Gender & the Blog: What would Summers Say?
Recently I found a really cool article noting the gender similarities and differences in blogs. The research was done by David Huffaker from Georgetown University. He studied more that 70 blogs and found that overall there were more similarities than differences in blogs. He also found that teens disclosed a lot of personal information including real names, personal home pages and locations. Girls tended to provide links to their homepages. Whereas, boys gave out their location more. Alas, I wonder how many parents and/or teachers actually knew about the teens blogs or talked with the students about on-line safety, which stresses the importance of using blogs in the classroom to educate and protect our children.
Huffaker also found that many teens like to personalize their blogs. Interestingly, he found that males used more emoticons, like smileys than females. (I would have figured that females would use more emoticons because a lot of the female students I have draw smileys on their papers and notes) Additionally, he found that many teens use their blogs as a form of self-therapy and finding connections.
Alas, I wonder what Summers would say about gender and blogs...hmmmm? Well, take care all. Here's the links to the study and the BBC article. Please feel free to comment and thank you for visiting Teachers, Blogs & the Law. : )
Study on Gender, Identity, and Language Use in Teenage Blogs
http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol10/issue2/huffaker.html
BBC Article: Teenagers reach out via weblogs
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3774389.stm
Yikes! Afraid to blog
According to the Perseus Developmental Corporation, 52% of all blogs are created and maintained by 13 to 19-year-olds. This is especially interesting to me because I am a middle school teacher. Thus, I wonder why more research isn't being done in the areas of blogs and the classroom. For that matter, there is very little groundwork on the topic of what the law says regarding teachers and blogs.
It is my contention that fear of blogging in the classroom actually stems from fear of rebuttle from parents. Amoung many of my teachers friends I've noticed there is an underlying fear of over zealous parents steppinig in and threatning with legal suit. (See the Time article link below on many parents overstepping teacher's boundries. The first day it came out it was sold out like hotcakes and copies were placed in all the teacher's mailboxes.)
On that note, it often seems that teachers are expeted to run politically correct classrooms and not offend anybody. But how is real world learning to take place when your so boxed in there's no room for debate and exploration through new teaching methods and mediums? I say if we are ever to help bridge the digital divide we must incorporate more technology though out our curriculum and to do that we must first eliminate the fear that so many teachers have. Thus, it may take a few teachers to pioneer out into unknown pedgogy to help pave the way. Our teenage students are obviously venturing there...out there in blogosphere...and they're treading with or without us.
Time Article: What Teachers Hate About Parents
http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101050221/
Kids and Internet Safety
Recently I gave a refreasher course teaching internet safety. It was all sparked because I was reminded of the importance of it when one of my 7th grade students posted pictures of a slumber party she had on her blog. She included student names and the name of our school. She was so proud of her blog and couldn't wait to show it to me. Thus, when I saw it I was thinking, "Yikes!" and had to have a little talk with her. I told her how proud I was of her creativity and praised her on her efforts. Then I shared with her about internet saftey. At first, it was a little difficult getting the concepts across to her because she's only been in America for a few months (she's one of my ESOL students) but then thankfully she got it. Therefore, I've learned when introducing a new technology medium to my students that they wil naturally personalize it. Thus, we as teachers must be ardent in reinforcing internet safety for our young explorers.
P.S. Another tip for students and teachers is to use a pen name when blogging. That way it keeps everything confidential. : )
The following information is from the from The Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) at the Stevens Institute of Technology Website. I think this information is very helpful to teachers. Alas, I learned something new about Acceptable Use Policies (AUP). I didn't even know about AUPs. At our school we have the kid's parents sign a permission slip to let the kids use the internet at school. However, they are not contracts with guidelines and consequences. I think this is a great idea and wonder why more schools (mine included) don't use AUPs. Again, please feel free to comment and thank you for visiting Teachers, Blogs & the Law. : )
Acceptable Use Policies (AUP) - These are basically "contracts" that outline how students can use the technology, what they cannot do with it and the consequences for violating the policy. These should include school web pages and the content that is allowed on them. AUPs should be signed by an authorized representative of the school, students and parents so that all concerned parties are aware of the policy.
No Student Names - We recommend that when referring to students on a web page that either their names not be used or only their first names be posted. Some schools have found the use of "nicknames" to be an effective way of dealing with this issue.
