Unit 7

• Give a brief review of the research you found on these sites.
Wow.  These are great resources of research that shows how computers and technology have a significant role in education.  Everything from one to one research to what content areas benefit more than other because of technology.  The main thing I found from all of these websites is that there is research that can back up that technology it beneficial to the educational process.

• What are your reactions to this research?
Although it is a bit overwhelming to see all of at once, there are bits and pieces that can certainly be used to help a school district defend the importance and funding or technology.  The expense of a one to one initiative is something that will always be hard to sell to the community.  Perhaps a happy medium is something that can happen.  The reality is that technology is used in almost every career opportunity out there and it is becoming ever more important that K-12 education keep up and give the students the proper technology background and use preparing them for the career field of their choice.

• Is this information helpful in justifying the use and expense of technology in our schools?
I think this information is helpful  to show the community that technology is necessary.  However, I strongly believe that the community members and taxpayers would have a better sense of the need and situation if they were to witness first hand how the technology is used for educational purposes.  When they hear technology, many think of games, inappropriate websites...etc.  If it is shown how we use the technology and that the student are being educated on how to properly use it, then this will justify to many the need for it.

Technology Policies

Does your school district have an Internet Acceptable Use Policy?
Does your school district have an Internet Publishing Policy?
Does your school district have a Distance Education Policy?

Yes we do have all of the policies listed above. 

What does your district need to do to get these policies up-to-date?

We need to make sure we continually reviewing the policies and comparing them with other districts.  It will also be important and a challenge staying up to speed with all of the different changes happening with technology and society.  It seems that the students seem to be one step ahead and they are the only ones that know it.  We need to be aware and possibly use a student's perspective to compliment our expertise as educators and administrators to develop the best policy possible.

Copyright

Assignment 1: In your blog, reflect on these questions concerning copyright.
• Does your school district have a Copyright Policy?
Here are our policies regarding Copyright:

Software Libraries

Software is provided to students as a curricular resource. No staff member may install, upload or download software without the expressed consent of the system administrator. Any software having the purpose of damaging other members’ accounts or the District network (e.g., computer viruses) is specifically prohibited. The system administrator’s, at their sole discretion, further reserve the right to immediately terminate the account or take other action consistent with the District’s discipline code of a member who misuses the software libraries. Licensed software is defined as software programs for which the Sioux Valley School District has purchased either single or network licenses or is freeware available for use without the purchase of a specific license (i.e. Adobe

Acrobat Reader). No unlicensed software shall be loaded onto District computers.

Copyrighted Material

Copyrighted material must not be placed on any system connected to the network without the author’s permission. Only the owner(s) or persons they specifically authorize may upload copyrighted material to the system. Members may download copyrighted material for their own use. Any member may also non-commercially redistribute a copyrighted program with the expressed permission of the owner or authorized

person. Permission must be specified in the document, on the system, or must be obtained directly from the author.

Peer-to-Peer Sharing (P2P) Services

The use of P2P services (i.e. Kazaa, Morpheus, Grokster, etc.) is by nature used to download copyrighted material without the consent of the copyright owner. The use of these services is not appropriate for an educational facility and is therefore prohibited.

Use of recordable CD-ROM drives and other portable drives

Use of recordable CD-ROM drives is to enhance the education of students and to allow greater storage on this media. Drives are not to be used to make duplicate copies of copyrighted material (e.g. programs, music CDs) without the expressed permission of the copyright holder. The system administrator’s, at their sole discretion, further reserve the right to immediately terminate the account or take other action consistent with the District’s discipline code of a member who misuses this capability.

Public Posting Areas (Message Boards/Usenet Groups)

UseNet messages are posted from systems connected to the Internet around the world and the Sioux Valley School District administrators have no control of the content of messages posted from these other systems. To best utilize system resources, the system administrators will determine which UseNet groups are most applicable to

the curricular needs of the school district and will carry these groups on the local system. The system administrators, at their sole discretion, may remove messages posted locally that are deemed to be unacceptable or in violation of the Terms and Conditions. The system administrators, at their sole discretion, further reserve the right to immediately terminate the account of a member who misuses the message boards or UseNet groups.

Real-time, interaction communication areas

The use of real-time conference and instant messaging features available on many systems is seen as inappropriate use of time and resources and in many cases used for non-educational purposes. The use of these features is therefore deemed inappropriate. Real time audio/video connections drastically reduce the bandwidth of the District’s Internet connection and therefore are prohibited except when performed as a class project on a centrally located computer and are coordinated with the Network Administrator as to not interfere with the needs of other staff members.

