Order for Closure
This blog has been disabled in compliance with DECS wishes (Department of Education and Children’s Services - South Australia)
UPDATE 3 [2/04/08] A MEETING - NOT WITHOUT HOPE (below)
For a global response please read the comments and click here
It seems that this blog in particular is being investigated regarding risk and management issues. What procedures should be taken for the use/non-use of blogs to enhance student learning will be considered.
Please note … I am greatly comforted by the support from many of my parents/care-givers, the staff & leadership at school and the Learning Technologies team at ‘headquarters’.
I absolutely value the support and wisdom given to me from my global social and learning networks - and isn’t that what the whole thing is all about?
Best of all are the kids .. without their enthusiasm, love for blogging and collaboration … well this blog would never have existed .. and now, would not be closed.
Cheers, Al
Please Note … Let’s embrace this as an opportunity to promote the value of blogs and online learning generally. There is no benefit in looking for blame here, there is enormous value and potential in celebrating our voices.
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Sorry that it’s all one one great long page. The comments say it all. 
UPDATE 1 [15/03/08] I’VE NOW LOCKED DOWN ALL STUDENT BLOGS
… Although nobody responsible for the closure of this blog has contacted me directly (all done through my principal) I’m aware that the ‘shut down’ can be perceived as temporary ‘until things get sorted out’. I have meticulously scoured the class blog and all student blogs.
IN THE INTERESTS OF BEING TRANSPARENT I provide what I consider some ‘worst case scenarios’ of what authorities could be calling “too much student identifying information.” Should I be censoring any of these examples? I think not and assure all mentors/visitors that it is not my intention to identify or embarrass anyone.
Mentor: Can we add photos of dogs and pies to your blog?
Student: I will ask mum about it (great “safe and savvy” student response)
I pointed out that this was not possible with our set up and the way we wanted to collaborate.
Mentors saying their full name, job, blog/website, location, number/first-names of family/animals - identifying themselves?? Saying they have been to Adelaide? Could this possibly (sadly) be misinterpreted by the investigators -> “I’m an old teacher.”? It’s my desire to maintain the innocence of the kids - not impose adult perceptions they have no idea of.
Mentor: “Does your school have a website?” - could they come across pictures and maps??? Is THIS a concern?
Overseas Mentor: “Do you remember the name of your class mate who was from my country?” (when student was in Year 1) We have a first name only policy. No response was given.
Minilegend to miniLegend: “to bad u couldn’t come on the computer tonite.” Evidence of home internet use and chat? What does this tell us? Need for education at school?
The 9 year old daughter of a highly valued educator and mentor overseas … “What’s your sister’s name? How old’s she?” Advice was to use first name and age only … ‘No further information.’ The miniLegend has not included this info in any responses. BTW the daughter is learning English - a wonderful shared learning experience.
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I hope this helps give an idea to those who can’t view the blogs. Although resembling a negative model this was something I felt was needed. I’m very confused about what could be considered ‘too much student identifying information’.
I long for some direct contact from the authorities and something formal giving me the go ahead with the blogs. Something that relates to online communication/blogging generally - not (for example) just a directive to modify my blogs alone. That is not acceptable. To just say to me ‘go ahead - resume’ also is lacking. Something more encompassing and inclusive of all South Australian public schools. Well, not so much the schools but the digital kids learning in this digital age. It would serve a greater purpose to keep the blogs blocked until something of this nature is forthcoming. I’m very happy to work with anyone at any level within the system to see this happen.
I dread and look forward to seeing the miniLegends next Monday. Closing down their blogs has been one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in my professional teaching career. At times tears of joy, laughter, sadness and despair seemed indistinguishable. Serendipity is not always all that obvious. I thank those who set this whole thing in motion. You have unwittingly raised the issue ‘How do we raise our children - through fear or education?’
What a wonderful opportunity … and what wonderful support. How can I thank everyone for all the kind words but more importantly their support for our core business - learning? Perhaps I can’t but I can say this … thank you.
Cheers, Al (Update 2 to follow)
UPDATE 2 [18/03/08] THE DIALOGUE CONTINUES
… Yesterday I had planned to simply write “It’s all good. I’m waiting for something in writing.”
… Today I feel compelled to share what I can as a professional teacher and employee of DECS. My intent here is to clear up some issues, taking the ‘heat’ off the miniLegends, myself and DECS thus distancing my example situation from the necessary broader dialogue and action.
For specific reasons that were never made clear to me, I was asked by DECS officials (via my principal) to close my blog down. [Other methods to shut it down apparently had not worked.] I took this to be wise counsel and did so. I later found out that someone/group/organisation had initiated an investigation of my blog. DECS were informed and they understandably asked for the blog to be disabled so they could undertake their own investigations. During this process I had been verbally reassured by DECS leaders that nothing I was or had been doing could be considered inappropriate. There was no indication or reason given as to why my blog should be investigated. Nothing was found that was inappropriate.
It is not my intent to question here … “Could/should this have been handled differently?” It has happened this way. The dialogue has already begun - exploring approaches, understanding and acceptance of using blogs and the internet for student learning. It is my desire that commonsense based on hard evidence will lead to openness, flexibility and consistency.
I await written feedback and assurance that my students and I will be able to continue with our blog/s with a minimum of risk. As with the use of the internet, teaching and learning cannot be 100% risk free. I await written confirmation that what is allowed/expected of my blog and students is not just being applied to my blog and students.
If “too much student identifying information” is the issue here, then I also await written assurance that this extends beyond blogging and the use of internet technologies … OR inclusive processes are underway to determine broader definitions and recommendations. Without this assurance I feel that my students and I are too much at risk. This includes repeated risk of a similar incident by reopening our blogs.
I prioritise my students learning and safety. I must protect them and myself.
Please Note: I’m happy to share my story, be involved in future directions and help develop much needed clarifications of blogging/internet technologies. This is quite different to ‘driving’ or ‘championing’ any ’cause’.
UPDATE 3 [2/04/08] A MEETING - NOT WITHOUT HOPE
Seeking to avoid bias and to the best of my recollection …
I am not under any investigation; however, a report went to the DECS Special Investigations Unit. The response was to ensure that my blog was closed so a risk assessment could take place. Please note: A report was tabled at today’s meeting of a variety of DECS and AEU (Australian Education Union) representatives, my principal and me. Most of the discussion was centered on my blog and what needs to be done to get the blogs back online. Recommendations (good teaching practice?) from the report and discussion (to assist my principal and me developing an action plan) include …
Consideration of ‘student identifiers’ e.g. photos/names/maps etc … photos can be manipulated … should they all be banned, should non-authentic representations be used e.g. avatars? Should pseudonyms be used? Should maps be included? Different identifiers could be linked in online/on-site scenarios ‘multiplying factor’ – recommendation that this be reduced as much as possible. Some discussion of other instances where ‘student identifiers’ occur. The need for realistic authentic learning environments was raised.
