Schaffhause., D. (2010, December 1). It's time to trust teachers with the internet: a conversation with meg ormiston. Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2010/12/01/Its-Time-To-Trust-Teachers-with-the-Internet-A-Conversation-with-Meg-Ormiston.aspx?sc_lang=en&Page=1
Summary
Meg Ormiston feels it is unfair for schools to block certain websites from being used in the classroom. Some of these sites can be very useful in facilitating learning. In her opinion, it is teachers who should decide what is inappropriate to use in class, not the school. She talks about how most schools block youtube from classroom use. She agrees there are a lot of inappropriate videos on youtube, but she also feels there are many videos, which are beneficial. It is not fair for the entire site to be blocked, just because some of the video content is inappropriate. Ormiston feels restricting teachers’ access to technology will eventually make them give up on it. Teachers will then go back to using the resources they used before technology was available.
Q1. Do I agree with Meg Ormiston’s stance on this issue?
A1. Yes. It isn’t reasonable for teachers to be trusted with educating students, but not trusted to filter inappropriate content from the curriculum. I myself have used youtube as a study aid, and find it very effective. I have also used it to learn how to do various practical things such how to set a mousetrap, how to clean the “U” trap on a sink, and how to change a headlight on a car.
Q2. Do I think schools and districts will be changing their policy any time soon?
A2. Yes. I believe there will be administrators who will see the benefits of unblocking access to these sites. I think many current administrators want to keep these sites blocked because they don’t realize the true benefits they can offer.
No comments:
Post a Comment