I don't blog with grade school students since I only have them 45 minutes a
week. I'd rather let them spend their entire class period making art. I only
use Ning with my high school students, so age is not an issue. My district
has a policy that parents sign at the beginning of the year. It has various
levels: photo and/or name in school paper, photo with name in yearbook,
photo and/or name on school website, and internet use. Since I am the
district webmaster, technology integration specialist AND teach a technology
class I know which students are allowed to do what & adjust my curriculm
accordingly.
As far as the junk on the main site - we just went directly to the URL I had
set up. My students know that I will take away ALL their computer privileges
for ALL classes if they break the rules, and I have never had a problem. And
yes, as the teacher using technology, YOU are responsible for knowing the
rules set by the site you are using, as well as your district's policies.
~Michal
3-12 Kansas Art Teacher
HS Digital Communications
Technology Integration Specialist
http://www.geocities.com/theartkids http://www.usd492.org
> Michal,
> I looked at Ning - but I was concerned about my age students and even
> going to the homepage. Too many images for me - I had some create
> their own wikispaces after we started using it in class (even with a
> direct link to our page).
> From a teacher's blog:
> "The Ning Terms of Service agreement explicitly prohibits anyone from
> creating any Ning social networking sites "targeted at children under
> the age of 13." I was aware of COPPA and knew I'd have to get parent
> permission for students to participate in an online community I was
> creating for a class I'm teaching this fall, but didn't realize I was
> legally prohibited from creating a Ning site for 10-11 year olds I'll
> be teaching this year. Here's the background on how I learned about
> this. If you're an elementary or middle school educator in the United
> States using or contemplating the use of a Ning website for students
> under age 13, this is important information to know and share."
>
> here is another site I would love to use - everyperson's Epsilen - but
> I don't know enough about it - has anyone used it? Seems like it is
> more for adults or high school right now...
> http://www.wiziq.com/ >
> This statement is absolutely true - and really offers some 'think
> time' for the students. I, too, am constantly amazed at the comments
> I get through electronic discussion -
>
> I post a topic & students are required to respond to my comment
>> and one comment made under that topic. I am constantly amazed at how
>> readily
>> students will converse with one another electronically when they may feel
>> intimidated in class discussion.
> Ellen
>
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