Moderation …. No matter how highly the blog is monitored, everything should be moderated before it goes public. The nature of safe and open (as opposed to safe and stilted) conversation was briefly touched upon. Posts and comments will not appear automatically in this scenario. I also have all student emails forwarded to me.
Mentors/coaches – any communication between students and adults overseas was strongly advised against. DECS and AEU representatives agree on this. Questioned also was a closed community (e.g. a class) communicating/collaborating with another closed community (e.g. another class) in another country. Jurisdiction related differences (e.g. criminal checks) formed part of this questioning.
Permission forms need to be reviewed and re-issued … recommendation to offer many options e.g. permission for … any photo, close-ups, group shots only, blurred/’indistinguishable’ photos, no photos, drawings/art work, self-representation drawings, avatars (needs definition and the variety of avatars would need to be included in options e.g. photo, computer generated/non-‘human’ representation such as cartoon character), no graphic representation… this is not exhaustive but the recommendation is that all options need to be included. The overall aim is to create a comprehensive permission form that clearly allows informed consent. This goes hand in hand with parental education such as information nights.
Consent forms also are not to contain too many concepts eg blogging + permission for online publication of photo, video/audio and learning
Previous year blogs have been recommended to locked – a process to be determined. This includes how we deal with previous year permission. Are images from previous years still okay? This goes well beyond blogging and online learning.
DECS do not have any specific ‘blog’ policies and guidelines. Responsibility (and liability) ultimately rests with the line-manager/principal assuming that he.she has endorsed the methodologies. Professional judgement of the teacher was also discussed and I need further clarification. My current understanding is that once my principal and I have developed an action plan and the investigation has satisfactorily been finalised, I can consider student and personal risks. I hope for something official in writing before I consider re-opening my blogs.
A number of analogies were presented … many stating any risk to students negates learning entering the debate. I raised the “To avoid students drowning, we teach them to swim” analogy - authentic learning.
One response ‘If something bad can happen to even one child it shouldn’t be done’ – paraphrased
Individual student blogs were questioned with a general indication of that not being a good idea.
DECS eStrategy Framework booklet is downloadable under
‘Digital Evolution Revolution’ http://www.decs.sa.gov.au/learningtechnologies/ -
Embedded Implementation of the Vision includes “The site has developed innovative approaches to the sharing of effective practice, coaching and mentoring within and beyond the site and makes use of technology to achieve this. Child and student, peer and/or community mentors are an essential component.” and in ‘Resources – Virtual Learning Environments’ “There is provision for children and students to create their own personal learning spaces.”
I encourage any attendees to correct any errors or omissions – I will reflect such corrections here.
As always, to all visitors, feel free to comment.
Press the ‘End’ key to go straight to the bottom – and ‘Home’ to go to the top.
BTW What we learn could form part of DECS discussion that in turn will inform other site leaders. There are always reasons to be optimistic and therefore constructive. Cheers, Al
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Pardon? Is this for real! Come to Victoria then and bring the students with you. Did they checkout the clustr map and see the authentic audience that your students have? It was wonderful to see them blogging and to see the support given to you worldwide. Let me know if there is anything that I can do to help!!
Wow
The benefits of blogging are many and varied, including: writing for an authentic audience, exploring other points of views, composing in different modes and medium, researching and evaluating information and integrating student interest in the classroom.
I am sure the list goes on and on.
I thought your concept of a mentor program was fantastic and it seemed as if you had tapped into something powerful in the world, too.
I hope you can reverse the order (is that possible?)
Perhaps: remove pictures and create pseudonyms and re-launch?
Good luck
Kevin Hodgson
Massachusetts, USA
This is a very interesting and distressing situation!
I would like to know what evidence or data the ‘risk management’ dept of DECS is using when they have come to their decision to ’shut down’ this site.
Al is offering his students the opportunity to interact and learn from a global network of people. He is offering his students the means to learn in a ’safe’ environment of how to operate in an interactive online environment.
Doesn’t DECS have an ethical responsibility to help their students to develop the skills they require to operate in the 21st century through collaborative spaces such as blogs, wikis, and social networking sites.
Where will these students learn the skills to safely operate in an online environment?
The internet offers an opportunity for students to network and learn beyond their locality and time zone through social networking. To date, our young people have been using the internet to connect with others, with little or no guidance from their parents or teachers.
However, educational institutes have the opportunity to help ‘guide’ their students through the ‘unchartered waters’ of online social networking through spaces such as what Al is developing with his students.
He has been open and upfront with his students, parents, colleagues, authorities, and online networks. The people who who have offered their assistance to ‘mentor’ his students are people who have the utmost respect of the online community. People who model appropriate online social behaviour, and are ‘paving the way’ for others in how to share and mentor others online.
I believe the decision to shut down this site is very narrow minded and the decision has been based on a very limited and sensationalised view of what an online environment can offer to young people.
Young people are no more at threat online than they are in the ‘real world’. The skills required to understand ’stranger danger’ apply to an online environment.
Allowing Al Upton’s students to learn in an online environment will allow these students to apply their ’stranger danger’ skills in a safe and ‘controlled’ environment.
Please do not deny these students the opportunity to learn in a rich, valuable and safe environment, to develop the skills they will need to be effective individuals in the 21st century.
Al -
I was so upset when I saw Sue Waters tweet about this this morning - I’m waiting for her post after her Skype session today to perhaps learn more about how other Aussie edubloggers are reacting……I hope to find out details of this that will help all other educators using blogs with our students. Keep us posted, Al.
Al, I am so surprised as I know how much blogging helps students learning. It is practice in writing, it is practice in critical reading and in collaboration. Students need to learn in a safe place and school is such a place. Teachers who can mentor students and make positive comments on the student writing help them know that they have a real audience. It helps motivate students. This seems to be a backward step.
These are both confusing and enlightening times. While trying myself to get similar projects started here where I am, I am now rethinking approach and process and politics. Very disappointed that some have to be those that increase awareness through difficult times as you are experiencing now. But, I hope as we move forward, that education overall will be better and all will not be in vain. No. not hope … I am sure of it! Good luck with these changes and redefining moments in educational history. The 21st Century certainly has given us much to think about.
Al, I am absolutely gobsmacked at the decision to stop this amazing initiative. I can understand the need to ensure that young people need to be safe online, but why on earth there is a problem with blog comments that are left on a page, and therefore TRANSPARENT, is utterly beyond me. Shame on the bureaucratic nincompoop that made this decision.
And if it doesn’t sound sad to say it, It’s the miniLegends themselves I feel sorry for. This is a story that could go global (and if *I* have anything to do with it, it will)!
I was very sorry to see the message above, I have been using the mini legends as an example for my administrators and teachers in our conversations regarding the wonderful opportunities blogging provides for students to reach beyond the walls of their classrooms. All students need to learn how to navigate the online world safely, and what better models than those who use the same world in their own practice and themselvs model appropriate behavior? I would hope this decision to remove the blog will be reconsidered and you allow the students to continue developing the skills which will help to shape their future.
http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/13/study-encourages-a-less-hyped-view-of-social-networking-risks/
Nuff said.
