me they had a system in their district whereby each printout at school included the students’ ID # at the bottom of the printout – so it was easy to find the person printing out inappropriate items. Equally, it seems to be very hard for teachers/administrators to delve into the history on our computers for specific users. Instead of blocking things for “everyone” – why not be more consistent with dropping privilege to those few who violate? This is a system which punishes everyone because of a few who don’t follow policy.

Monitoring is also a key component to freeing up the Internet to students. Teachers should be knowledgeable users with regards to web searches & searching databases before they assign research projects. In this way monitoring takes place at site & not a blanket block for all.

Teachers need help in creating research that steers students towards valuable web sites/databases. I have witnessed well meaning teachers who asked students to “get on the computer & find out everything you can about – Greek Mythology” .. Uh Oh !!

]]> By: Guusje http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/comment-page-1/#comment-193 Guusje Sat, 16 Feb 2008 04:17:48 +0000 http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/#comment-193 It's way better than it used to be , thanks to your efforts. Right now the blocking appears to have no rhyme nor reason since my lunch bunch has no trouble bringing up Yahoo Music videos and Super Mario. It’s way better than it used to be , thanks to your efforts. Right now the blocking appears to have no rhyme nor reason since my lunch bunch has no trouble bringing up Yahoo Music videos and Super Mario.

]]> By: Amy http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/comment-page-1/#comment-192 Amy Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:02:34 +0000 http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/#comment-192 I am coming late to this discussion so if this has been addressed please forgive me but I was wondering if it is possible to block some computer but not all. For example, many sites are blocked because they deal with violent content. This might be inappropriate for an elementary audience but it is hard to teach WWII to high school students without access to some of the sites that might not be appropriate for elementary audiences but are more appropriate for older students. If we could do this, teachers could access most websites that contain political cartoons so that they can edit for the ones they want and need to use but students would not see the more graphic ones. The ideal would be that sites the provides that have these types of materials would not post obscene examples but they often don't. It is a same the prevent the use of the hundreds of appropriate ones just because a site has a couple of questionable ones. I am coming late to this discussion so if this has been addressed please forgive me but I was wondering if it is possible to block some computer but not all. For example, many sites are blocked because they deal with violent content. This might be inappropriate for an elementary audience but it is hard to teach WWII to high school students without access to some of the sites that might not be appropriate for elementary audiences but are more appropriate for older students. If we could do this, teachers could access most websites that contain political cartoons so that they can edit for the ones they want and need to use but students would not see the more graphic ones. The ideal would be that sites the provides that have these types of materials would not post obscene examples but they often don’t. It is a same the prevent the use of the hundreds of appropriate ones just because a site has a couple of questionable ones.

]]> By: Laura http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/comment-page-1/#comment-191 Laura Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:47:00 +0000 http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/#comment-191 I really like Renae's thoughts on this topic. With four classes in the library almost every period this week, quite a bit of time was wasted on trying to get through legitimate sites that were blocked. I ended up printing articles at home. I really like Renae’s thoughts on this topic. With four classes in the library almost every period this week, quite a bit of time was wasted on trying to get through legitimate sites that were blocked. I ended up printing articles at home.

]]> By: Janis http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/comment-page-1/#comment-190 Janis Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:10:29 +0000 http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/#comment-190 I have found that many items I want to look at are blocked because they are blogs or forums or considered entertainment, but the last two times I have requested a site to be unblocked, it was done within 24 hours. That is a lot faster than it used to take. I have found that many items I want to look at are blocked because they are blogs or forums or considered entertainment, but the last two times I have requested a site to be unblocked, it was done within 24 hours. That is a lot faster than it used to take.

]]> By: Renae http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/comment-page-1/#comment-189 Renae Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:06:08 +0000 http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/#comment-189 How about letting educators and secondary students take responsibility for the unblocking of sites at the point of access - right there on the spot? Scenario: I run across a blocked site. I request that it be unblocked. The filter immediately presents to me a series of blunt questions or agreed upon criteria like "is this a p@rn site" and "do you take responsibility for the unblocking of this site" or "do you have to download anything to access this site". We answer the questions and depending on the answers, the site becomes unblockable or opens up. If we feel strongly enough to unleash the site and take responsibility for it, then we should trust in those convictions. We could make the quick-step unblocking option available ONLY if the user is logged on with our TRACKABLE, unique student and teacher IDs. And again, only for secondary students. Definitely keep the obviously inapproriate and damaging categories unblockable - like p@rn and g@mbling - but open up blogs, YouTube, etc with the option of the user taking responsibility for unblocking immediately. How about letting educators and secondary students take responsibility for the unblocking of sites at the point of access – right there on the spot? Scenario: I run across a blocked site. I request that it be unblocked. The filter immediately presents to me a series of blunt questions or agreed upon criteria like “is this a p@rn site” and “do you take responsibility for the unblocking of this site” or “do you have to download anything to access this site”. We answer the questions and depending on the answers, the site becomes unblockable or opens up. If we feel strongly enough to unleash the site and take responsibility for it, then we should trust in those convictions. We could make the quick-step unblocking option available ONLY if the user is logged on with our TRACKABLE, unique student and teacher IDs. And again, only for secondary students. Definitely keep the obviously inapproriate and damaging categories unblockable – like p@rn and g@mbling – but open up blogs, YouTube, etc with the option of the user taking responsibility for unblocking immediately.

]]> By: Renae http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/comment-page-1/#comment-188 Renae Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:02:49 +0000 http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/#comment-188 How about letting educators and secondary students take responsibility for the unblocking of sites at the point of access - right there on the spot? Scenario: I run across a blocked site. I request that it be unblocked. The filter immediately presents to me a series of blunt questions or agreed upon criteria like "is this a p@rn site" and "do you take responsibility for the unblocking of this site" or "do you have to download anything to access this site". We answer the questions and make the determination. They would just have to do the technical unblocking. If we feel strongly enough to unleash the site and take responisbility for it, then we should trust in those convictions. We could make the quick-step unblocking option available ONLY if the user is logged on with our TRACKABLE, unique student and teacher IDs. And again, only for secondary students. Definitely keep the obviously inapproriate and damaging categories unblockable - like p@rn and g@mbling - but open up blogs, YouTube, etc with the option of the user taking responsibility for unblocking immediately. How about letting educators and secondary students take responsibility for the unblocking of sites at the point of access – right there on the spot? Scenario: I run across a blocked site. I request that it be unblocked. The filter immediately presents to me a series of blunt questions or agreed upon criteria like “is this a p@rn site” and “do you take responsibility for the unblocking of this site” or “do you have to download anything to access this site”. We answer the questions and make the determination. They would just have to do the technical unblocking. If we feel strongly enough to unleash the site and take responisbility for it, then we should trust in those convictions. We could make the quick-step unblocking option available ONLY if the user is logged on with our TRACKABLE, unique student and teacher IDs. And again, only for secondary students. Definitely keep the obviously inapproriate and damaging categories unblockable – like p@rn and g@mbling – but open up blogs, YouTube, etc with the option of the user taking responsibility for unblocking immediately.

]]> By: Cheryl http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/comment-page-1/#comment-186 Cheryl Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:54:35 +0000 http://librarianphilosopher.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/the-filter-web-sites-dilemma/#comment-186 Love the monster. The ideas are great, too. It's definitely time for less banning and more intelligent open access to the internet. Love the monster. The ideas are great, too. It’s definitely time for less banning and more intelligent open access to the internet.

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