tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573839292964961426.post8109499183138087017..comments2023-10-21T02:27:29.531-07:00Comments on Breakthrough Learning in a Digital Age: Breakthrough Learning from the Outside In: Four Policies to Accelerate Innovation in the ClassroomBreakthrough Learning in a Digital Agehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09820311501036913571noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573839292964961426.post-30501322498856481442009-10-28T20:56:54.134-07:002009-10-28T20:56:54.134-07:00This is a great post, thanks for sharing these tho...This is a great post, thanks for sharing these thoughts Vic. One filter challenge we have here in Omaha is that the technology the district uses filters based on the domain, not on the user, and it is one filter used across the nearly 50,000 student K-12 district. The consequence is that the IT group must apply a standard with the youngest students in mind - if a site could any way be trouble for a 5-year old then it is blocked even for HS seniors. An alternative that I would like to see is a policy that trusts students and teachers to make good decisions with clear and meaningful penalties for abusing that trust. <br /><br />Again thanks for the post, I've really enjoyed getting caught up in this discussion over the last few days. - Dan GilbertDanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03725905118127548327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573839292964961426.post-23581188995328269432009-10-21T21:46:40.938-07:002009-10-21T21:46:40.938-07:00This is a great post. As a CEO of a small company...This is a great post. As a CEO of a small company passionate about igniting a lifelong love of reading through REAL video games (Sabi, Inc.) I know first hand about the Internet filters stifle innovative efforts!<br /><br />While at Microsoft, the insight I gleaned after two years exploring public school and the potential for innovation: 1) the stakes are too high and the special interests are too embedded to allow innovations. 2) children spend 18.4% of their time in school. Innovation COULD come as supplemental - but I would rather see a "core curriculum" state - able to read Harry Potter without adult's help...<br /><br />Finally, while Policy is a good start - what REALLY needs to change is the business models. Check out how textbook companies make money. Let's start with a vision and a business model to lighten our kid's backpack by 40 lbs. by having all school content available on an eReader (besides a PC).Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00899178964159323757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573839292964961426.post-45458537067391772372009-10-21T12:09:56.701-07:002009-10-21T12:09:56.701-07:00I couldn't agree more with Victor Vuchic's...I couldn't agree more with Victor Vuchic's comments. If we have the capacity to build better mouse traps, then we can certainly build better internet filters for schools. I understand the need for filters, to a point, but think about it -- kids have been throwing spitballs since there was paper in schools, yet we haven't banned paper! It's a matter of teaching kids the appropriate behaviors in ANY context, whether it's behavior in the classroom or on the internet. If we are too afraid to open up more of the internet's capabilities for fear that kids will see something inappropriate, then shame on us. Because kids DO use the internet at home on their own computers and mobile phones, and they WILL encounter inappropriate content, yet when they do so, it's without any guidance from educators or other adults. <br /><br />The other thing that needs to be re-examined is school "Acceptable Use Policies ." These often ban cell phones and ipods -- the very tools that we could be using to engage kids and bridge the divide between digital natives (them) and digital immigrants (most of us)(see Marc Prensky). It's time educators and educational policy makers stop asking why and start saying, why not?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06769706192908515799noreply@blogger.com