So a few parents are concerned about a potential threat to their kids from people who live on the OTHER SIDE OF THE PLANET!?!
Wondering… (sorry if this information was already collected Al but) would it have made a difference or would parents feel more safe if the educator-mentors had sent “proof/validation” of their employment as educators? (as they do e.g. in Quest Atlantis?), Such a shame for your students.
I wish that my two boys were in Al Upton’s class and had an opportunity to be part of a blogging programme like this. They need to learn how to navigate the ‘net safely. They need to understand how to safely have conversations with people from around the world.
They need to understand how to present themselves online, including how to safely use their own voice and identity. I want them to experiment with their online identity in a safe environment where they are supported. I don’t want them to go underground and experiment by themselves with no guidance from someone who understands the online environment.
My kids have been reading the Minilegends’ blogs and love to see what the kids are doing. They are encouraged to learn about what the other kids are learning.
As a parent and an educator I use Al’s classroom blog as a Best Practice model for classroom blogging. I have shared the site with other parents and educators.
To not continue with this, the Minilegends miss out on learning, their parents miss out on learning about the internet along with their kids, other kids miss out on learning from the Minilegends and a pioneering Best Practice example is lost to us.
I too am flabbergasted by the closure of this blog, and fail to see how comments by educators world wide could be seen as a potential danger.
I am also reminded of a blog post by Dean Shareski “Why Privacy is Moot Point” http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/01/04/why-privacy-is-moot-point/ - Shareski points out that newspapers regularly publish children’s photos and names without parents’ permission.
It is my belief that working WITH kids to help them find their own, safe path in the digital world involved guided LIVING in that digital world with the support of teachers, parents and yes, other people out in the world. By avoiding this real experience, I believe children are at greater risk.
I understand and respect academic organizations’ concerns about risk and risk management. The problem is, our participation in the world does not stop at the school door. We should not try and legislate as if it does.
Further, children today must have strong digital skills - and that includes social skills - to survive in the job market. I consult with organizations about how they can work/collaborate online and one of the key skills they are now realizing they need to hire and cultivate is online community and social network skills, the ability to write FOR and ON the web, and the social intelligence of how to do this wisely and effectively.
Al, you have my digital support from afar. Please send my best wishes and encouragement to the Mini Legends who have, so far, taught many of us adults so much.
Hm, that makes me realize. This is as much about the world learning from the kids as the other way around. ….
Hey Al
All arguments about whether or not blogging is positive for young people’s learning aside (I believe it is) - it strikes me that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (widest internationally agreed treaty, signed by Australia) speaks to this situation.
I’ve blogged on it over here: http://www.timdavies.org.uk/2008/03/14/article-13-and-minilegends but broadly - Article 13 states:
“The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child’s choice.”
That appears to pretty well describe what the miniLegends were up to. And it is articulated as a specific /right/ of all under 18s. Taking action to limit the right should require some serious proof that other protection rights and concerns substantively trump it….
Al, check out this link–it’s to a study debunking the cyber-stalking myths. Your kids are in greater danger in the “real world” than they are online!
http://tinyurl.com/3xp5z4
Well, I can’t add any content to what has already been said but I can add the weight of another voice in agreement.
The truth will win out.
Thankyou Al for being in the front line here. I have come close to being shutdown within the last twelve months by conservative forces in my own own local evnironment and I remember the pain with discomfort.
I trust that the conservative elements in the department that have made this decision will soon feel the full force of the educational necessity to allow kids to learn safe online behaviour in the safe environment of school. They can only keep their heads in the sand for so long. I wonder if they know what their own kids are doing right now? I wonder when they last spoke with their own kids about the actual life that they live… a lot of it online… in all likelihood.
Its not the end mate… its just the beginning of another interesting journey. Be of good cheer.
Al Whatever support you need from your network I will try to help. It is so short sighted of the “powers that be” need to have the big stick and shut down powerful educational thinking. It really is a shame that a visionary like yourself and your students are being stifled.
Kids that do not have a positive exposure to the web and are not taught how to be informed web citizens will be ignorant to dangers in the future.
Good luck with your fight.
Al- I am so disappointed to hear of this (word just got to me via twitter). You had created a model project and handled the concerns in the best way possible.
For some government authority to override the wishes and permissions granted by the parents is unfair to say the least and perhaps leaning towards totalitarian. Who is more responsible and gets to make decisions for Australian children- the government or the parent?
If it were me, I might have shied from using the kids photos, but as they are identified only by first name, I fail to see the dire risk.
If there is anything we can do to protest, petition, complain, just shout out.
I will not say that the board is wrong… safety is a concern.
Two options exist:
1. Move this project to a ‘closed’ model in which students can interact, but ’stranger danger’ can not see the site.
2. Ensure that students DO NOT expose personal information on the site that would enable ’stranger danger’ to target them.
I have no visited here before so I am not making a claim that this site did not safeguard the children, but I do understand the concern that parents and administrators have.
Oh my. Another group of administrators who don’t get it! It’s time to move with the times and the value of connected learning. So sorry about this.
Kimberly Brown
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Sorry that such a fantastic opportunity for learning has been taken away from your students. Student blogging has such potential for motivation, for connection with an audience, for furthering communication. After all, that’s what writing is for!
I’d wish for my children to be in Al’s class for SURE!!! He is an educator that is LEADING THE WAY!!! Others should take note! Our children NEED this sort of learning and education!
Al Upton is, without doubt, one of the most committed educators I have ever met - his focus, every time I meet him, is entirely on the children in this class. This decision by the South Australian authorities is monumentally stupid, shortsighted and anti-education - it is also cowardly. Someone, somewhere, has buckled in the face of paranoia and a closed-minded, irrational fear of nothing whatsoever.
For the past 14 months, I have been extolling the virtues of Al Upton, his minilegends, and, as I thought, the forward-thinking education system of South Australia, all around the world. Everywhere I go I mention this school blogger par-excellence - now I will be forced to use this ridiculous decision as an example of a head-in-the-sand attitude that believes we can protect our children best by banning everything that moves. The best protection, in fact, as Al knows, is education itself - an anti-education move such as this simply beggars belief.
Very disappointing. I’ll just add one point, which I haven’t seen made yet, which is this… what is this modelling? You make a mistake in good faith and you get slammed? Why couldn’t this situation have been used to clarify safety guidelines and make whatever changes to the way you were working in line with those? Why shut down your whole operation completely? It seems more like punishing and making an example of than correcting behaviour. Oh wait… this is school.
Just learned about this via an email. Al, and all the mini-legends, I’m so sorry to hear of this and wanted to add my voice of support. I hope your ministry of education officials look through the work you and your kids have been doing online for the last few years and examine there concerns in that larger context. I suspect doing so will open their eyes the sort of careful, considered, and responsible educator that you are.
