Comments on: The Illogic of Blocking http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/06/03/the-illogic-of-blocking/ A weblog about teaching English & integrating technology Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:09:55 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: CyberEnglish department chair | The Polliwog Journal http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/06/03/the-illogic-of-blocking/comment-page-1/#comment-777 CyberEnglish department chair | The Polliwog Journal Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:03:25 +0000 http://dhogue.edublogs.org/?p=85#comment-777 [...] The Illogic of Blocking [...] [...] The Illogic of Blocking [...]

]]> By: Dana Huff http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/06/03/the-illogic-of-blocking/comment-page-1/#comment-770 Dana Huff Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:28:39 +0000 http://dhogue.edublogs.org/?p=85#comment-770 Well, I'm glad it's not blocked at my own school, or I'd be in trouble! I hear from other teachers all the time about blocking, but thank goodness the IT folks at our school take a more sensible line -- MySpace, Facebook, proxies (or at least those they can find), and game sites tend to be blocked, but aside from those sites, we have good access. A commenter on my own blog told me that it was blocked at his school because its focus is education. What? Well, I’m glad it’s not blocked at my own school, or I’d be in trouble! I hear from other teachers all the time about blocking, but thank goodness the IT folks at our school take a more sensible line — MySpace, Facebook, proxies (or at least those they can find), and game sites tend to be blocked, but aside from those sites, we have good access. A commenter on my own blog told me that it was blocked at his school because its focus is education. What?

]]> By: Dawn Hogue http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/06/03/the-illogic-of-blocking/comment-page-1/#comment-769 Dawn Hogue Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:25:37 +0000 http://dhogue.edublogs.org/?p=85#comment-769 I hear you Dana. I've designed some units with links to sites and they work for me, but are blocked for students. YouTube used to be blocked for us as well, but for some reason was open this year. How can these inconsistent, random blocks be justified? I hear you Dana. I’ve designed some units with links to sites and they work for me, but are blocked for students. YouTube used to be blocked for us as well, but for some reason was open this year. How can these inconsistent, random blocks be justified?

]]> By: Dana Huff http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/06/03/the-illogic-of-blocking/comment-page-1/#comment-768 Dana Huff Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:29:27 +0000 http://dhogue.edublogs.org/?p=85#comment-768 Amen. I recently tried to show a group of teachers how many wonderful Shakespeare videos there are on YouTube, and the school where I was presenting had blocked YouTube. So frustrating. Amen. I recently tried to show a group of teachers how many wonderful Shakespeare videos there are on YouTube, and the school where I was presenting had blocked YouTube. So frustrating.

]]> By: Leslie Rush http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/06/03/the-illogic-of-blocking/comment-page-1/#comment-763 Leslie Rush Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:00:33 +0000 http://dhogue.edublogs.org/?p=85#comment-763 Dawn, YOU ROCK! Love this post -- Dawn, YOU ROCK! Love this post –

]]> By: Kate Olson http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/06/03/the-illogic-of-blocking/comment-page-1/#comment-762 Kate Olson Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:10:21 +0000 http://dhogue.edublogs.org/?p=85#comment-762 I'm glad you found my survey useful! It's such an interesting and frustrating topic, it really is. I've had the opportunity to speak with people on both sides of the issue and unfortunately I haven't come up with a perfect answer. Unfortunately, today's education system isn't serving only the kids, it answers more to the adults - adults who are scared of the possibilities the online world presents. To make real change here, the work needs to be at the community-wide level, bringing school boards and administrators in. This is a BIG job - it exhausts me to think about it sometimes! I’m glad you found my survey useful! It’s such an interesting and frustrating topic, it really is. I’ve had the opportunity to speak with people on both sides of the issue and unfortunately I haven’t come up with a perfect answer. Unfortunately, today’s education system isn’t serving only the kids, it answers more to the adults – adults who are scared of the possibilities the online world presents. To make real change here, the work needs to be at the community-wide level, bringing school boards and administrators in. This is a BIG job – it exhausts me to think about it sometimes!

]]> By: Carla http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/06/03/the-illogic-of-blocking/comment-page-1/#comment-761 Carla Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:22:08 +0000 http://dhogue.edublogs.org/?p=85#comment-761 Dawn, I completely agree with your comments, and I just love your conclusion: "Imagine trying to teach reading if you had never read? Imagine trying to lead students into the future with your feet resolutely planted in the past." Those who block Web 2.0 tools are not trying to lead students into the future; they are trying to prevent lawsuits. In the back of their minds, I'm sure they are thinking, "I learned to read and write without a blog. These kids can, too." They miss the point that we must also teach students to use the tools responsibly, just as we teach responsibility in driver's ed, health, P.E., and civics classes. Dawn, I completely agree with your comments, and I just love your conclusion: “Imagine trying to teach reading if you had never read? Imagine trying to lead students into the future with your feet resolutely planted in the past.”

Those who block Web 2.0 tools are not trying to lead students into the future; they are trying to prevent lawsuits. In the back of their minds, I’m sure they are thinking, “I learned to read and write without a blog. These kids can, too.” They miss the point that we must also teach students to use the tools responsibly, just as we teach responsibility in driver’s ed, health, P.E., and civics classes.

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