The Australia Federal Government has in it's wisdom decided to implement an internet filtering system to "protect our children" and stop the transfer of child p0rn. Being both a parent and a teacher I think that measurers to combat the sexual exploitation of children and teenagers is a good thing. However I feel that the way that the government is implementing it is crazy. Child p0rn on the internet is not a problem in schools, child p0rn on mobiles is.
Imagine this situation (it is unfortunately based on real facts)
1. Young girl (13-14) is going out with an older boy (16-17).
2. The girl wants her boyfriend to declare his undying love for her, as she has done for him.
3. The boy suggests that he will do so if she poses in explicit pictures for him.
4. The girl reluctantly agrees and takes some explicit photos with her camera phone (which mommy and daddy brought to help keep her safe).
5. The girl transfers the images to her boyfriend via mms or bluetooth.
6. The relationship goes sour.
7. The boy who has explicit photos of his ex girlfriend bluetooths the images to his mates at school, who send it to their mates.
8. Soon the girl learns of this situation, leading to a nervous breakdown and to more work for the schools overworked councillors.
Now Senator Conroy please explain how your internet filter will help this problem. To my understanding all it will do is slow our access to useful teaching resources about cyber bullies, relationship safety, self worth and other important educational concepts.
Lord Folland
Monday, December 8, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Distributed Computing
There are many problems in the world that universities and non profit organisations are tying to solve. Solutions to some of these problems can be worked towards by the use of massive server farms to calculate complex relationships such as the folding of proteins. Most universities do not have access to this sort of system, so a system has been set up to do these calculations with the unused computers in homes and offices. This is known as distributed computing. I have joined my home computer to the World Community Grid as part of team Userfriendly (See my previous post for more info on Userfriendly). If you want to join up you can follow the link on my blog page. David
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Feeds for Fun
There are three main Fun Feeds that I read/view.
1. Unshelved a comic strip about a public library. Some of the jokes are best enjoyed by librarians, others can be enjoyed by anyone who has ever worked with the public.
2. 365 Tomorrows a sci fi schort story for every day of the year, most are onlt a few hundred words, so only take about a minute to read.
3. Userfriendly an online comic about technology, from Canada. Set in an ISP stars Dust Puppy, a sentient ball of dust.
What do you like to read for fun, post your suggestions here.
1. Unshelved a comic strip about a public library. Some of the jokes are best enjoyed by librarians, others can be enjoyed by anyone who has ever worked with the public.
2. 365 Tomorrows a sci fi schort story for every day of the year, most are onlt a few hundred words, so only take about a minute to read.
3. Userfriendly an online comic about technology, from Canada. Set in an ISP stars Dust Puppy, a sentient ball of dust.
What do you like to read for fun, post your suggestions here.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
What I read
I thought I would share a list of my favourite blogs/rss feeds with my reader/s.
For Educational Enlightenment I read
The Education.au blog, a collection of varied blogs by the staff at Education.au for an Australian prospective.
The Blue Skunk Blog by Doug Johnson, an American expert on technology and the internet (he wrote a number of the articles my uni lecturer suggested we read on technology)
HeyJude a blog by Australian technologist Judy O'Connell
One of my Uni Lectures James Herring has a blog about libraries and collaboration.
The Hub is a site about advocacy for school libraries and teacher librarians in Australia
While he is focussing on Libraries, what Stephen Abram writes in his Stephen's Lighthouse can be of interest to teachers too. I had the opportunity to meet Stephen at the ASLA XX conference in Adelaide in October to thank him for some of the tips he has given in his blog.
Another Educational blogger I have had the opportunity to meet is Josh Nunn whose blogs NunnOne and Josh's Edublog are not just about education, but life in general. Thanks for your words of 'wisdom' Josh. Josh is also my only confirmed reader.
In the next issue, blogs/rss feeds for fun
David
For Educational Enlightenment I read
The Education.au blog, a collection of varied blogs by the staff at Education.au for an Australian prospective.
The Blue Skunk Blog by Doug Johnson, an American expert on technology and the internet (he wrote a number of the articles my uni lecturer suggested we read on technology)
HeyJude a blog by Australian technologist Judy O'Connell
One of my Uni Lectures James Herring has a blog about libraries and collaboration.