Looking ahead to that future, the mini-legends will become legends in name and fact as together you all model educational blogging at its best. I really can’t see any other outcome to follow from a pedagogue examining the opus of your work online.
Warmest Regards and Best Wishes,
Darren Kuropatwa
Department Head Mathematics
Winnipeg, Canada
What a shame! I was looking forwards to looking at the mini’s work.
I hope our own local authority are more open minded!
Alasdair Lanyon
http://arisaigschool.edublogs.org/
Al,
I am so sorry to see this happening. The mini’s have been an incredible inspiration to me, and I’m sure to many others throughout the world. My heart goes out to you and the kids. it can be so frustrating to have creative expression both misunderstood and repressed.
Just from what I have seen here, I know you will turn this experience into deep learning for all involved, I just wish you didn’t have to.
Al and the miniLegends,
While I joined the 31-day better blogging challenge late, I was inspired by the minilegends and their projects. We ask students to journal and create portfolios all through education and the new tool of blogging serves that purpose and the purpose of joining a world community. A community that teaches the lessons of diversity, inclusion, and growth; something an education system and parent would want to see accomplished.
The myopic nature of this order shows the hypocrisy of wanting students to grow and limiting there growth to be compliant with arcane policies, procedures, and regulations.
You followed the directions and got the right permissions. Yet, nay-sayers, the uninitiated, the uninformed, and the uninvolved declared it “scary” and “bad”. Shame on them for stifling the creative minds of children. Shame on them for shutting down the growth of children. Shame on them for limiting the exploration of the leaders of tomorrow.
Mike Berta
Buffalo, NY, USA
Hello everyone, Just a quick note to say how sorry I am to hear that your project has been closed. I was going to volunteer to be a mentor but am in a crucial stage of my PhD so decided I’d do it next year. Please accept this comment as a sign of my support and pass on my best wishes to the class.
Sarah Stewart
Senior Lecturer in Midwifery
Dunedin
New Zealand
It has been inspirational for me to follow you down many of the wonderful paths that you have led your young students and
to add my support re the powerful learning of blogging. 20 reasons why students should blog at http://murcha.wordpress.com/2008/03/14/20-reasons-why-students-should-blog/ Your students will be such wonderful life long learners, great community members and model digital citizens of the future. Keep up all your great work!! The global support shown to you is a reflection of the awe you are held in.
Bah Humbug!!!
What is wrong with the powers that be in South Australia?
As a parent I would have climbed over hot coals to have my kids in your class Al and to have been part of the miniLegends. As a teacher I was envious of the real world experiences your kids were getting and the careful way that they were exposed to that world. As an educational technologist I sent many people to the miniLegends blog to learn how blogging can be a fully integrated part of the school curriculum.
The message about the closure was posted in Oz-Teachers by Michael Cridland under the subject “A bad day for education”. Yes Michael it is black day in Australian education - Bah Humbug indeed!!!
Al,
I tried to keep my blog posting informative rather than negative.
I can’t see how education can make any progress when we are so reactive to fear and misinformation. If our students aren’t taught digital citizenship and cyber safety in school, where are they supposed to learn about these vital issues?
My posting is “A Heavy Armor” at http://tinyurl.com/2u7jh4
Good luck - many of us will be following your situation closely.
diane
In the focus of Education for the 21st Century DECS SA have just dropped back to the 19th…the fear held by the digital immigrant sitting in Flinders Street.
I share many of the views of those above. In addition I wanted to say thanks Al for your approach to the issue.
We all rate collaboration and connectivity as one of the key drivers of the work we do on the interwebs… The knee jerk reaction of a govt department contrasts sharply with the collaborative resolution of issues through, for example blogs.
This may well be a catalyst to open robust decision which takes into account opportunity as well as danger.
Good luck - you have my support :))
i meant discussion - not decision above - oops.
Al, I want to publicly acknowledge the very positive impact your online activities have had on my life and to thank the mini-legends for introducing you to me.
- the late night twitters of your social network provide a window into a way forward for Professional Development of educators worldwide (the after hours collaboration using your own equipment and unfiltered internet connection, evidenced by blog posts, wiki entries, podcasts and speaking engagements).
- your care for the online safety of kids is second to none. The blood, sweat and tears you put into developing strategies kids can use to be safe online have caused me to invert my own thinking on the role of technology here. I feel ashamed of the ignorance and arrogance I displayed while designing networks and configuring firewalls and filters. (every time I cross the busy roads at the corner of your school I think of you and my need to take responsibility for my own safety - so close to the ’school fence’).
- while browsing for ‘photos near mine’ on google earth in the early days of geotags I was surprised to see some images of kids art so close to my own back yard. This was of course the work of the mini-legends that led me to their pioneering teacher - Al Upton. Compare that ‘ultra-local’ encounter with the cluster map on this blog and you will learn a lot about the web and the nature of the world the mini legends will grow up in.
So thanks Mr Al Upton and the Mini Legends for letting me peek over the school fence and thru the firewall. I plan to respond with a more considered blog post but feel too tired and emotional right now.
Once again, the read/write web is not understood and those looking at the project have little or no understanding of what students can do, or are doing. The point is not to prevent students publishing … you can’t stop that any more than the average school IT guy can prevent proxy surfing. The need is to ensure that students are aware that publishing is a two way process. That they are aware later what it means to post personal info on MyFace.
As teachers, our duty of care should address all of this. Who else is going to do it - parents? - unlikely, bureaucrats?
This is another dumb move to attempt to be seen preventing the un-prevantable.
As these kids get older, they will be online. They will MMORPG, they will MSN, BEBO and MYFACE. How the hell are they going to know what is okay and what is not?
Firewalls my ….. They don’t teach critical thinking and objectivity.
I defy any politician to guarantee that a kids does not have access to anything they damn well want in school. You can’t win the proxy war … give up and teach them what they need to know.
What a shame …
[Thanks Dean for your passion and commitment. Sorry, I had to censor one thing - kinda ironical. I will get to thank everyone and enter the necessary dialogue more deeply soon. Right now scouring and shutting everything down. Cheers, Al]
Can’t understand. Authorities organize meetings to talk about the 21st century skills and the responsibility teachers have to develop skills related to technological issues. When a teacher finally lead a project according to their expectations, they don’t like the idea…We live some kind of weird times.
What about the option for using avatars instead of photos?
Hugs from Mexico
Al
I am surprised about the draconian reaction, now, after many years of successful work you have done.
Maybe success brings too many eyeballs from people who live in ivory towers, reading policy and procedure documents, fearing for themselves before trusting those “in the field”?
This only highlights the backwards-lookingness of large organisations in an effort to stay safe. Certainly does not show SA off in the best light as an advanced state.
A more positive approach would have been to best-case model what you have already done for others to follow and modify before turning it off.
