Entry #5
"Whenever we see stories about Internet filters in schools, the position taken in the article is often that they must be good, because there's so much 'bad stuff' out there. However, that ignores some important points: (1) the bad stuff is still out there, (2) much of it will still get through the filters and (3) the filters often block stuff associated with helping people deal with the 'bad stuff.' " http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20050822/0119250.shtml
Internet filters in schools are of course necessary and required under the Child Internet Protection Act. Some people believe that the more we filter the Internet the more we protect kids, while others feel that any filtering is equal to censorship in schools. Personally, I believe their has to be a balance. Students should not be exposed to pop-up ads especially those with graphic pictures and should not have unlimited access to all websites, however, they need to be able to find valuable information on millions of different topics.
New York University Law School conducted a study about the effectiveness of school Internet filters. They found that the typical filters schools use "both 'overblock' (censoring sites that are not objectionable) and 'underblock' (failing to identify pornography or other material targeted by their various blocking categories)." These filters also blocked websites discussing Hilary Clinton's run for President, Shakespeare's plays, "and 'Marijuana: Facts or Teens,' a brochure published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. (see article published by the School Library Journal http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6339317.html or entire report http://www.fepproject.org/policyreports/filters2intro.html) I had this experience yet again today as I was researching this topic, from a school computer. No wonder teachers and students get frustrated with the filters. The one thing I would like to see the most is that there needs to set up an easy method for teachers to get valuable website unblocked for their classes to use.
Nancy Willard, Director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use, wrote an article for Education World discussing this issue. http://www.education-world.com/a_issues/issues/issues423.shtml In it she states how students can by-pass school Internet filters by doing a search "on the terms 'bypass Internet filter' ." "A 'just say no' or 'just say block' approach will not be effective in preventing youth involvement" in many types of online activities. "Proactive strategies to help students gain the knowledge, skills, and motivation to make safe and responsible choices, and continued adult involvement are necessary."
She even stated what schools can do, that I know from experience is not always done today. First, schools need a "strong focus on educationally valuable use of the Internet - no 'Internet recess'. " How often is the first student done an assignment allowed to play on the Internet? Second, schools need to continually educate students about Internet safety, and I would add, that schools also need to educate the parents as well. Third, there should be effective technical monitoring. (filters, teachers constantly observing where students are going online, etc.) Finally, students need to know what the appropriate consequences are for their online activities.
We can not trust a software program (Internet filter) to be an online babysitter. Students need to be supervised. "Nowadays, an increasing number of teenagers are setting up proxies on home PCs to sidestep school filtering traps, in addition to using free proxies set up on the Web." http://news.com.com/2009-1041_3-6062548.html So even if there was a filter that didn't overblock or underblock, the kids can still get around it. This is the same idea Don Tapscott discusses in Wikinomics. If someone needs a new way of doing something, in this case, access the Internet freely from school computers, people will collaborate to find a way, and share their ideas online. This is exactly what they have done, and how many times do we hear that students aren't motivated today.
This is information that needs to be shared not only with school personnel but especially with parents who may falsely believe they are keeping their kids safe online because they have a filter installed on their home PC.
Filters are not perfect, they do block important educational material, and they can't protect all kids all of the time. While they are necessary and help protect kids lets not blindly trust our kids to them.
Current issue: Internet FiltersPossible Solution: involve more people in the decision making process about which sites to block, provide easy methods for teachers to get particular sites unblocked, consider different levels of protection based on type of school (elementary, middle, high), educate parents and teachers on the limitations of Internet filters
1 comment:
You have identify a most important issue. We cannot begin to utilize the new Web 2.0 tools if they are all blocked because of fear. However, we need to scaffold responsible use. I like your many suggestions, including no "internet recess." I had not heard that term before but it certainly identifies a common practice. Good luck following through on your suggestions to get needed sites unblocked in your school. Let the conversation begin!!
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