Electronic Mail

Electronic Mail (e-mail) is a private message sent by or to a member in correspondence with another person having Internet mail access. The Sioux Valley School District provides e-mail services to staff members for use in performance their professional responsibilities. E-mail is not to be used to send/receive information which would be considered abusive, profane or sexually offensive to an average person, or which, without the approval of the system administrators, contains any advertising or any solicitation of other members to use goods or services. The user agrees not to use the facilities and capabilities of the system to conduct any business or solicit the performance of any activity prohibited by law. Spam is defined to be unsolicited emails of nonprofessional content sent to multiple addresses in a user’s address book. The forwarding of this material puts a great strain on the email resources of the District. While the Sioux Valley School District cannot control the receipt of such emails, the forwarding of such material such as chain letter/emails is prohibited. Electronic Mail (e-mail) is not a secure communication and can be read by unknown parties and therefore no confidential material should be sent by this means. The system administrators, at their sole discretion, further reserve the right to monitor, read, and reproduce any messages that are using the District facilities. The system administrators, at their sole discretion, reserve the right to immediately terminate the account of a member who misuses e-mail services and to deal with the misuse in accordance with District discipline policies.

• Does that Copyright Policy need to be updated to reflect technology issues?
I think the above material covers most of our areas of technology that we have. 
• Does your school district follow copyright laws?
I would say that we follow the copyright laws and if they are ever violated, it would most likely be without knowing that is a violation. 
• What are your feelings about copyright laws?
There are many good things about copyright laws however, many people are in the dark about the specifics.  There are times when people record or copy things for educational use and unfortunately people think that this is okay.  The fact of the mater is, that when copyrights get abused badly and money is made from copying items, that is when it seems to have a illegal impact.  There is more to copyrights then many people know and that is what leads to the major law breaking issues with regards to copyright.

Quiz #1

1) Why should a school district have a website?  What should be on that site?

    I believe that the website is the bridge linking the community, parents and students to everything thing that is going on within the school.  Society is all about convenience and a school website is an easy way to fit this need.  At the touch of a button the numerous resources can be accessed and thus creating an involvement that was not there in the past years.
    The content that goes on a school website is something that often overlooked.  Many people think that everything possible should be able to be accessed there.  I have a hard time with some areas of the school website that could possibly give too much information to those that may use it in a negative way.  By posting class schedules, handbooks (that include lock down procedures)...you may be enabling someone that is looking to harm students or staff.  Among some of the useful tools are: Grade Books, School/Lunch calendars, school announcements, homework hotlines, results of school activities...just to name a few.   School websites are definitely a tool that is useful in they are managed and monitored efficiently.

2) How do administrators and school boards keep a current vision of technology and the future? 
    I feel the NSBA website and its resources provide a lot of information to help schools to include administrators and board members on the big picture when it comes to technology.  The technology committee in a school can really lean on the resources provided by these two site to help their vision to facilitate the technology into something that can be applicable to the education of students.
    As we have touched on in class, too often the time and money is spent on what we need in classroom for educational purposes and we oversee the importance of know how to use the technology effectively and to be able to use it in our classroom and throughout the future.

3) What information from the CEO Forum website is most useful?  How can that information be used?
   The different visions that are laid out to address the area of 21st Century learning skills are spelled out in the Ed tool kit.  The StAr chart is perfect for being able to assess your school's snapshot with regards to technology and how well it is being utilized.  This in turn, will help to address a school's needs, wants and where they fall presently. 
    I have a concern of what areas of technology we need to be focused on.   This research used in the CEO Forum clearly gives schools a better sense of direction to where they should be at with technology in education.


4) What are Web 2.0 tools? How can these tools be used by schools to enhance classroom instruction?

    These tools include blogs, wiki spaces and podcasts.  I am sure that there will be more in the future to go along with these tools.  The main thing that they do is provide a better connection of communication between the students and the learning environment.  Web 2.0 tools also enhance the methods of delivering instruction. 
    These areas are sure to take off in the future even more than now.  The students have a good background and an even greater interest in technology.  This allows them to be able to connect even more so than in the past.
5) What is CyberBullying?  What can school do to help prevent CyberBullying?

     CyberBullying is a form of bullying that involves the use of some form of technology.  It can be done via cell phone, email, or internet.  I am sure there are other ways that will be soon discovered that people bully each other using the internet. 
     I believe the best to way to prevent CyberBullying is to educate people about it.  We need to educate the students, staff, parents and everyone involved.  Some people are doing it and do not even know that it is being done.  Others do not think that it is a problem at all.  By educating everyone involved about CyberBullying, it helps us use our time better towards learning in the classroom and addressing knowledge based areas.


I hope this is long and thorough enough, as I lost half of it while doing it the first time.  Let me know if I need to resubmit anything.