Most importantly, I hope your students take this the right way. A lesson in how the world sometimes in not fair. But you can think and act in positive ways to effect change.
Al - many of the sentiments expressed in the entries before mine echo how I feel, so I won’t repeat them. You’ve been a pioneer in this field with a model project - always interesting to read and know of the sorts of things you and your students are up to. Regardless of all the validity issues around the decision taken by the DECS it is the manner in which they have acted that appalls me - as you note, what does this model for the very students, teachers and parents who we are seeking to inform and commit to using the online environment in a safe and respectful way.
As a friend and fellow champion of your work and your wonderful minilegends, I am totally embarrassed by this Australian initiative, which ranks as one of the dumbest in the world! The South Australian authorities have taken one of the greatest retrograde steps in the most public arena of all - the world!! You are a passionate and wonderful educator! Those Department henchmen clearly have no idea how to prepare our your children for their digital and global futures.
Al, I have written a post of support over at my blog. This issue has so many implications for all innovative teachers in this state - personally, it has come just as I am starting my own class blogs. I also thought that the mentoring was ideal - bring trusted web-savvy educators in to make real connections - so much that I was ready to launch my own Blogging Coaches initiative. Now I will wait to see what transpires here before my own efforts become reined in. This has huge implications for the digital opportunities any forward thinking teacher tries to provide for their students in South Australia. Let me know if I can be of any assistance.
I am sad — but not surprised — by this situation. I think this program has the potential to be extremely powerful for the students and the mentors alike. I was excited about the opportunity to participate in it. I am trying desperately to remember what questions I asked my mentee — hoping that my efforts to make a teacher-student connection, find shared interests, and gain the students trust in order to further the mentor-mentee relationship, hoping that those efforts didn’t trigger these concerns. That’s a sad place to find myself — when I asked about her pets was that interpreted as trying to identify her for nefarious reasons? What a terrible feeling that is. And, my goodness, if I feel badly about it, how are the minis feeling about all this? So, I understand the concerns and I understand that need to protect the children but I wish this had been handled differently.
Al, although you never would have asked to be a “poster child” for a cause, here you are. I can’t think of anybody I’d be prouder of standing behind. Perhaps, as you say, many can learn from this experience.
My hope is that you stay well and strong, that your kids understand in some way, and that the people who made this decision realize they _really_ chose the wrong person to use as an example..
My hat is off to you for your view of the big picture in this! All the best - Mark
Al, this is awful … we are all behind you and this will become a rallying point for teachers and students who want an open chance to use powerful tools in powerful ways.
I feel that all of your friends (and readers) from around the world will be saddened by this reaction .
Chapeau !
I think it’s all been said in the previous 46 comments, but I just wanted to add my support for Al and the mini-legends and student blogging in general. I have recently started blogging with some of my students and am going to start with more this week. I was hoping to start some interaction via comments with the mini-legends and my students. I strongly believe that the many benefits of student blogging far outweigh risk. Internet technologies are the present and the future, and we must teach children (and parents and other adults) to use the technologies cautiously and intelligently, NOT ban the use of the medium. Hope to see the mini-legends back up and blogging soon.
Hi Al,
Sometimes an innovative project can be enhanced by working in closely with the risk management - despite the delay or blocks this might bring. Such a consultative process can strengthen the context of an innovation such that it can provide armour for future attacks from within your organisation or outside (say from parents or the media or other professionals).
A useful tactic can be to define any new activity as a trial or pilot, giving the trial or pilot a substantial amount of time in order to consider risk management and other potential unknown issues, prior to an official ‘launch’. managers respond much more favourably to such an approach and it can mean less hiccups in the long run. it can even be a subtle way to enlighten and win over the managers of the benefits of what you are doing, such that a situation can reverse and they become powerful allies.
while i am a fan of “innovate now and apologise later” (and i’m not saying this is what you did or intended), sometimes it just doesn’t work and we have to reverse the process and jump through what seems like a whole lot of unecessary hoops, at the risk of the project being shelved before it even gets started; and in my experience it can be worth it., despite the apparent inconvenience. And sometimes it can open doors where the next innovation you come up with proceeds quickly without a hitch and without being questioned, because of the track record you have established with management.
So hang in there, this is not the end of the road. sometimes we think life goes in straight lines, but it doesn’t, thankfully. i admire what you’re aiming to achieve.
It is a great pity that such an educationally sound venture featuring creative students and educators around the world has been closed down by small minded mandarins in puffed up office jobs.
My thoughts are with you, Al and your Mini Legends.
I really don’t know what to say Al. I feel your pain and confusion. I’m not sure where this blog went wrong in the eyes of the powers that be and pray that those powers will allow blogging, here or elsewhere, to continue.
I think if anyone can get through this with a positive outcome then you and the miniLegends can. I hope you can fight this for all of us being censored by our authorities and the network sentinels.
Best wishes.
Since we apparently need to shut down anyone who puts kids in a situation where there is even the slightest chance of them being in danger, I’d like to propose that based on the statistical likelihood of a child being put at risk, the following organisations also need to be shut down immediately…
1. The Catholic Church
2. The Anglican Church
3. The Boy Scouts
4. Any family that has an uncle
5. Most families that have a “friend of the family”
I don’t want to hear about any of the good things that churches, scouts and families might do, or the positive influences that they have on the vast majority of people… I think we need to focus on the negative here, just in case.
Seriously though, what a massive over reaction this whole thing has been. It’s obvious that the people making the decisions are clueless and simply don’t get it. Let’s just hope that common sense eventually prevails and they wake up to themselves.
Hang in there mate.
Chris Betcher
Just a quick thought triggered by Liza Lee’s comment at 44.
Is this experience teaching the kids that all adults outside the family who show an interest in them as individuals - even those introduced by a trusted teacher - should be mistrusted and avoided just in case they mean harm ?
Given that most sexual and physical assault of children is from people know to a child within the family home - and that often the trigger for help is confiding in a trusted outsider - what does this teach children about forming trust relationships outside their family ?
I’m not saying that maybe one of the mentors was going to save a kid from an abusive environment - nor that any of the Minilegends are in an abusive environment.
What I am saying is that mentor / mentee relationships between a child and an educator have been around for centuries and are generally beneficial. This is just creating the same relationship via a different media.
Al –
Just wanted to pass along my support. Life at SLA has been crazy lately, so I only just read about this. From across the globe, we at SLA send our best, and should you be allowed to continue your project, the students and staff at SLA would welcome a chance to collaborate with you and your kids.
Best,
Chris Lehmann
Principal
Science Leadership Academy
Philadelphia, PA
Good luck as you fight this!
oh for goodness sake…what century are we in?
Al
You have my support from NZ. I’m am saddened that this has happened in my beloved Australia, an education system I have always applauded as giving its teachers freedom to innovate. I was excited by your project and could not have foreseen these circumstances. It makes me think about the stupid discussion about not be able to seat male passengers next to children traveling alone on airlines. Hey guys, get a grip - this world is not inherently evil, men are not the devil and not everyone on the internet has bad motives. Let’s celebrate the unity of discussion and of learning networks and teach our children how to safely be a part of these networks.
