Comments on: Battling Censorship http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/ Learning with the Read/Write Web Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:36:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: benshead » Archive du blog » Break the Filter, Teach an Admin, Walk Free! http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-2630 benshead » Archive du blog » Break the Filter, Teach an Admin, Walk Free! Thu, 04 May 2006 16:07:42 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/#comment-2630 [...] With all the talk these days about schools filtering out portions of the web (by url, keywords, esp, etc), I thought this article in CNet was particularly interesting and indicative. From the article: A teenager at a Pennsylvania school gets caught handing out business cards with instructions on how to circumvent his school’s Web filter. But instead of throwing the school discipline book at him, administrators offer a choice: They’ll give him a break if he lets the school’s tech people know how he beat the system. [...] [...] With all the talk these days about schools filtering out portions of the web (by url, keywords, esp, etc), I thought this article in CNet was particularly interesting and indicative. From the article: A teenager at a Pennsylvania school gets caught handing out business cards with instructions on how to circumvent his school’s Web filter. But instead of throwing the school discipline book at him, administrators offer a choice: They’ll give him a break if he lets the school’s tech people know how he beat the system. [...]

]]> By: Seems Like Teaching » Blog Archive » YouTube & MySpace: Letting People Do Stuff http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-2547 Seems Like Teaching » Blog Archive » YouTube & MySpace: Letting People Do Stuff Fri, 28 Apr 2006 19:27:57 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/#comment-2547 [...] One reason I think YouTube and MySpace succeed so well is because they understand this simple concept and, for the most part, they let people do stuff (and have seen amazing growth as a result). The problem with the response of too many educational institutions is that they don’t understand this simple concept. Unfortunately, this is true not only in the online world (as the recent debate about blocking access to online sites demonstrates: see Harris and Richardson) but is often the case in how districts handle “real life” complications, too. At my own school, we often see school-wide or county-wide initiatives put in place that restrict everyone because a few people did some stupid things (or worse, out of the fear that a few people might do some stupid things). [...] [...] One reason I think YouTube and MySpace succeed so well is because they understand this simple concept and, for the most part, they let people do stuff (and have seen amazing growth as a result). The problem with the response of too many educational institutions is that they don’t understand this simple concept. Unfortunately, this is true not only in the online world (as the recent debate about blocking access to online sites demonstrates: see Harris and Richardson) but is often the case in how districts handle “real life” complications, too. At my own school, we often see school-wide or county-wide initiatives put in place that restrict everyone because a few people did some stupid things (or worse, out of the fear that a few people might do some stupid things). [...]

]]> By: Seems Like Teaching » Freedom & Technology http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-2440 Seems Like Teaching » Freedom & Technology Fri, 21 Apr 2006 17:54:51 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/#comment-2440 [...] Weblogg-ed: http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/ [...] [...] Weblogg-ed: http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/ [...]

]]> By: Sicheii Yazhi » Freedom & Technology http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-2439 Sicheii Yazhi » Freedom & Technology Fri, 21 Apr 2006 17:54:28 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/#comment-2439 [...] Weblogg-ed: http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/ [...] [...] Weblogg-ed: http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/ [...]

]]> By: Wesley Fryer http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-2430 Wesley Fryer Fri, 21 Apr 2006 03:57:45 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/#comment-2430 How many people are using the free social networking environment provided by Oracle through <a href="http://www.think.com" rel="nofollow">Think.com</a>. <a href="http://epnweb.org/blogmeister/blog.php?blogger_id=11114" rel="nofollow">Cheryl Oakes</a> in Wells, Maine is starting to experiment with this at the elementary level-- maybe someone needs to do a podcast interview with the Think.com folks and get names of people involved. It seems part of the answer is encouraging schools to create "safe" (at least adult-moderated) social networking environments at school where they can learn about civil discourse, safe personal info disclosure, etc. How many people are using the free social networking environment provided by Oracle through Think.com. Cheryl Oakes in Wells, Maine is starting to experiment with this at the elementary level– maybe someone needs to do a podcast interview with the Think.com folks and get names of people involved. It seems part of the answer is encouraging schools to create “safe” (at least adult-moderated) social networking environments at school where they can learn about civil discourse, safe personal info disclosure, etc.

]]> By: Chris http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-2425 Chris Thu, 20 Apr 2006 15:34:21 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/#comment-2425 On a very basic censorship level, I'm having a terrible time trying to find examples for my students as to what a blog is and how it can be constructively used. Our school filtering system blocks almost everything with the word 'blog' in it!! On a very basic censorship level, I’m having a terrible time trying to find examples for my students as to what a blog is and how it can be constructively used. Our school filtering system blocks almost everything with the word ‘blog’ in it!!

]]> By: XplanaZine http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-2422 XplanaZine Thu, 20 Apr 2006 13:33:14 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/#comment-2422 <strong>Daily Edublogging Update -- April 20, 2006...</strong> Here's a summary of ideas and conversations from the edublogging community that have captured our attention in the past 48 hours. Will Richardson chimes in ont he censorship discussion and even adds a wiki where others can post what is being blocked b... Daily Edublogging Update — April 20, 2006…

Here’s a summary of ideas and conversations from the edublogging community that have captured our attention in the past 48 hours.
Will Richardson chimes in ont he censorship discussion and even adds a wiki where others can post what is being blocked b…

]]> By: Will http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-2420 Will Thu, 20 Apr 2006 11:53:07 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/#comment-2420 Amazon? Oy. Now there is some educating happening. The wiki is working, btw. Sorry for the problems. Amazon? Oy. Now there is some educating happening.

