Journal 4: "It's Time to Trust Teachers with the Internet: A conversation with Meg Ormiston"" (NETS I -V)

Schaffhauser, 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

This conversation with Meg Ormiston was about schools blocking certain websites, restricting students to learn above and beyond the usual curriculum. The administrators don't trust the teachers to teach lessons from the internet because they are afraid of exposure. It is important for the students to be taught what is appropriate and what isn't so when they use networking outside of the classroom they aren't abusing it. Even though the teachers would review the website prior to the lesson, the district still won't allow it. It mentioned, "If you're doing nothing but blocking all day long, teachers are going to give up using technology" (Schaffhauser, 2). Technology plays a major role in society today and if our schools keep restricting the use of internet then we are back to square one. No one benefits from the lack of technology; therefore networking should be available at a specific level. Supervision will be provided by the teachers because that is why they are here to teach. They are here to make a safe and comfortable environment for all students. Many parents are concerned with their children running into something on the internet that may harm them, but if they are educated about the internet then things like that won't happen as often.


Q #1: How can teachers make certain that unsupervised students will not abuse the use of the internet?


The best thing for the teacher to do is to teach students the consequences that can happen if you abuse the use of the internet. After educating them on how to network and the restrictions, then the teachers have to trust the students that they will obey the specific internet rules. 


Q #2: What can teachers do in order for the administrators to trust them with the responsibility of the internet?


Teachers need to provide a proposal of the activity or lesson each week to the administrators and guide them step by step what the students will be searching for. Once the teachers present a basic foundation of the material the administrators will get a better understanding of what they will be doing. The teachers will also review the websites several times before presenting it to the class.