This sounds painfully familiar. My class wiki page project was recently shut down because a single parent was offended and wrote a letter directly to the district superintendent. The wiki host site was a recommendation from the District IT director, and all parents signed a permission letter. Even my Principal gave the initial OK for the project. The parent concern had to do with some of the widget applets that the students were embedding into their pages. They looked pretty tame to me, and I was impressed that 3rd graders could accomplish this. I guess not everyone was equally impressed. The order to shut the site down came with a Letter of Reprimand and a directive to “cease using this type of classroom instruction.” Wow. The story goes on an on, but I’ll spare the details.
Bottom line is that the technology is not going to wait for cowardly, paranoid administrators. We’ll all be waving at it as it passes us by.
Good luck with the battle Al. Keep us posted so we all can learn!
I am so sorry that this has happened to you. I know these times are difficult, but restrictions are never the answer.
I am from the US and specifically Alabama and we are always considered backwards but even here my school system and parents are very supportive of my class blog. I hope that you can become victorious over this situation. I feel that anything that gets students to write is a good thing. good luck.
Al this is terrible! From what I’ve seen on your students’ blogs, it has always seemed to me that you are taking the utmost security into consideration. Comments like the ones listed above (which were all handled very well by such young students) demonstrate the need to teach children about internet safety. Although, judging by the comments you are miles ahead of quite a few teachers.
I certainly wish you the best of luck in this fight! We’re behind you 100%
Al,
Just read about this on my google reader. I have been using your minilegends site as an example to my students who have started blogging this year. I hope the decision is reversed and our students growing up in the digital 21st century are not stifled by bureaucracy of the 20th century.
My fifth graders and I thought we lost ours a month ago and my students blogged about it.
As it turned out it was just a mistake … but here is a link to a post with some of their comments about losing their blog.
http://learningismessy.com/blog/?p=412
Hope things work out!!!
Brian
Hi Al,
Your experience is probably the one that most teachers who are trying to extend and expand the learning opportunities of our students dread occurring. The facelessness of the bureaucracy that we have to deal with only compounds the dilemma. Take great heart that you and your students have already by example smoothed the path for so many others.
A suggestion for Monday, could you attempt to involve the students in the conversation, as they are participants in this whole scenario? It could be interesting to have them chat and record their reflections on the happenings. Alternatively having them write on what they have learnt from blogging and how they view this imposition on their continued learning may be both revealing and therapeutic for all involved.
I remember when Bob Sprankle’s students were questioned as to whether they were really the authors of the Room 201 podcasts, Bob went back to his class and posed the problem to them as to how to respond to the suggestion. Their oral responses were particularly powerful and further extended their appreciation of the power of the medium.
Being new to the blogging world, I don’t feel I can offer any words of wisdom for you. I can, however, echo the support of all those who have posted here. I’ve not yet started blogging with my students, but have been so very anxious to try. I have to admit that your story has made me think twice about it…I hate when I doubt myself, however. So now I’ll go to the powers that be and push even harder!
All the best to you and your students!
I want to add my voice to those already here. It is a shame that this has happened and I really hope that you and the miniLegends do not let this stop you from learning in such a fantastic way. Kids should be able to use and critique online learning and encouraged to communicate with others in such safe and positive way.
All the best with your e-learning journey.
I am appalled at this news!
Just as teachers are getting more and more confidence to use blogging/wiki tools etc…..this comes along to undermine teacher’s confidence…..create more paranoia and most importantingly curb a teacher’s initiative to use blogging as an interactive, collaborative tool for his class!
Over to you kids…..use your kid power along with parent power to push for this blog to continue!
Long live freedom and innovation!
Dear Al - I am glad that I had the priviledge of interviewing you a few months back so there is a record of your concern for your students and your intentions for their blogging activities. All the best! KerryJ
Al, we all have to fight the encroachment of the police state in all our lives, so keep the faith.
Compulsory schooling is not about encouraging children to be educated, its all about social engineering and limiting their imaginations.
You are breaking that paradigm and deserve all our support.
Al
You havemy 100% support in what you have been doing
Sue had asked if we had any resources that might be helpful to you in making your case, Al.
I have two:
A blogger’s contract (adapted from someone else)
http://www.box.net/shared/9vpp2d9cgc
A letter that we sent home to all school principals when launching a major blog project ( did a quick edit out of teacher names, so I hope it still clear)
http://www.box.net/shared/rj3tv9k748
Good luck
Kevin
Yes I am also surprised that this has happened in Australia. In my more than 2 years of blogging from Scotland, I have never seen the safety of pupils compromised anywhere in the world. But instead I have visited many blogs, like yours, that have been set up by dedicated teachers who want to create safe and educational learning environments for their 21st century pupils.
Al & Minis,
I am really saddened by what’s happened and offer my support to you all. It was the miniLegends that inspired me and my class 2 years ago to start blogging, and the support and encouragement that you offered me Al is well remembered and appreciated. Keep your spirits up and know that everyone in the blogosphere is standing with you -you are inspirational, committed and thoroughly professional in all you have done, are doing and will continue to do in the future.
KimP and the AllStars
This is quite simply ridiculous. Where has our freedom to share information gone? I am sure that you have a right to be informed of the details (yes all of the details) behind the closure of your Blog(s). Lets start demanding to know the reasons why!
I for one want to say to the beurocrats that they have got it very, very wrong. People who have commented previously have given grest details as to the benefits of using Blogs. We are in 2008, aren’t we?
Hang in there.
I would hope this is only a temporary closure, during which time the Department will be clarifying some clearer guidelines? I can’t see that sealing off blogs as an avenue for student publication can possibly be a successful longterm strategy.
When I designed a website for a NSW primary school way back in 1997, it was only after uploading it - and seeing exactly how much could be scooped up by the always-improving search engines, even in 1997 - that we, as a group of teachers, began to realise we needed quite a few ground rules to ensure student safety (such as “no student surnames”) - and eventually there were official Departmental memos to follow.
At the end of last year, I introduced wiki pages to my new school, and this year blogs as well. I’ve also been trying to ascertain what web 2.0 style will best suit my Principal, who’d like an easy, efficient way to upload the weekly newsletter. It’s almost been like the process of discovery has started all over again; only very early days yet, but I’ve worked hard to make sure we cover all our bases. In my research I did find examples of Australian schools which published surnames of students, floor plans, teacher details, etc, on their websites, which was of great concern.
However, surely the best learning situation for the students is to have modelled the essential self-regulation of what they upload to a blog: following examples which they can use as a set of strategies at home, when the educators aren’t around to support them. (We can’t assume their parents are aware of how Internet savvy their children are.) I’m constantly amazed with what students already know about the big wide world of the World Wide Web.