The wiki is working, btw. Sorry for the problems.

]]> By: audrey http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-2418 audrey Thu, 20 Apr 2006 05:16:43 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/#comment-2418 My tech director in NY State blocked amazon.com because students might request books with naked people in them and amazon.com doesn't block the images, so she blocks amazon.com My tech director in NY State blocked amazon.com because students might request books with naked people in them and amazon.com doesn’t block the images, so she blocks amazon.com

]]> By: Mark Ahlness http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-2417 Mark Ahlness Thu, 20 Apr 2006 03:07:30 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/#comment-2417 Will, Too long to leave as a comment, I just posted: http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts/mahlness/2006/04/blogs-lists-and-audience.html Glad you're back - loved your new book! - Mark Will,
Too long to leave as a comment, I just posted: http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts/mahlness/2006/04/blogs-lists-and-audience.html

Glad you’re back – loved your new book! – Mark

]]> By: Jim G http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-2416 Jim G Wed, 19 Apr 2006 23:33:14 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/#comment-2416 Will, I think I can (sadly) top your censorship story with this one. In a recent conversation with a tech director for a local district he told me that they BLOCK GOOGLE EARTH! Why? Someone said they have a chat feature in there and they don't allow chat. PERIOD! I said that I thought that I was pretty familiar with the program but that I didn't know of a chat feature. THen he added that he didn't want the hi-res images clogging their network. That's when my stomach rolled over. I said that I hoped he would reconsider that decision as GE is one of the best programs out there and that even if there IS chat on it the benefits FAR outweight the potential issues. What a VERY sad state of affairs, is it not? Will,

I think I can (sadly) top your censorship story with this one. In a recent conversation with a tech director for a local district he told me that they BLOCK GOOGLE EARTH! Why? Someone said they have a chat feature in there and they don’t allow chat. PERIOD! I said that I thought that I was pretty familiar with the program but that I didn’t know of a chat feature. THen he added that he didn’t want the hi-res images clogging their network. That’s when my stomach rolled over.

I said that I hoped he would reconsider that decision as GE is one of the best programs out there and that even if there IS chat on it the benefits FAR outweight the potential issues. What a VERY sad state of affairs, is it not?

]]> By: Beth http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-2413 Beth Wed, 19 Apr 2006 19:20:02 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/#comment-2413 I am a K-12 Instructional technology specialist for a rather large district. We have discussions all the time about what to block and not. We are required to filter content - and some things are obvious what to block others are really a matter of judgement- one would hope an educated judgement. We just did a large presentation on Myspace and sites like it at our high school, with the local police, it was not a do not do kind of presentation - more a be aware presentation - in fact some teachers and the police officers themselves have myspace accounts. What we should them is how with such little information someone can find out so much about you. We really just remined the kids who feel so invicible to be aware and do not believe everything you read or hear. I am a K-12 Instructional technology specialist for a rather large district. We have discussions all the time about what to block and not. We are required to filter content – and some things are obvious what to block others are really a matter of judgement- one would hope an educated judgement. We just did a large presentation on Myspace and sites like it at our high school, with the local police, it was not a do not do kind of presentation – more a be aware presentation – in fact some teachers and the police officers themselves have myspace accounts. What we should them is how with such little information someone can find out so much about you. We really just remined the kids who feel so invicible to be aware and do not believe everything you read or hear.

]]> By: Alan Day http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-2412 Alan Day Wed, 19 Apr 2006 18:38:42 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/#comment-2412 Hi Will, We have had some interesting discussions today concerning this topical issue. (I would love to comment on your pbwiki, but can't get access). We use websense for all our schools. It relies on the systematic categorisation of web pages. All blogs are categorised as chat rooms etc, therefore are blocked. Because of the sheer number of blogs, in order for one to be moved to an 'education' catgory, someone has to request it ... for primary schools this can be done across all our district schools because we run the servers. For K12 schools (Our UK equivalent anyway), each school has to do it for each blog. It seems not to be wilful, more administratively difficult, but hey, we're working on it. Hi Will,

We have had some interesting discussions today concerning this topical issue. (I would love to comment on your pbwiki, but can’t get access). We use websense for all our schools. It relies on the systematic categorisation of web pages. All blogs are categorised as chat rooms etc, therefore are blocked. Because of the sheer number of blogs, in order for one to be moved to an ‘education’ catgory, someone has to request it … for primary schools this can be done across all our district schools because we run the servers. For K12 schools (Our UK equivalent anyway), each school has to do it for each blog. It seems not to be wilful, more administratively difficult, but hey, we’re working on it.

]]> By: andy carvin http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-2409 andy carvin Wed, 19 Apr 2006 15:40:37 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/battling-censorship/#comment-2409 Hi Will, Is there a trick to editing the pbwiki page? I've used it before but I'm unable to use my existing login to edit the page you created. Did you set it up so that only your password can edit it? I wanted to add something to the page: andycarvin.com is getting blocked in western New York state, according to Chris Harris of Informancy. -andy Hi Will,

Is there a trick to editing the pbwiki page? I’ve used it before but I’m unable to use my existing login to edit the page you created. Did you set it up so that only your password can edit it? I wanted to add something to the page: andycarvin.com is getting blocked in western New York state, according to Chris Harris of Informancy. -andy

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