Jounal 3: Keeping the Peace (NETS-T II, IV, V)

Levinson, M. (2010, February). Keeping the Peace. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(5), Retrieved from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/201002#pg18

Summary: The article discusses a lesson learned from Nueva Middle School in Hillsborough, California which launched a one-to-one program (one laptop for every child) in 2007. An issue arose on instant messaging splitting the school into two camps of students and parents. After teachers found students abused the use of video chatting (iChat) during class time and some parents became concerned about the appropriateness of the technology at home, the school blocked iChatting on the school laptops. There was a severe outcry from the students and some parents against the ban. Levinson’s lesson to his readers is to better prepare the community (students about the new technology) with open communication between all. Opportunities for communication have been put in place some of which include a boot camp for incoming sixth graders, a partnership with Common Sense Media, and parent education workshops. Avoiding having to take away the technology prior to implementation of the one-to-one initiative would have also avoided an unnecessary uproar of opposing concerns from the community.

Q1: Why did the school decide to have video chatting at the get-go? Most new laptops come standard with web cams—to give user the ability to carry out web chatting. There are several free on-line web chatting options available. The problem wasn’t with having the feature it was that the Nueva Middle School community (teachers, administrators, parents and students) did not research or discuss the ramifications of having such technology available to the students. Having the ability to chat visually in real time between students can create powerful communication. The avoidable backlash from the lack of communication within the school community prior to releasing the technology to the students is the lesson that the author Levinson is trying to convey.

Q2: What has the school put in place to avoid such problems in the future? Nueva Middle School has formed a partnership with Common Sense Media, a not-for-profit organization that provides information and tools that allow families to make informed choices and an opportunity to voice their concerns. Leaders, from Common Sense Media, and teachers work together with students to introduce them to the creative possibilities of the new technology and the ethics of having access to such technology. In addition, the school has put in other safeguards in place such as a boot camp for incoming sixth graders, training sessions for online research, faculty training, parent education workshops, an acceptable-use policy, a limited use IM program and a dynamic and open approach to handling future issues.