Social Software – Ban don’t think!

What dynamic is at work when schools or LEA’s take unilateral decisions to ban sites like YouTube without even consulting students (or teachers for that matter)?

Toss out a few negative soundbytes based on unbalanced media coverage and harp on about ‘duty of care’ and the decision is soon justified. Often though, there is not even a decision that anyone, in this era of transparency, can challenge or track. Where are the lists of sites published that are banned so that they can become an agenda item on the school council or at a staff meeting? Evaluating real websites for their suitability for task would be a purposeful learning activity for both teachers and students. Identifying, weighing up and avoiding potential risks while enjoying the benefits of a website is a creative challenge that faces everyone. Going through this process as a school community offers ownership of internet use decisions, something that is sadly lacking in many schools.

And what do students thinks about this state of affairs? Nothing! They do not care because it simply confirms to them the increasing irrelevance of their formal education to their everyday life. Whatever!

Creative ICT Spring Innovations Conference

The Creative ICT Spring Innovations Conference took place yesterday at Chorlton Park School in Manchester organised by John Sutton. About thirty teachers sacrificed their Saturday and were rewarded with some engaging presentations, workshops and some very pleasing food. I presented as well. The conference blog gives an insight into what was going on and recording of the sessions will probably follow soon. Bits and pieces from my presentation are here.

The new technique I tried out for my presentation was using a bubbl.us online brainstorm to gather some ideas from the audience during the presentation but I left too little time for it. Before the conference I had used the bubblr.us plugin for WordPress to set up a page on the blog with an embedded version of the bubbl.us brainstorm sheet. This meant that as I updated the sheet on the bubl.us site with the audience’s ideas, it was automatically saving the changes to the blog version. This has superb possibilities when working with students. Any brainstorm you complete in class – automatically saved to a blog and updated when you make changes – ready for further collaboration online. Only a proof of concept but definitely something I will be using again – the version I completed during the session is here and one I made earlier is here.

One who would never try out new ideas ‘on the fly’ during a presentation is Russell Prue. Russell was an entertaining and effective presenter with a strong and inspiring message, calling for a change in strategy at the school level to embrace technologies that are already in the hands of students. I can see why he is gainfully employed at every educational ICT conference over the length and breadth of the country and am going to buy his book ‘The Science of Evangelism‘ to find the secret of his presentation success;-) I’m quite surprised that he doesn’t blog – he seems the type to me.

It was good as well to meet Paul Harrington who travelled all the way from Wales and who is switched on the possibilities of new technologies in the classroom. He could have at least touched up the photos though to take a few kilos off both me and Russell. At least Russell got some exercise which is more than can be said for Peter ’15 slices of quiche and 47 sandwiches’ Ford !

Josie Fraser – Consultant!

I could probably count on one two hands the number of blog/web2.0 consultant-types that I think would effect positive change within the realities of educational settings. That is not to say that there are not many more competent and effective consultants out there. I just have not had the pleasure of meeting and working with them yet

To my list I can add Josie Fraser who is definitely one of the good guys (or gals!) All the very best Josie on you foray into independent consultancy

Josie’s consultancy site is over at www.josiefraser.com and her new blog is here.

Oscars 4 All

I’ve used the Academy Awards or Oscars a number of times over the years as a stimulus for writing, discussion or research. Students are motivated by the subject and are generally able to see through the materialism and recognise the place of such awards in the whole scheme of things.

A class could easily host their own awards, making up worthwhile categories, displaying the nominations on a blog or wiki and evaluating and using some online voting software to collect the opinions of the community. Design and create your own virtual oscar-like trophies and certificates to be awarded virtually or at a student-prepared event.
Once the nominations are in then the local press can be contacted as can the agents of any nominated celebrities/authors etc. This makes for a purposeful bit of research – best done in advance by the pupils. I reckon many in the public eye would be delighted to be nominated and would respond – probably not in person but you never know!

Like the UK Honours System that recognises any merit and service to the nation, your awards don’t have to be limited to the famous. Local community research would throw up a number of worthwhile nominees that could be honoured.

When the results are in a press-release should be prepared and sent to local newspapers and radio. Certificates should be sent to the winners with an invite to visit your school. Get the pupils to write speeches, to perform, to make food, to change the staffroom into a VIP Green Room!

Blog Safety

Childnet International have produced some useful blog safety starters and an accompanying leaflet.

Blogging is part of a social and technological revolution that some people are calling Web 2.0. What’s different about it is the ease with which anyone can produce and distribute their own content and link with like minded sites to create a very powerful network for sharing ideas and influence opinion. Young people especially love this new environment because they can have a powerful voice to express their identity and opinions. However there are safety issues to consider for both young users, parents, industry and education. 

Also links to Blogsafety.com which contains a range of interesting reading on the subject.

[Via Andy Black]

Create with the BBC

Some excellent ways to be creative and interactive with BBC projects. I’ve heard from people much wiser than me some negative vibes about how the BBC is slow in reacting to the internet in the light of Web 2.0 innovations.
However, I actually like the way in which the beeb translates the hype around interaction and collaboration using the internet into projects that folks on the ground can understand and ‘get their teeth’ into. These projects seem to be springing up over the whole corporation like an Auntie’s version of Small Pieces Loosely Joined.