when the things that we talk about...genuine TOOLS for improved learning are blocked by SPAM mail filters? How can we ask kids to create content if the places where they can host this content is blocked by internet filters?
I have had the ULTIMATE tech frustration today. I spent a ton of time this afternoon trying to send an email to a list of tech integrators. An email came through our coaching listerve asking for example of good classroom wikis to share with their administrators. After scouring my blogroll and del.icio.us accounts and reviewing my PETE & C presentation, I came up with the following reply:
Check out my presentation wiki from PETE & C
The main page is
http://theconnectedclassroom.wikispaces.com/
The sample wikis are on this page
http://theconnectedclassroom.wikispaces.com/World
Also check out Jenn Dorman PA Keystone http://www.cbsd.org/holicong/jendorman/ as a local example which is part of my page
http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/sites/sites079.shtml this is a good article to share as well
Vicki Davis (who skyped into my session) wrote about how she started using wikis in her classroom
http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2007/02/how-i-started-in-wikis-flat-classroom.html
http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com is a great blog to subscribe to...
Tried it again--referencing the blogs, without the addresses....STILL blocked....
So this is what I wrote--no porn, no ads, no junk and yet time after time it got rejected by the SPAM mail filter. Every day of the 40 or so emails I receive, at least 15 are SPAM in nature. My network administrator assures me that 50% of what he CATCHES is spam and yet almost 50% of what I receive is SPAM and information that is VALUABLE for teaching and learning 21st Century Skills is rejected. Which brings me to my original questions....
How are we supposed to talk about 21st C Skills when the things that we talk about...genuine TOOLS for improved learning are blocked by SPAM mail filters? How can we ask kids to create content if the places where they can host this content is blocked by internet filters?
BTW...If you are reading this from the CFF Coaches listserve, it may be your only chance to give me your feedback it :)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Kristin,
ReplyDeleteI think a point of clarification is needed. Whose SPAM filter was blocking the emails? Was your district blocking you from sending or was another district blocking your email from reaching someone?
Depending on the filter, they are highly customizable and your network guy should have a "whitelist" of email addresses.
Just some thoughts.
On a somewhat related note, I too feel your pain. While mine is not necessarily with SPAM filters, I have experienced the same issue at my school when I try going to websites that are perfectly fine for use in school yet are blocked . It makes incorporating some of the cool features of Web 2.0 into my classsroom (Feedburner, youtube, etc.) difficult. Obviously there will need to be discussion with school boards, board of directors and administrators about 21st century tech skills and literacy and ways to keep kids safe without getting in the way of giving them the tools they need to obtain the skills we deem important as educators. As Brian Crosby says Learning is Messy.
ReplyDeleteHere, here! My technology frustration was not, I think, with blocked content, but with absent software. The kind that is packaged with every pc & laptop, windows or mac, that is sold ready to go. I could not play a Youtube for my class. I have checked it at home and it is fine. So I posted it on our blogs for kids to watch at home. It's the one on Web 2.0, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE
ReplyDeleteWrong URL
ReplyDeletethis is better, I think
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE
ok, one more time
ReplyDelete(much to be said for persistance, even blindly stupid persistance...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE&eurl=