The Hub is a site about advocacy for school libraries and teacher librarians in Australia
While he is focussing on Libraries, what Stephen Abram writes in his Stephen's Lighthouse can be of interest to teachers too. I had the opportunity to meet Stephen at the ASLA XX conference in Adelaide in October to thank him for some of the tips he has given in his blog.
Another Educational blogger I have had the opportunity to meet is Josh Nunn whose blogs NunnOne and Josh's Edublog are not just about education, but life in general. Thanks for your words of 'wisdom' Josh. Josh is also my only confirmed reader.
In the next issue, blogs/rss feeds for fun
David
Sunday, November 11, 2007
How would you cope if you had no way to use the Internet for a week?
David McMahon posted this question on his blog (http://david-mcmahon.blogspot.com/2007/11/weekend-wandering_11.html) and I thought I would do my best to answer it.
One week without the internet would lead me to change many of my habits. On my way to and from work I listen to podcasts downloaded to my iPod. When I arrive at work I go into the office and check my emails. During the day I will often get students to look up some information or undertake a task on the internet. There are so many resources on the internet that enables teachers to demonstrate concepts that they can not easily do in class settings. Most days after work I will spend half an hour or so reading my 20 RSS feeds and posting things of interest to del.icio.us. The internet is also where I get most music I purchase (iTunes store).
I suspect that without the internet I would have to do more demonstrations with my students. I would also most likely watch more dvds and exercise more to unwind. I may also read more newspapers instead of visiting the abc website. I would also have to listen to poor quality radio during my trip to and from work.
My wife however suggests that one week without the internet and I would die. I would rather say it would just be an addiction like withdrawal. :)
David
One week without the internet would lead me to change many of my habits. On my way to and from work I listen to podcasts downloaded to my iPod. When I arrive at work I go into the office and check my emails. During the day I will often get students to look up some information or undertake a task on the internet. There are so many resources on the internet that enables teachers to demonstrate concepts that they can not easily do in class settings. Most days after work I will spend half an hour or so reading my 20 RSS feeds and posting things of interest to del.icio.us. The internet is also where I get most music I purchase (iTunes store).
I suspect that without the internet I would have to do more demonstrations with my students. I would also most likely watch more dvds and exercise more to unwind. I may also read more newspapers instead of visiting the abc website. I would also have to listen to poor quality radio during my trip to and from work.
My wife however suggests that one week without the internet and I would die. I would rather say it would just be an addiction like withdrawal. :)
David
What I do
For those of you who don't know me, or for those who do but were curious, I thought I would let you know a little more about where I come from educationally and professionally.
I finished High School in Adelaide in 1995.
From there I went to the University of South Australia to Study a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemistry and industrial Process Technology (1996-1999).
A year off from study followed which included time working as a laboratory assistant and getting married.
From there back to University to Study a Bachelor of Education in 01 and 02. My daughter was also born in 02.
Was offered permanency in the SA education department If I would be willing to work in the country, so I moved to the Yorke Peninsular to teach form 2003-2005.
In 2005 I returned to study (two years off and I already missed it) to undertake a Masters of Education Teacher Librarianship. This is being done while I teach full time one subject at a time.
2006 saw my move to the wonderful Adelaide hills to teach, while living only a few minutes from my childhood home.
2007 saw me take up Tae Kwon Do with my daughter, at the time of writing we are both 8th Gup having successfully completed two gradings.
2008 should see the completion of my Masters, including some exciting professional experience in non-school libraries. It will also see me continuing my work with the Youth Environment Militia that I helped the students to establish at my school.
So now you know. Any Questions?
David
In response to Josh's question in my last blog, I have not yet been able to convince the powers that be in my school to allow me to use myspace with my students, the paper was however only written three weeks ago and I have only had one chat with said powers.
I finished High School in Adelaide in 1995.
From there I went to the University of South Australia to Study a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemistry and industrial Process Technology (1996-1999).
A year off from study followed which included time working as a laboratory assistant and getting married.
From there back to University to Study a Bachelor of Education in 01 and 02. My daughter was also born in 02.
Was offered permanency in the SA education department If I would be willing to work in the country, so I moved to the Yorke Peninsular to teach form 2003-2005.
