Friday, March 4, 2011

Journal 4

The article “It’s Time to Trust Our Teachers with the Internet” is a question and answer format with Meg Ormiston, a advocate for bringing technology into schools. Ormiston addresses many issues such as bandwith problems and funding, but her primary argument is that school administrators and IT people simply do not trust teachers and students with the Internet. Ormiston argues that the same people who are certified to educate our students in a classroom setting are being stifled by increasing Internet filters on public school campuses that limit access to useful tools such as social networking sites. Ormiston also believes that teachers are simply just giving up with using technology because of the massive amount of work it takes to actually get administrators and IT people to approve websites (Schaffhouser, 2010). Of course Ormiston believes that filtering should occur with pornography sites and even Facebook, however other blogging sites are very useful tools. Another site that Ormiston believes should be given greater access to in Youtube. Of course there are inappropriate things on Youtube, but Ormiston believes that teachers can educate students on what is appropriate use of Youtube and what is not. In summery, Ormiston wants to see school districts and administrators trust their teachers more with the amount of access they allow them to have at school so that teachers can use technology to enhance the learning of their students (Schaffhouser, 2010).

Q. What are some ways you can get greater access to the Internet in order to enhance student learning?
A. I really liked when Ormiston said that teachers should get the administrators on their side and show them the pros of using social networking sites and Youtube in education. I think that certainly is best way and if teachers can get the administration on their side then greater access will inevitably be given and teachers will be able to incorporate more technology tools in their lessons and students will benefit from it.

Q. Why do I think such little access is given to teachers with regards to Internet sites?
A. I think a lot of it has to do with buerocracy. Ormiston recalled many times when teachers would simply give up trying to open up a site because it would take up to two weeks to get a response and often times the response was ‘no’. I think it is sad that teachers give up on using technology because of these issues and I myself will try not to let beaurecratic nonsense stifle my attempts to bring greater access to site such as Blogger and Youtube. 

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