Student Pictures - Although we do encourage the posting of student work that may include student pictures, we strongly encourage teachers to get written permission to post student pictures and work before placing it onto the web. We have found that most schools already have such permission slips for use when student pictures are placed in newspapers. These can often be re-worded to cover the issue of posting to the web.
School or Classroom Web Pages - It is important that teachers and students recognize that a web site that refers to their school or district represents them in cyberspace just as a school newsletter or yearbook represents the school in their community. Because of this they need to respect the interests of the schools system and post only appropriate materials to the web site. What is "appropriate" regarding content should be clearly defined in the schools AUP .
CIESE Internet Safety for Teachers and Students
http://www.k12science.org/internetsafety.html
Kid Safety on the Internet
http://www.ou.edu/oupd/kidsafe/start.htm
Web Wise Kids
http://www.webwisekids.com/
A Parents Guide to Internet Safety
http://www.familyguidebook.com/
Blogs: People wanna know!
Hey guys,
Did y’all know that Merriam-Webster said "blog" was the word that people have asked to be defined or explained most often over the last 12 months? The word will now appear in the 2005 version of Merriam-Webster's printed dictionary. Check out the BBC article on the word “blog” which will be gracing your dictionary pages soon. I wonder if it’ll be a new spelling word in elementary schools?
Alas, I’m slowly but surely collecting information regarding teachers, blogs and the law through a literature search and soon will have more to post for you about that. So, far I found that there is a lot more blogging going on in UK classrooms than American classroooms. Thus, I'm wondering if the law or many teachers' fears of getting sued has something to do with it. Hmmm...For now though, I've included a couple of websites that I thought were interesting. Have a great day. Please feel free to comment and thank you for visiting Teachers, Blogs & the Law. : )
BBC News Article on “Blog” & the Dictionary
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4059291.stm
Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/KML/KEEP/index.htm
Blah, Blah, Blog
http://isg09.casalemedia.com/V2/39831/40985/
Educational Bloggers Network
http://isg09.casalemedia.com/V2/39831/40985/
Edu-Tech News
http://weblogs.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=weblogs&zu=http://www.jemetc.com/edtech/
Rights in an On-line World
Hi guys,
In my quest for answers regarding Teachers, Blogs & the Law I came across some interesting websites with articles about rights in an on-line world. Thus, what are blogger rights...especailly for teachers? What are student rights with regard to blogging? Can students express themselves and talk about schools much like many bloggers talk about their companies...or would the kids get kicked out of school much like many adults bloggers are getting fired from their employers? What if little Jenny slams a teacher for a failing grade...is that slander? How's this all gonna work and what exactly are the rights of individuals in an on-line world? Below are some websites regarding on-line rights and the lack there of. Please feel free to comment. Thanks again for visiting Teachers, Blogs & the Law. : )
Here’s an exerpt from the article writen by Simson L. Garfinkel:
“Despite the self-appointed legal scholars that hold court on Usenet, there have been precious few actual court cases upon which to base precedent and create a grounded legal theory. But SysLaw is the best resource available today for anyone who surfs the Net and wants to avoid being involved in the groundbreaking legal cases that are sure to surface.”
Wired Magazine Article on SysLaw
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/2.06/streetcred.html?pg=17
Book Info:
SysLaw, Second Edition, by Lance Rose, Esq. and Jonathan Wallace, Esq.
NetLaw: Your Rights in an On-line World
http://md.hudora.de/blog/guids/69/29/200301010053249543904.html
Worldwide Water Cooler: Can you be fired for talking about your boss on line? (Article)
http://www.legalaffairs.org/issues/March-April-2004/scene_duhigg_marapr04.html
Blogger Fear (BBC News Article)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4319715.stm
Where are the laws?
Hey guys,
I've been doing a lot of research about teachers, blogs and the law via the web and it seems like there really isn't that much out there. Therefore, I've decided to contact a few law schools directly to inquire with some of the professors regarding the law for teachers and blogs. I'll keep you posted with my findings.
