This article discusses challenges associated with using the internet as an educational tool in the classroom due to the amount of inappropriate materials that can be found accidentally while searching for educational sites. Though filtering programs exist, there are several issues with using this technology. Many programs block sites that deal with controversial content (such as STDs), or they can let inappropriate information slip through. Educators become concerned with balancing the desire to have students find meaningful research on the internet, while also protecting students from questionable sites (Meeder, pg 57). Though there are extreme perspectives concerning the software (filter everything or filter nothing as it hinders our freedom of speech), the article suggests a middle ground of using the technology in a context specific way; teachers need to consider the needs of their students, the administration’s perspective, which software to use, and what the policy should be for students regarding access.
(Meeder, Rebecca. Access Denied: Filtering Software in K-12 Classrooms, TechTrends).
I think that the suggestions for a middle-ground use of this technology are the most conceivable in a public education. Filtering programs should be used, but set based on student needs by the teacher and administration. What the students should and should not access also has a lot to do with their access at home and their family’s beliefs. Students need to learn what is inappropriate for school, but the parents must also be notified of school expectations for internet use. It would be ideal if the school and parents could reach a common ground of acceptance and ethics concerning the use of the internet.
Question: Is there an alternative for using filtering software in public schools to protect students from inappropriate content? Is this alternative accessible?
Here are some more resources related to the content of the article considered:
- Resouces for parents and children: Parenting the Internet
- Blocking access to information and ideas: The use of Internet filtering software and levels of satisfaction in North American schools
- Filtering the internet for young people: Products and problems
5 comments:
You raise a difficult question to an alternative filtering service. I recognize the difficulty educators and parents are faced with when censoring the internet. I feel that as long as teachers are doing their best to foresee any known "bumps" there really is little more teachers can do. Do you agree Megan? What alternative filtering services were you thinking (besides those already implemented)?
p.s. It is composed by Mariah
I was thinking about what possible alternatives there could be to the actual use of the filtering systems, more than the different ones out there. I do agree this is a difficult topic to deal with in the schools as there are pros and cons to each using and not using such technology. I do agree it is an area in which teachers have to be educated and prepared to explain to both students and parents.
P.S. the comment above is Megan's
Good point Megs!
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