Costello Technology College

Comment

Comment by Dominic Tester on October 15, 2008 at 11:55pm

Sorry that I have picked up on this thread so late - it's an interesting one which will fuel debate for quite some time. Guidance is now coming out from teaching unions and their advice is quite clear - limit your profile so that you are not searchable by the general public. I.e. only people you give info to, to become a 'friend', have access. Many feel that this disarms some of the key foundations of social networking but it is about teachers feeling empowered to make professional decisions about their online lives. It is interesting that there are many educational communities embracing the likes of Facebook, even the teacher unions have a formal presence in Facebook. Yes, I use Facebook, but you cannot find me, nor see my profile unless you are on my friends list. I totally take on board Keith's comments about social networking sites and the lack of understanding many adults, including teachers have about the power they have to share personal information. New technologies often have a ripple effect where some of the social impacts are not recognised and internalised for sometime after they have been released. Keith - do you think staff would benefit from a twilight INSET sesison on this. Policing of the web will never work, it is about educating people on acceptable use. Something that employers need to embrace and understand too - maybe there needs to be a policy review at school? Costello Technology College does put some emphasis on technology but I think Keith is right, there is an agenda to be addressed.

Comment by phillipa on September 25, 2008 at 2:11pm

Oh. I forgot to point out that Costello Technology College is a 'Technology' College so the teachers are all used to using computers and Mr Tester is very involved in the IT use and capabilities there. No personal agenda here and he wouldn't know me from any other parent with children at the school.

Comment by phillipa on September 25, 2008 at 2:05pm

Interesting comment from Keith Langton. It is indeed impossible to police and would mean that anyone who is a teacher, knows a teacher or has ever taken a photograph of a teacher/ with a teacher in the background should also be barred from joining a social networking site. My personal feeling as a mother with children at Costello Technology College is that it is a good thing to have 'a man on the inside'. Today's teenagers a very technologically aware lot and can find their way around any parental controls and blocks you may put on the internet. I know because one of mine has! With what would seem a total lack of policing on social networking sites such as Bebo (enter a false D.o.B. and off they go the tweenie masquerading as a 23year old) parents need to be aware of what the latest craze is and what their children are logging on to. The only ways of managing access at home that are really successful are to ensure that the computer is only used in a 'public' place and that access is controlled so that the internet is only used when you are able to check in. This means either limiting the access electronically or keeping your child's password secret so only you can log them on. This may seem slightly excessive but increasingly parents are running out of 'punishments' they can give their children and not allowing use of the computer and removing the mobile phone have become the new 'grounding'.

Comment by Keith Langton on May 14, 2008 at 1:04pm

I'm very interested in just how involved teachers should become in social websites. We need to either remain anonymous as teachers or be given good guidance on joining any sites which are accessible by students. Discussions I've had with SLT suggest that many are not up to speed with what is happening in cyberspace and are quick to condemn or criticise teachers from being involved with Web2 websites. I myself was told that it would be unacceptable to have any webpage with photographs that could be accessed by students. This I find incredible and is presumably impossible to police.
Any thoughts from parents or other teachers?