In 2005 I returned to study (two years off and I already missed it) to undertake a Masters of Education Teacher Librarianship. This is being done while I teach full time one subject at a time.
2006 saw my move to the wonderful Adelaide hills to teach, while living only a few minutes from my childhood home.
2007 saw me take up Tae Kwon Do with my daughter, at the time of writing we are both 8th Gup having successfully completed two gradings.
2008 should see the completion of my Masters, including some exciting professional experience in non-school libraries. It will also see me continuing my work with the Youth Environment Militia that I helped the students to establish at my school.
So now you know. Any Questions?
David
In response to Josh's question in my last blog, I have not yet been able to convince the powers that be in my school to allow me to use myspace with my students, the paper was however only written three weeks ago and I have only had one chat with said powers.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
MySpace, Teachers and Schools
This is an extract from a paper I wrote for my ICT Experience Subject at CSU.
Teachers and MySpace
Teachers Joining MySpace
MySpace is, by their own definition, for anyone, so it is not difficult for teachers to join. One of the features that many students get involved in is the schools forums. When selecting schools the social nature of MySpace becomes obvious, as there is no option of listing schools where you have worked only where you have studied. (The author however put that he was attending the school where he works so that he could have contact with the students in their network). Before being able to use a tool effectively with students teachers need to familiarize themselves with that tool. (Green and Hannon 2007 p67).
MySpace as a Social Tool
Most students who use the MySpace network do so because they have offline friends that already use it (Boyd 2007 p9). This social dimension is one that teachers can support and encourage. As the National School Boards Association (2007 P7) states “Both schools and especially parents have strong expectations about the positive roles that social networking could play in students’ lives.”
Part of the process of using MySpace as a social tool in schools is teaching students appropriate online behaviors in relation to both bullying and ‘strangers’. This training can empower teens for their future technology use (Young Adult Library Services Association 2006 in Abram 2007 a), and can be an expansion of the successful work already done in relation to offline bullying (Abram 2007 b) and stranger danger. As Hupfer, Maxson and Williams (2007 p19) state “Just as a parent wouldn’t send a teenager to a shopping mall alone without preparing them to handle any bad situation they encounter, a parent shouldn’t let a teenager navigate MySpace without similar advice.”
MySpace as a Teaching Tool
Any use of MySpace, or any technology for that matter, in the classroom should first consider what learning goals are desired (Newhouse 2002 p5). One way that MySpace can be implemented into the school teaching is as a way of teaching design and web coding as Green and Hannon (2007 p37) explain
MySpace can also allow student a way to publish their work not just for the teacher but also for the wider community beyond the classroom walls (Raiti 2007 p9) in the form of blogs, audio files and videos. This will enable students to look at the way they bring information together to create knowledge in a critical manner. (Wilber 2007)
Schools and Myspace
In both Australia and the United States of America most schools have either stringent rules about the use of social networking (National School Boards Association 2007) or blocked them all together. The total blocking was the case for 13 out of 16 teachers that the author spoke to in relation to this issue, these teachers represented public schools in five states where state wide bans were enforced as well as a number of independent schools and districts. (Personal communication 10th-20th September 2007)
This policy of blocking is supported by some experts and leaders in schools who believe that MySpace is either a time waster (Ashmore 2006) or a danger to students in relation to stalkers or cyber bullying (Belperio 2007). However many other educators and commentators suggest that we should instead be teaching students how to use MySpace and other social networking tools wisely. (Abram 2007a, Broja 2006, Green and Hannon 2007) As Abram (2007b) says “Banning most internet and web applications and sites in schools is the equivalent of trying to teach road safety by banning roads, cars and trucks in school and then sending the kids into the streets to play”. As the American Library Association states “If people were better informed about social networking sites and knew and used the basic internet safety tips, the cloud of fear may decline.”
