Apr 13 2008
Dilemma of the Week: You Tube?
Initially our school used the Internet filter system in the most restrictive way possible. Our current practice is to educate the students to use these sites more responsibly. In the past two years we have not filtered YouTube so the situation described in the lesson would not exist at my school. Our administrators feel that there is educational value in many of the YouTubes videos and have actually encouraged staff to use them in class. They also stress the fact that teachers need to discuss with students what is responsible and safe Internet behavior.
We had the same issues with Google images a few years back. Inappropriate images would often appear in a search. We had to decide whether to completely block Google images or educate students to use the tool in a school appropriate manner. As a staff we chose to educate our students on what to do when an inappropriate image was displayed.
Teachers who work in districts that filter everything need to have an open discussion with their administrators. Oftentimes the IT people make the decision to block the sites. The decision on what should and should not be blocked should be school based.
The teacher tantrum that students videoed on their cell phones was certainly disturbing, however, blocking YouTube would not have stopped the incident from taking place.
How students could use YouTube to embarrass teachers and students is drawing discussion at our faculty meetings. We produce a video for 8th grade students at the end of the year. Students can buy the video and the profits are targeted for technology purchases in the LMC. The concern is that someone would post the video to YouTube. We are not sure how to work around this other than to stop the sale of the video.
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It is really great that your teachers have the ability to use YouTube. It is now the responsibility of the teacher to educate the students. I think that most of the students will be responsible if they are given the proper instruction. I also think it is great you are having discussion about this.