BLOCKED!

[Jaci Queen]

I'm very frustrated as I am moving all of my students forward and yet I feel blocked in every direction I go. I get them excited. They all show up to my classes. I give them the tools they need, then when it comes time to show off there work, BLOCKED!!!

It makes me feel like I've let everyone of them down. How are we as educators going to ever get ahead and push are students ahead if everytime something great comes along, it gets blocked. Now I'm wondering why I should turn the other cheek, so to say, as they use proxies to unblock sites so we can use them in the classroom. I monitor their use, I have the right as a technology teacher to block whatever website or application I choose. I have the tools and the software to do so. Yet the district doesn't trust students or is it the other way around? Maybe they are just not in tune with the latest software tools out there. I wish more students would get involved. After all it's there future!

[Paul Alex Briseno]

I know this is a little late, but thought I would share anyway. One of the things I tell our teachers is that if they have a great idea for using and intergrating technology into their lessons is that the FIRST thing they need to do is check their computer in the classroom or the computers in the lab to make sure it is not being blocked. It takes a little more time checking these things, but I think that extra time will make the difference between having a successful lesson with technology than being disappointed once you get there.

Im not sure how your district IT department works, but here in our district, teachers know that if a website is blocked they can submit that sight for review. If there is nothing inapporpriate on the site and can be used for educationa purposes, we (Technology Department) will usually unblock it for them. Sometimes, the unblocking of a site is for the entire district and for the remainder of the year, or we can even narrow it down to a specific lab, or specific computer if needed.

I guess what I am trying to say is have some kind of communication with your IT department and make plans with them to allow the usage of the tools you are looking to use in your classroom.

Wish you all the best!

[Joseph Chmielewski]

Tim provides sound advice.

I would like specific information before making a judgement about your district's IT Department.

For example: What content filter? What override features? What local server resources to deliver content from local resources?

There is also the option of building your own site with Open Source software at minimal cost. This depends on your needs. You can host for as little as $1.19 per year with Go-Daddy and a .INFO domain, free hosting. (You just have to put up with a yellow ad on the top of the page, and if you use PM Wiki, you can over ride that yellow strip.)

Is Ning blocked?

There is also free software that converts YouTube streaming videos into files that you can store on your local system.

There are always solutions. Old computers can run Linux and serve Websites. Teachers can share video from their Windows desktop (up to 10 concurrent connections).

Provide specifics and you will receive plenty of creative answers.

In defense of your district's IT Department. If they are blocking YouTube, they should continue to do so. Some content on YouTube increases your district's exposure to complaints, lawsuits, world-wide negative publicity...and possibly even to the loss of Federal Funds.

Find out what isn't blocked as Tim suggested.

And thank your district's IT Department for protecting your job. With recognition, smiles and genuine appreciation; the under staffed, over worked, under paid and constantly stressed folks there will be glad to help you if you are their friend.

[Tim Holt]

One solution is to publish their work to a site that is not blocked. For instance, some districts allow Schooltube and Teachertube but not Youtube. Always check BEFORE you commit to something. I learned that a long time ago..
Tim