The Charter schools I work for have all the computers blocked so that students can not pull up YouTube at all. Some how my students always find a way to get around the block and pull them up anyway. If they are caught the principal suspends them from school for three days on the first offense. In my class as long as students are using YouTube in a productive way that can help explain a educational point I'm fine with it.
As far as Wikipedia goes I have no problem with students using it as long as they have at least three other references with it to verify that the information is accurate. Anyone can post information so I want them to make sure they have more than one source especially if it is Wikipedia. All sources need to be backed up with more than one reference no matter what it is. I have discovered just because it is on the internet does not mean it is the truth and I want them to know that as well.
Hi Andrea,
ReplyDeleteI also feel that students should use more than one resource when using Wikipedia. As I mentioned in my blog, my district also blocks YouTube. However, I was surprised to learn (from your blog), that students find ways around the block and are able to access YouTube anyway. I guess where there's a will, there's a way.
Students can find ways around anything, to be honest. Honestly if they don't know how, they can always find someone that will or they can always Google a solution. They will definitely find a way if they're determined.
DeleteYou would be surprised what students can do when they put their minds to it that's why I continue to push them to use their brain as much as possible. I stop wasting my time punishing them for thinking as long as they use the knowledge productively.
DeleteWOW, 3 day suspension for using You Tube, is that true even if the use was for educational purposes?
ReplyDeleteI definitely think the three day suspension is a little harsh if they were using it for educational purposes.
DeleteYes Barbra the principal was very upset with students going on sites that they had no business going on so this was her solution but if you were a teacher she knew was monitoring your class most of the time she would not say anything if the teacher was able to make sure the student did not return to a forbidden site.
DeleteI totally understand that you personally don't have an issue with your students not having a problem with using Youtube as long as they're using it correctly. Perhaps other teachers feel the same way and maybe eventually, your school with look into the issue and allow for some leeway regarding the use of Youtube since a lot of teachers do post and use it for educational purposes.
ReplyDeleteWe have tried to convince her of that however she still has all the computers blocked from the YouTube site but now I can introduce a lot of educational sites that she can open for the students to use.
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