Also, in my search I came across some interesting websites and wanted to share them with ya'll. They are below. Take care and thanks for visiting Teachers, Blogs & the Law. : )
MiddleWeb
http://www.middleweb.com/mw/aaDiaries.html
Edblogg The Read/Write Web in the Classroom
http://www.weblogg-ed.com/
Bud the Teacher Blog:Guidelines for teachers
Teachers with blogs who want to keep their jobs
http://budtheteacher.typepad.com/bud_the_teacher/teacher_blogging/index.html
Hipteacher Blog
http://hipteacher.typepad.com/schoolblog/
Edublog
http://anvil.gsu.edu/EduBlogInsights/
A New Adventure Blog
http://www.visitmyclass.com/blogs/wenzloff/
Lehmann’s Log
http://www.beaconschool.org/~clehmann/MT/archives/003007.php
EdBlogger Praxis
http://educational.blogs.com/edbloggerpraxis/2004/01/eproforg_an_onl.html
Harvard Website Regarding Weblogs in Education
Hey guys,
I just found an awesome website about Weblogs in Education from the fine folks at Harvard. Go Crimson! Please check it out. It's very informative for all us teachers. I especially thought that David Carraher's comments on the "firewall around schools" and the effects it is having on research and teacher education programs was really interesting and poignant. Thus, it reinforces notions of the need for teachers to take on the dual roles of scholars as well educators to bridge the theory to practice divide, which will help to improve our pedagogy as a whole.
Well, take care ya'll and please feel free to comment. Thank you again for visiting Teachers, Blogs & the Law. : )
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/carraher/stories/storyReader$6
Rationale
Hey guys,
I’ve been thinking about the whole idea of letting the kids come up with the guidelines. I know many teachers are skeptical on sharing power in the classroom. Thus, I thought I’d further explain my ideologies for this decision (i.e. my rationale). I feel that it is important that kids to share in cultivating the classroom climate. Therefore, I would like to extend this shared power (i.e. between student and teacher) within cyber culture as well. I feel this is especially important at the middle school level creating a sense of autonomy with students, which is in line with Erikson’s Developmental Stages.
At the beginning of each school year, I’ve found that kids typically know what appropriate school behavior is. This is evident when we decide our class rules. I feel by the kids taking part in the negotiating process the class rules together it allows their voices to be heard on what kind of learning community they wish to partake and would like this collaboration to take place within the context of their on-line writing environment as well. Besides, it will be interesting to see what kind of guidelines kids choose relating to written expression via their blog. If you have any thoughts on this topic please feel free to comment. Below are some more related websites. Again, thanks again for visiting Teachers, Blogs & the Law. : )
Using Blogs in the Classroom
http://husd4-tr.blogspot.com/
Hu, X. (2004). Computer Technology Enhanced Reading and Writing: A Review of Research of L1 Instruction and Its Implication on L2. Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2004(1), 5030-5035. [Online]. Available: http://dl.aace.org/15282
Reflections on Blog Guidelines
Hey guys,
Just some reflections on my pursuit of finding out more on Teachers, Blogs & the Law. It seems that almost all my fellow teachers concur that there needs to be guidelines for using blogs in the classroom.
Thus, I ask myself, 'What is the teacher's role in determining those guidelines?' Well, it is my contention that it all comes down to the purpose of the blog. Hence, since the purpose of my first blog in the classroom will be an analysis of the written expression via an on-line journal with middle schoolers (used for a graduate language class) I don't really want to censor my students' writing because I feel that would alter the authenticity of the written expression, thereby, making the research less noteworthy.
Hence, what I've decided to do for this study is to let the kids determine their own guidelines for writing in a blogosphere. I feel this would empower them and allows them to take ownership of their own writing through the medium of the blog, which is more in line with the nature of a blog (i.e. freedom of speech).
Also, before I get the blog up and running I will have each student have permission slips signed to give the parents a heads up and to cover myself of any possible legal ramifications. I'll keep working on the parameters of my research design and keep you posted on The Teacher, the Blog & the Law.
In addition, here's an article related to corporations, the blog and the law. Have a good day and thank you for visiting Teachers, Blogs & the Law. : )
http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005203100301&source=email
Teachers, Blogs & The Law
Education is a social process. Education is growth. Education is, not a preparation for life; education is life itself.
-John Dewey
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears...Welcome! Ever consider using a blog in your classroom? These are some of the questions that many teachers (myself included) ask themselves. How would you go about teaching in a blogosphere? What does the research say? What are the laws? Should we as teachers censor our students on-line journals? What are the guidelines with blogs in the classroom and/or should there be any?...Hence, there are many questions regarding the pedagogy of blogging and I'm hoping we can all figure them out together. This blog is created as apart of a graduate educational technology at the University of Florida. Please feel free to comment on teachers, blogs, & the law. Thanks so much! : )
