So, why “Teacher Friendly Tech?”
This is a work in progress…. stay tuned. Some of these thoughts are in my posts on the main page. This will be an ongoing, deeper look into what I am thinking. I will edit this page as I gather my thoughts, or cement them into something more.
At the recent Expanding Learning Horizons/SchoolTech 2007 conference I opted not to attend any of the SchoolTech sessions, but went to select “Teacher” focussed sessions instead. One thing that I realised, and I think I have been heading this way for some time, is that our (the K-12 College that I work for) purpose is to educate the students that we have, in the best way that we can. To do this we need to facilitate access to Technology in the best possible way. This is probably not new to some of you, and being from the “tech” side, or “the enemy” depending on which way you look at it, I have realised that the old way of looking at things is simply putting up barriers that don’t necessarily need to be there.
There was lots of round-table (more like round the couches) discussion on all aspects of what people were learning at the conference. We had 7 staff from our campus attending, and of course met up with the wide array of “friends” that we have met over the years. These discussions only firmed up my belief that we a restricting learning rather than encouraging it. It was during one of these discussions that Graham Hughes suggested I do a session on “Teacher friendly Tech” and I guess the name just stuck (thanks Graham). So what about the session? We’ll see what the future comes up with in that regard. I think it would be good to have a discussion with Tech’s & Teachers similar to what was done at the “Computer Network and Firewall Access” meetings held in Melbourne earlier this year. Maybe at SchoolTech/ELH 2008 we may be able to come up with something.
We need to bring about a change in thinking. As my tag line says we need to “break down the old thinking barriers.”
From the Systems Admin point of view we look at things in a very structured way.
• We are providing a network of computers for use by teachers, students, and administration staff.
• The integrity of that network is paramount. It shall not be left open to attack in any form.
• Users should only have access to the resources that they need, not left to find things that aren’t already being used.
• The attack from Viruses, Spy ware, Mal ware etc is real and we need to limit the opportunities for our Network to be breached.
• We will offer Internet Access, Email, and software as required to fulfil the predetermined curriculum and administration needs.
You can then add to that the restrictions that are forced upon us by our “Duty of Care” and other statutory requirements
• Limit the access to private information retained by the College.
• Limit the end users access to harmful or potentially harmful information.
• Protect the information stored on the network and archive it for up to 20 years depending on the type of information that it is.
All of this is capable of being done fairly easily using the infrastructure and applications that are available today. Back up software, Anti-virus at the enterprise level, both software based on the Server’s and clients, and utilising appliances at the ISP on the WAN, are commonplace in today’s networks.
I think the issue that needs further clarification is the “duty of care” side of our users Internet access. I have found documents created by TAFE, and education Departments from other states, but nothing explicit from DEET NSW, nor the AIS. Does this mean that the whole “duty of care” is up to interpretation where the Internet is concerned? I must talk to my principal about this and find out more. He may be able to prove me wrong, or point me towards the information I’m looking for. Is it a definite that we must block all access to x, y, and z? Can we decide to block all access to x, and z, because they are just not appropriate but leave the grey area in y just that little bit more open, and teach our users that it is there, it is part of our world, it is not necessarily always desirable, nor undesirable, but contained within there may be some good sources of information. We can monitor use, and where required refer users for Pastoral Care. If we are open and up front that this is what we do, does that meet our duty of care? Are we limiting our Teachers’ ability to teach, or our students’ ability to learn within the normalcy of their culture just because we don’t know where the actual boundaries lie? Food for thought. Keep watching as I look into this further.
