Comments on: Al Upton and The MiniLegends Update — What’s Happening http://suewaters.com/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/ Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:40:42 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: aeu http://suewaters.com/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/comment-page-1/#comment-1654 aeu Thu, 08 May 2008 20:28:37 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/#comment-1654 [...] to discuss the report prepared by DECS Special Investigations and what needs to be done to get the Ahttp://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/Vic teachers to be nation's highest paid Tenterfield StarVictoria's government school teachers will [...] [...] to discuss the report prepared by DECS Special Investigations and what needs to be done to get the Ahttp://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/Vic teachers to be nation’s highest paid Tenterfield StarVictoria’s government school teachers will [...]

]]> By: Sue Waters http://suewaters.com/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/comment-page-1/#comment-1471 Sue Waters Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:27:59 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/#comment-1471 @Anne (Murcha) I think it is beyond all of us that each State/Territory has it's own policies and guidelines; with so much variation in the level of support for teachers and how many sites are blocked. Would be good if PD was being conducted in your State that teachers from other areas of Australia were invited to join in? That way everyone could benefit. @Marie My understanding in Queensland for both schools and TAFE is the it's all controlled by a central body. I think it's a shame that innovation is being constrained by regulations. I was on the Firewall and Broadband project latest that had ICT manager from Queensland on the community - wonder if worth getting the manager of the project to talk with them? @Anne (Murcha) I think it is beyond all of us that each State/Territory has it’s own policies and guidelines; with so much variation in the level of support for teachers and how many sites are blocked. Would be good if PD was being conducted in your State that teachers from other areas of Australia were invited to join in? That way everyone could benefit.

@Marie My understanding in Queensland for both schools and TAFE is the it’s all controlled by a central body. I think it’s a shame that innovation is being constrained by regulations. I was on the Firewall and Broadband project latest that had ICT manager from Queensland on the community – wonder if worth getting the manager of the project to talk with them?

]]> By: Marie http://suewaters.com/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/comment-page-1/#comment-1470 Marie Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:31:38 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/#comment-1470 From my experience in a Queensland school, we have to stay within the parameters of the The Learning Place an online environment set up by the Dept of Ed and Training for Education Queensland staff (state schools only). It has a blog within it that can be used, but we can't use anything outside that. It is all password protected, outsiders can't come in, and we can't display anything to anyone outside EQ. Different rules for different States. From my experience in a Queensland school, we have to stay within the parameters of the The Learning Place an online environment set up by the Dept of Ed and Training for Education Queensland staff (state schools only). It has a blog within it that can be used, but we can’t use anything outside that. It is all password protected, outsiders can’t come in, and we can’t display anything to anyone outside EQ.

Different rules for different States.

]]> By: murcha http://suewaters.com/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/comment-page-1/#comment-1468 murcha Sat, 05 Apr 2008 05:47:35 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/#comment-1468 Further, to my above comment, another fact that intrigues me is the ready availability of google earth/ maps, phone book indexes, interent searches etc which could bring up far more private information that could have wider reaching safety issues. From a personal experience, the use of avatars and lack of phone numbers, specific addresses and surnames should ensure these students are as safe as any 'ordinary' teacher and classroom can make them. Further, to my above comment, another fact that intrigues me is the ready availability of google earth/ maps, phone book indexes, interent searches etc which could bring up far more private information that could have wider reaching safety issues. From a personal experience, the use of avatars and lack of phone numbers, specific addresses and surnames should ensure these students are as safe as any ‘ordinary’ teacher and classroom can make them.

]]> By: murcha http://suewaters.com/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/comment-page-1/#comment-1467 murcha Sat, 05 Apr 2008 05:43:52 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/#comment-1467 Australia is divided into 7 states. Victoria rests alongside SA, yet, the education department in Vic through its subdivisions, Student Learning Programs Division and the Education Channel, has so far been fully supportive of students blogging and working on collaborative projects in this state. An active and keen interest has been taken and indeed, we are starting online professional development, using elluminate, next week, to help other teachers and other schools get started. I will have a think about the support I can offer Al through our experiences and comment appropriately on his blog and are rather intrigued by the two different approaches. Australia is divided into 7 states. Victoria rests alongside SA, yet, the education department in Vic through its subdivisions, Student Learning Programs Division and the Education Channel, has so far been fully supportive of students blogging and working on collaborative projects in this state. An active and keen interest has been taken and indeed, we are starting online professional development, using elluminate, next week, to help other teachers and other schools get started. I will have a think about the support I can offer Al through our experiences and comment appropriately on his blog and are rather intrigued by the two different approaches.

]]> By: Sue Waters http://suewaters.com/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/comment-page-1/#comment-1465 Sue Waters Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:45:11 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/#comment-1465 @DD if the push came to the crunch I don't believe that your District policies would cover it because unfortunately Departments see a distinction between District and school web sites, and web 2.0 activities. It's a bit like it okay to put photos on a School website which potentially identifies where the school is located and their name but not on blogs. Trouble is none of us want to rock the boat so instead let it go. We need to stop letting it go :) @DD if the push came to the crunch I don’t believe that your District policies would cover it because unfortunately Departments see a distinction between District and school web sites, and web 2.0 activities. It’s a bit like it okay to put photos on a School website which potentially identifies where the school is located and their name but not on blogs.

Trouble is none of us want to rock the boat so instead let it go. We need to stop letting it go :)

]]> By: Daffy Duck http://suewaters.com/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/comment-page-1/#comment-1464 Daffy Duck Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:10:40 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/#comment-1464 Our district doesn't have specific policies regarding various forms of Internet activity. Rather, all Internet activity is addressed in general. The best explanation of our policies can be found on a post I recently wrote about Ustream (Jethro Jones and his experiences) <a href="http://drapestakes.blogspot.com/2008/02/ustream-just-another-thing-to-worry.html" rel="nofollow">found here</a>. Blogging with students would fall under the same guidelines. Our district doesn’t have specific policies regarding various forms of Internet activity. Rather, all Internet activity is addressed in general. The best explanation of our policies can be found on a post I recently wrote about Ustream (Jethro Jones and his experiences) found here. Blogging with students would fall under the same guidelines.

]]> By: Sue Waters http://suewaters.com/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/comment-page-1/#comment-1462 Sue Waters Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:41:12 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/#comment-1462 Dear Daffy Duck (aka Darren Draper) - it's such a hard issue and their key concerns are to make sure everyone is protected against all risks. What policies/guidelines exist in your district for use of blogging with students. Dear Daffy Duck (aka Darren Draper) – it’s such a hard issue and their key concerns are to make sure everyone is protected against all risks. What policies/guidelines exist in your district for use of blogging with students.

]]> By: Daffy Duck http://suewaters.com/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/comment-page-1/#comment-1457 Daffy Duck Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:40:47 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2008/04/02/al-upton-and-the-minilegends-update-whats-happening/#comment-1457 Thanks for the summary, Sue. I'm impressed with the kind of balanced discussion they are hoping to have because, in my opinion, that is exactly what it takes: Balance. And a slender tight-rope they walk, indeed, when trying to please every party involved - especially when the safety of children is in question. Funny they don't want any input from outsiders. And here I thought we had all the answers. : ) Thanks for the summary, Sue. I’m impressed with the kind of balanced discussion they are hoping to have because, in my opinion, that is exactly what it takes: Balance. And a slender tight-rope they walk, indeed, when trying to please every party involved – especially when the safety of children is in question.

Funny they don’t want any input from outsiders. And here I thought we had all the answers. : )

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