Looking online at the New York Times website I came across this article that discussed different school systems that chose to either block or not block certain websites, particularly social networking sites. Many teachers and education advocates argue that the Internet is a major distraction from learning and explain by blocking certain websites they are protecting students from online bullying at school. The article also talks about a librarian who organized the graffiti debate with the purpose of informing students that censorship takes away a person's voice and privileges. After this debate, the school that he works at decided to unblock websites like Facebook and Twitter "recognizing that they could provide learning opportunities." At New Trier High School, blocking websites also stopped because it got in the way of students' research. The librarian explains that students were blocked from sites about military weapons and then could not conduct research at school. There are definitely pros and cons to blocking websites in the school atmosphere but it is interesting to read about different people's perspective on this. Some seem so pro blocking while some seem to have witnessed the negative sides that come with blocking websites within the school computer system. In this day in age anything on the internet can be pulled up by anyone one way or another. Just because it's not at school doesn't mean students won't be able to view it when they go home.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/29/education/29banned.html?_r=1&hp
New Canaan High School, in Connecticut, cut off all access to Facebook, YouTube and Twitter just for the day to show solidarity with schools without access.
ReplyDeleteI suppose I have invested interest in this article because it mentions my old high school, and I know the kid, Michael DeMattio who is quoted in it. The Internet, Michael said, has “made cooperation and collaboration inside and outside of class much better and faster,” adding, “It’s really has become an integral part of education.”
As a former student I can relate and agree to his statements above. Last year there was a time when we had an extended amount of time without Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter. It certainly affected classroom learning because students weren't able to draw videos to incorporate in presentations. Also, the absence of Facebook can interfere with group projects that require constant, easy communication. The censorship of websites creates a disadvantage for students in many cases.
I think a lot of schools want to make social networking sites relevant to their curriculum. It's probably difficult for schools to weight the potential value of these sites versus the distractions probably caused by having them unblocked. It speaks particularly to the technology gap between school age kids and those teaching them. I think younger teachers often encourage the "learning opportunities" offered by social media, but I think some people are discouraged by technology that they don't necessarily fully understand. I think blocked content is perhaps a more difficult issue than social networking sites, because there's no blocking of the internet once they leave the school environment for the day.
ReplyDelete