We are having great success with a NSW Departmental-sponsored book rap - in blog and wiki form - this term, and it’s upskilling lots of teachers, teacher-librarians and students, from NSW and beyond, in the ways of Web 2.0. There’s no stopping these newly-empowered bloggers now, I wouldn’t think!
The very best of luck in getting back online very soon!
A huge shame - seems kids are to learn at home, possibly unsupervised, from parents who would love a hand to guide their child through the Web, and one of the most passionate and learned people in the field is being stopped from doing just that.
Al, tell your kids we’ll be waiting for them to come back online and that there’s a heap of support for them and you out here!
There are over 44,000 open wiki’s for ‘my’ organisation alone and infinite amount’s of blogs which give away all the juicy trade secrets that would otherwise try and scale slippery tall walls.
perhaps that’s an under-estimate.
Al, all I can say is hang in there and keep on keeping on. I’ve referred to your blog hundreds of times as a class act, a piece of brilliance and with Graham wegner one of the most compelling examples of how to truly educate in theis connected world.
Perhaps the recent heat wave has gone to the heads of the otherwise unmentionables ?
Be assured the world is watching….avidly. Your students will always remmeber your leadership.
Cease and desist is an out and out threat…I wonder how it would stand up in an international tribunal these days ?
ps…..my antispam word for the day is human587…..something we need to be to thwart this lunacy.
This is terrible news!
Your blog has been an inspiration to many educators who are trying to make connected classrooms.
Hopefully DECS will address this issue quickly, and provide educators with some clear guidlines (that are not overly restritive) soon so that we can all move forward together.
Hope to see your amazing blogs online again soon!
I am very disappointed and I know your students are too!
I will be following what happens next. Good luck fighting this and I am glad you are holding onto wanting a better answer than what has been given to you verbally so far.
Many districts in the U.S. do not allow elementary students’ names with images of that students on their websites. In addition, Blogs, for example: like Class Blogmeister, are blocked as well as social networking sites, voicethread, teachertube, Utube, and podomatic. The list goes on….
Good luck and I will be looking forward to the updates,
Pam
Surely the sensible thing would have been to simply request the child’s photo was removed. Has an negative over-reaction outweighed all of the valuable interactions that the blogging experience has given the Mini-Legends with the world beyond their classroom?
The parent who in retrospect did not want the permission initially granted to remain, is of course entitled to request this. The assumed leaders, DECS (Department of Education and Children Services - South Australia), are challenged to demonstrate some pro-activity and support the fabulous leadership and teaching Al has achieved, and engage openly in this discussion in same venue the students in their care and 21C teachers are.
Worth repeating is Article 13 that Tim Davies quoted above:
Article 13 states:
“The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child’s choice.”
While painful and frustrating- this is the kind of thing needed to bring about lasting policy change and awareness of this important issue. (And all without having to go on a hunger strike or something equally insane to draw attention to this important issue. )
Bottom line- the world has changed and education has not. If we are going to remain relevant in our student’s lives and prepare them to operate in their very global future we are going to have to make principled changes in the way we structure our schools, deliver our curriculum, and implement our policies. Otherwise, students will be getting smarter, faster outside your Aussie classrooms (which would be a shame since so many of us learn so much from how you are pioneering these tools and new literacies.)
So let’s celebrate! And everyone continue to spread this story far and wide. I hate it Al that you have to be the example in this case and go through it- but I believe that it is through very transparent cases like this that we will finally see the changes in education that need to take place to be truly meaningful in preparing students for the world in which they will live.
Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach
School of Education
College of William and Mary
Co-founder
Powerful Learning Practice, LLC.
Owner
21st Century Collaborative, LLC.
Al, I couldn’t believe it when I learned of the closure of your blog. I loved reading what the miniLegends were up to. You have been an inspirational educator and I know that something good will come out of this.
This has opened a whole can of worms as to what is in place out there in CyberBureaucracyLand regarding official guidelines in educational blogging in schools. Let’s see what eventuates and I hope that you and the miniLegends are back on board in the near future.
You have my support from our little neck of the woods, aka, South Australia.
Sometimes I wonder what has happened in Australia. Innovators doing only the very best for all - sharing, caring, learning themselves - inspiring those who may be losing faith and encouraging others to take risks and get into new worlds and give it a go.
I have sent tweets - I have submitted to digg, I have blogged it and facebooked it - TALO where I heard about it.
Al your work is a credit to you. I respect you, acknowledge you and support you.
We are all out here - and I encourage everyone to use whatever online tools they use, whatever networks they have to help stop the rot.
An opportunity I agree to show the world the power blogging has in the world of learning - Lets Go and Make This Right:)
This list of comments is growing to be a who’s who of online learning, blogging and social networking. I was indignant in my first comment but am feeling more moderate now and heartened by Sheryl’s comment and think maybe yes this is the friction we had to have. The closure is amassing a lot of great commentary about and support for educational blogging and validation for the miniLegends themselves even if not able to offer voice at this time (take heart kids you are very much appreciated). Yes by all means let’s make kids as safe as we can but let’s have frank and open discussion about what that means today and how we can actually motivate, inspire and innovate too!
Al, as a school district administrator myself, but also, as a citizen of the United States, I have to confess that I’m a bit grateful your blog has been shut down and Australian children denied the opportunity to engage in global collaobrations and learning. Here’s why:
In the United States, blogs are distractions to the real job of educators to improve student achievement on accountability measures.
Blogs, as tools for online publishing, engage students with access to an authentic audience–that sometimes, let’s be honest, can be TOO authentic if you get what I mean–and may result in divergent learning that is, to be frank, unsuitable to preparing children for yesterday’s workforce. We want children who are literate, but lack that attitude that would hurt their careers and survival in our workforce…it is our goal to establish (and we’ve done an excellent job aside from your blogging efforts) a, what Paulo Friere calls, “domesticating” educational experience.
Secondly, you’ve no doubt read of books like Wikinomics, The World is Flat, and A Whole New Mind…these are books that speak to the interconnectedness of world affairs, peer productions–companies working in tandem across the globe to create a new product marketed to millions on the web–necessary in the future.
I’m honestly grateful that Australians will be barred from this world, prevented from joining peer producers in the world. To be honest, in the United States, there’s been a bit of concern that you Australians (not to mention New Zealanders) have been engaging too rapidly in this new virtual world. It’s a relief to know that you’ll be “dummed down” to join the United States in a slower realization.
Some argue that we need to distinguish between using technology as a way to empower students, facilitate communication/collaboration at a distance rather than using technology to domesticate our students, helping them achieve basic skills that won’t get them much farther anyways. But you see, in this competitive, global economy, disempowering YOUR children may allow mine to do well.
Al, take a hit for the opposite team. Rejoice that my students will whip your’s when it comes to working online, and that you won’t have distractions when drilling students in basic skills.
