Week 7 Reflection Question

3. How can a classroom web site improve communications with students, parents, and community? What is an acceptable use policy? What impact does it have on the use of the Web in the classroom?

A classroom website can be an invaluable too in the hands of an innovative instructor. A well designed and streamlined class website can provide classroom and assignment information to students, teachers and interested administrators both at and outside of school. A classroom website also provides the service of allowing the teacher to provide links to any outside sources that could be useful and/or informative to the students or whoever has taken an interest in what is being taught in the classroom. According to our text, many districts are now allowing class sites to be uploaded to the official district or school website, which makes getting to your particular class's site even easier and safer.
When providing a web source and allowing your students access to the internet while they are in school, some terms of acceptable use should be set forth. This is usually done by a signature from the parents or guardians claiming that they have read and gone over the terms of acceptable use with their child and acknowledge consequences of breaking the aforementioned policy. This goes for teachers as well. They should be well aware of their school's terms of use for internet service and only provide links and information on their site that does not violate the school's policy. Also, it is very important that the instructor not provide any personal information about his or her students on the web page. If any photos or work of the student is to be displayed, permission from a parent or guardian should be obtained first. Just as always, instructors should check their school's terms of use if this situation is ever to arise. Finally, in situations where internet use in provided at school, it is the responsibility of the school to filter internet content. There are many many sites that contain images, videos and information that is inappropriate for children. The school must take responsibility for protecting children from these inappropriate and sometimes dangerous sites.
The internet is really the great innovation of our time and anyone would be hard pressed to find a recent development in technology that rivals its usefulness. However, like many great inventions, the internet is still just a tool. In the hands of a good, creative and careful teacher, the internet is an invaluable source for information and method of organization. In the hands of a not-so-careful teacher, the internet can be a lawsuit waiting to happen. Like most tools of great power, one must exercise great responsibility and constraint to use it safely and effectively.