Eclectic Technology

CIPA , the Children's Internet Protection Act, requires that schools install filters that "address obscenity, child pornography and sites that are 'harmful to minors,' but schools interpret this mandate in a variety of ways...

With the advent of mobile computing, with the proliferation of cellphone ownership (student cellphone ownership specifically) and with the explosion of social networking, we’re witnessing CIPA – an eleven year old piece of legislation, remember – be invoked left and right."

This post explores some case studies and discusses a range of issues that exist today, raising questions such as "What does it mean to protect children on the Internet today? What is the role of schools? What is the role of parents? "

If schools provide iPads or laptops to students are they also responsible for filtering the Internet when these devices are used at home? Does CIPA impact what students and teachers read, write, watch online? Raising more questions than are answered this post asks you to look at some difficult issues that we are confronting in the world of education.

Do you carefully read the rules for using online tools? Many are not to be used by students under the age of 13. Mr. G has taken time to comple a list of tools "that can and can't be used by chilren under 13." He has created a table that lists tools that are Available to Under 13s - Free; Available to Under 13s - Paid; and Restricted to 13 and Over. Many thanks for doing all this work!

I want us to set the bar really high when it comes to education technology -- both in its development and its implementation. I don't think it's too much to ask. I mean, we're talking about teaching and learning here...

Check out "the Audrey Test" in this article. Would your techies be able to answer the questions? Would you be able to answer the questions? What would happen if we asked these questions in a broader forum in our communities?