With appreciation for the lack of leadership in your part of the world,
Miguel Guhlin
Around the Corner-MGuhlin.net
http://mguhlin.net
U.S. School District Administrator
This is really disconcerting. I acknowledge that my information about the circumstances of the closure, and frankly the details of the way in which the exercise was actually conducted, are limited to the blog comments I’ve read about this project from around the web. However, nothing I’ve read so far justifies the response of closing down the site and investigating the creative influence behind it. If anything, partnering with Mr. Upton to address whatever perceived risks were thought to exist (and these themselves require critical scrutiny) may have been a proactive rational approach. But when it comes to heavy authoritarian intervention, it appears that DES has established a sadly common model.
This is and should be a serious concern for the citizens and families in Australia. It is their rights that apparently have no representation in such legal considerations. I’m no expert in Australian family law but this doesn’t pass the “duck test” which is universal.
Phillip Long, MIT
I only picked up on this blog because it was featured at the top of the edublogs site. Shutting down the site is going against all the things I am currently learning about the site! I do teach internet safety in my classrooms and based on what you’ve read and illustrated, I don’t see the issue. I sincerely hope it works out for you and your students.
I think the thing that disturbs me most about this, apart from the appalling example it sets, the terrible lack of respect for both the miniLegends and Al, and what appears to be the obvious knee-jerk childishness of the response by the authorities (presumably as the result of some sort of complaint, or sudden realisation that blogging ws happening), is that the quite predictable response of most school children I have ever known to such a despotic intervention is to use other means of continuing to do something they clearly enjoy and value.
So, now you have a situation where they are more likely to be accidentally putting themselves at risk using 3rd party tools than they were previously, and probably only with themselves as editors of the content. Not that there is much of a risk, but I do understand the administrative mindset which leads to closing things down to be on the safe side - where it actually results in greater safety, of course!
From around the world this issue has, painfully, raised awareness of the disparity between what educators are trying to achieve with their students and the pressures on institutions to manage their community. It is a great pity that Al has had to take the brunt of this but hopefully some good will come from the shared awareness of the issues raised. I do hope that he and his miniLegends will be back online as soon as possible.
As educators, surely we are supposed to teach students how to use these resources safely and responsibly. Blocking and shutting down seems counter productive. Al, I hope you and the minLegends are back on line shortly.
Patricia
PS: It is still 16th March here!!!
I am in total favour of ‘open’ systems where individuals have the freedom to expresses their views in a mature, polite and constructive way.
However in the real world we find individuals whose sole purpose is to case harm and distress.
As educators we need to ensure that content posted upon a blog or website, that we have posted, is monitored daily to ensure any such offensive material is removed as quickly as possible.
I believe we need to educate our young people about responsible behaviour when using the wonders of the virtual world, just as we have done with ‘information’ for hundreds of years.
It’s not censorship its teaching morality.
Keep up the good work, but be vigilant or should I say, use your common sense.
Cheers from sunny Orkney.
I stand with you, Al, even though I don’t have anything to say that most haven’t said. I want to commend you on asking for this shutdown of the minilegends to be the beginning of a standards based, official use of interactive resources in education for the 21st century.
I believe that this probably will be a good opportunity to educate administrators and government officials that a bit of change can be healthy.
I live in the USA, but one of my favorite movies is a spoof that so accurately fits your situation. Remember Scott and Fran, the young dancers in “Strictly Ballroom” who tried to compete in the dancing contests with Scott’s NEW dance steps. Hopefully, there will be people who will help develop educational practices to encompass the NEW interactive, educational opportunities.
I had only just discovered your blog and added your site to my links! I’m trying to encourage the use of blogs in my school and local area, and this was a great example. I hope you can get things sorted out and will be up and running again soon!
Hi Al and all of the minilegends - I just wanted to echo all of the thoughts above (and below) but also to say that your blog was one of the first that I ever came across. It inspired me to blog with my class and I just wanted to thankyou for that.
will be thinking of the minilegends this morning
How does a teacher explain to his students about this blog being shut down? Do we tell our students we don’t trust you, that you should be afraid of “what’s out there”, that sometimes “grown ups” overact. When I first heard about the mini-legends project I was so impressed that a teacher was giving his students the opportunity to have a “real” voice and say something important. Now I am left confused.
Minis - I am so sorry. I hope this situation doesn’t sour you to blogging. Find your voice and keep it strong. You have something important to say and the world needs to hear it. Thanks!
Hi Al,
I’d like to extend my support all the way from Brazil and add that many of my EFL teenage classes have been blogging since 2003.
Through blogging, they have reflected on their learning process, engaged in conversation, projects and international exchanges .
How are kids going to learn to view and relate to the world if they are prevented from learning how to be responsible, innovative, open and critical?
Hi Al & miniLegends
My thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Thanks for all your work in raising the bar in real world learning for many, many educators around the world.
I was looking at the DECS guidelines for schools on appropriate learning resources recently, and thinking these really need to be updated to reflect current realities. Perhaps a project that Computer Educators and Teacher Librarians should be discussing with DECS.
Some bits that seem relevant to this situation, although I suppose it hinges on a fine balance between freedom of expression and duty of care.
“Decisions about selection and access are best made within the individual preschool or school, where local issues can be taken into account. Staff, parents, caregivers, children (where appropriate) and students should have the opportunity to be involved in determining the selection and access policy of their preschool or school.” (p.7)
There are five basic premises that underlie selecting and providing access to books, films, computer software, online resources, videos and other learning materials in preschools and schools.
* The right to freedom of expression
* Duty of care
* Safe and secure environment
* Rights of parents and caregivers
* Balance and sensitivity
(p.8)
DECS, 2004. Choosing and using teaching and learning materials: Guidelines for preschools and schools
http://www.schools.sa.gov.au/policy/files/links/Choose_use_booklet_FA.pdf
I’m so sorry to hear of this. I’m just getting involved in the online education community myself. From all I’ve read, you are a dedicated teacher who has the best interests of students at heart. Online learning is the future of education, whether administrators like it or not. They can react in fear by shutting down the leaders such as yourself who are at the forefront, and reap the result of what follows; or they can work with educators like you to make sure that our children are ready for learning and participating in the 21st century. I hope they choose the latter. If they have the best interests of students at heart, they eventually will.
Hi Al,
I have been inspired by your work and the work of the mini legends, particularly the six word stories which you blogged about. The educational community and the minis themselves have obviously benefited from your creativity and commitment.
Hopefully this situation will sort itself out and some new inroads made into policy and risk management. It was never going to be easy to be a pioneer!
I have added a blog post on my blog to the support and eagerness for resolutions to these issues being voiced in the educational community.
Regards
Anne Paterson
I am very sorry to hear that the minilegends blog has been closed - I hope that it proves to be temporary. I have wondered about the use of student photos in a blog that is identified by school - it does make indiviual students identifiable. I know some teachers who have used things like Vokis when they want a visual or oral presence from the students on their blogs and wikis. Perhaps that is the i