Notes from Millie D

I just completed listening to the session entitled Internet Access with Minimal Filtering by Shawn Nutting for the K12 Online Conference.  Shawn’s presentation covered the obstacles of Internet content filtering from the network administration side. Shawn made it very clear that content filtering is not something they take lightly.

Delivering digital content in a safe environment is the commonality for all teachers who utilize the Internet in their classroom.  The idea of filtering seems to be a hot button topic in a battle between network managers and classroom teachers.  Each group feels that it is working for the best interest of children but often the two parties don’t understand the perspective of the other one.

I would love to work in an environment that allows filtering to be done on a teacher-by-teacher basis where based on a criteria the potential to be able to unlock.  Accountability and professional development I feel are keys to this kind of digital environment.  Teachers need to know that if they are going to be held accountable for their actions, as they are entrusted with the well being of children.  The professional development would help teachers in the decision making process and provide a greater understanding of what network administrators go through.  Unfortunately this may be a pipe dream as two factors get in the way:  1. the product-is it out there   2.  the cost- if it is over there it certainly won’t be inexpensive to implement.  Hey, we can dream can’t we!

Parent education is a big part of content filtering.  Often parents think we’re able to block everything for everyone but unfortunately that is not the case but I agree with Shawn that if you can educate parents on the steps that schools put in place to keep children safe parents can be forgiving when holes are exposed.  I like all of the community relations work that Shawn and staff does to keep everyone up to date with the goings on at the school with technology.  We’re all in this together and we’re only as strong as the weakest link in overcoming this obstacle.

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