Stephen Abram (2007 b) suggests that Teacher Librarians, as trusted online guides, need to be talking to parents and administrators to identify the reason behind these blocks. Green and Hannon (2007 p32) found that these blanket bans are not effective, and that many students know ways around them. So it is important for school leaders to become informed about social network sites because the students are using them. (Thompson 2007)
So what do you think? Please Comment or Blog your answers, David
References
Abram, S 2007a, Justifying the social tools: Improving the conversation, Multimedia and Internet @ Schools, Jan/Feb 2007, online version, accessed August 15, 2007 at http://www.sirsidynix.com/Resources/Pdfs/Company/Abram/MMIS_16.pdf
Abram, S 2007b, Shooting themselves in the foot, Multimedia and Internet @ Schools, Mar/Apr 2007, online version, accessed August 15 2007 at http://www.sirsidynix.com/Resources/Pdfs/Company/Abram/MMIS_17.pdf
Ashmore, R, 2006, Blocking ‘MySpace’ From Your Space, School Administrator, Oct2006, Vol. 63 Issue 9 p7-7, 1p
Belperio, F 2007, Cyber bully warning, Leader Messenger, October 3 2007, p3
Borja, R, 2006, Social Networking Sites for Schools Promote Safety, Education Benefits. Education Week, 10/11/2006, Vol. 26 Issue 7, p7
Boyd, D, 2007, Why Youth (Heart) Social Network Sites: The Role of Networked Publics in Teenage Social Life. MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Learning, Identity Volume ed. David Buckingham MIT Press
Green, H and Hannon, C, 2007, Their Space: Education for a digital generation, online version, accessed September 4 2007, http://www.demos.co.uk/files/Their%20space%20-%20web.pdf
Hupfer, R, Maxson, M, Williams, R. 2007, MySpace For Dummies, Wiley, Hoboken, NJ
National School Boards Association, 2007, CREATING & CONNECTING, Research and Guidelines on Online Social and Educational Networking, online version, accessed September 15, 2007. www.nsba.org/site/docs/41400/41340.pdf
Newhouse, C. P. 2002. The impact of ICT on learning and teaching: A literature review. Online version, accessed June 25, 2007, from http://www.eddept.wa.edu.au/cmis/eval/downloads/pd/impactreview.pdf
Raiti, J, 2007, A new frontier: Web 2.0 = School 2.0, in Hearts on Fire: Sharing the passion ASLA XX Biennial Conference Proceedings 2007, Australian School Library Association, Zillmere, QLD.
Thompson, J, 2007 Is Education 1.0 Ready for Web 2.0 Students? In Innovate, vol 3 issue 4. online version, accessed August 31, 2007 at http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=393
Wilber, D, 2007, MyLiteracies: Understanding the Net Generation through LiveJournals and Literacy Practices. Innovate, vol 3 issue 4, online version, accessed August 31, 2007 from http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=384
Teachers and MySpace
Teachers Joining MySpace
MySpace is, by their own definition, for anyone, so it is not difficult for teachers to join. One of the features that many students get involved in is the schools forums. When selecting schools the social nature of MySpace becomes obvious, as there is no option of listing schools where you have worked only where you have studied. (The author however put that he was attending the school where he works so that he could have contact with the students in their network). Before being able to use a tool effectively with students teachers need to familiarize themselves with that tool. (Green and Hannon 2007 p67).
MySpace as a Social Tool
Most students who use the MySpace network do so because they have offline friends that already use it (Boyd 2007 p9). This social dimension is one that teachers can support and encourage. As the National School Boards Association (2007 P7) states “Both schools and especially parents have strong expectations about the positive roles that social networking could play in students’ lives.”
Part of the process of using MySpace as a social tool in schools is teaching students appropriate online behaviors in relation to both bullying and ‘strangers’. This training can empower teens for their future technology use (Young Adult Library Services Association 2006 in Abram 2007 a), and can be an expansion of the successful work already done in relation to offline bullying (Abram 2007 b) and stranger danger. As Hupfer, Maxson and Williams (2007 p19) state “Just as a parent wouldn’t send a teenager to a shopping mall alone without preparing them to handle any bad situation they encounter, a parent shouldn’t let a teenager navigate MySpace without similar advice.”
MySpace as a Teaching Tool
Any use of MySpace, or any technology for that matter, in the classroom should first consider what learning goals are desired (Newhouse 2002 p5). One way that MySpace can be implemented into the school teaching is as a way of teaching design and web coding as Green and Hannon (2007 p37) explain
MySpace can also allow student a way to publish their work not just for the teacher but also for the wider community beyond the classroom walls (Raiti 2007 p9) in the form of blogs, audio files and videos. This will enable students to look at the way they bring information together to create knowledge in a critical manner. (Wilber 2007)
Schools and Myspace
In both Australia and the United States of America most schools have either stringent rules about the use of social networking (National School Boards Association 2007) or blocked them all together. The total blocking was the case for 13 out of 16 teachers that the author spoke to in relation to this issue, these teachers represented public schools in five states where state wide bans were enforced as well as a number of independent schools and districts. (Personal communication 10th-20th September 2007)
This policy of blocking is supported by some experts and leaders in schools who believe that MySpace is either a time waster (Ashmore 2006) or a danger to students in relation to stalkers or cyber bullying (Belperio 2007). However many other educators and commentators suggest that we should instead be teaching students how to use MySpace and other social networking tools wisely. (Abram 2007a, Broja 2006, Green and Hannon 2007) As Abram (2007b) says “Banning most internet and web applications and sites in schools is the equivalent of trying to teach road safety by banning roads, cars and trucks in school and then sending the kids into the streets to play”. As the American Library Association states “If people were better informed about social networking sites and knew and used the basic internet safety tips, the cloud of fear may decline.”
Stephen Abram (2007 b) suggests that Teacher Librarians, as trusted online guides, need to be talking to parents and administrators to identify the reason behind these blocks. Green and Hannon (2007 p32) found that these blanket bans are not effective, and that many students know ways around them. So it is important for school leaders to become informed about social network sites because the students are using them. (Thompson 2007)
So what do you think? Please Comment or Blog your answers, David
References
Abram, S 2007a, Justifying the social tools: Improving the conversation, Multimedia and Internet @ Schools, Jan/Feb 2007, online version, accessed August 15, 2007 at http://www.sirsidynix.com/Resources/Pdfs/Company/Abram/MMIS_16.pdf
Abram, S 2007b, Shooting themselves in the foot, Multimedia and Internet @ Schools, Mar/Apr 2007, online version, accessed August 15 2007 at http://www.sirsidynix.com/Resources/Pdfs/Company/Abram/MMIS_17.pdf
Ashmore, R, 2006, Blocking ‘MySpace’ From Your Space, School Administrator, Oct2006, Vol. 63 Issue 9 p7-7, 1p
Belperio, F 2007, Cyber bully warning, Leader Messenger, October 3 2007, p3
Borja, R, 2006, Social Networking Sites for Schools Promote Safety, Education Benefits. Education Week, 10/11/2006, Vol. 26 Issue 7, p7
Boyd, D, 2007, Why Youth (Heart) Social Network Sites: The Role of Networked Publics in Teenage Social Life. MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Learning, Identity Volume ed. David Buckingham MIT Press
Green, H and Hannon, C, 2007, Their Space: Education for a digital generation, online version, accessed September 4 2007, http://www.demos.co.uk/files/Their%20space%20-%20web.pdf
Hupfer, R, Maxson, M, Williams, R. 2007, MySpace For Dummies, Wiley, Hoboken, NJ
National School Boards Association, 2007, CREATING & CONNECTING, Research and Guidelines on Online Social and Educational Networking, online version, accessed September 15, 2007. www.nsba.org/site/docs/41400/41340.pdf
Newhouse, C. P. 2002. The impact of ICT on learning and teaching: A literature review. Online version, accessed June 25, 2007, from http://www.eddept.wa.edu.au/cmis/eval/downloads/pd/impactreview.pdf
Raiti, J, 2007, A new frontier: Web 2.0 = School 2.0, in Hearts on Fire: Sharing the passion ASLA XX Biennial Conference Proceedings 2007, Australian School Library Association, Zillmere, QLD.
Thompson, J, 2007 Is Education 1.0 Ready for Web 2.0 Students? In Innovate, vol 3 issue 4. online version, accessed August 31, 2007 at http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=393
Wilber, D, 2007, MyLiteracies: Understanding the Net Generation through LiveJournals and Literacy Practices. Innovate, vol 3 issue 4, online version, accessed August 31, 2007 from http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=384
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