Comments on: Masked commentors http://kwhobbes.edublogs.org/2007/03/13/masked-commentors/ Discussions on education and learning Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:15:24 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Alan Stange http://kwhobbes.edublogs.org/2007/03/13/masked-commentors/comment-page-1/#comment-764 Alan Stange Sat, 17 Mar 2007 01:35:47 +0000 http://kwhobbes.edublogs.org/2007/03/13/masked-commentors/#comment-764 When I ran a school blog the majority of the comments were anonymous and not to the point. Naturally I had to moderate them. even so I like the approach. When I ran a school blog the majority of the comments were anonymous and not to the point. Naturally I had to moderate them. even so I like the approach.

]]> By: Brad Davis http://kwhobbes.edublogs.org/2007/03/13/masked-commentors/comment-page-1/#comment-763 Brad Davis Sat, 17 Mar 2007 01:10:22 +0000 http://kwhobbes.edublogs.org/2007/03/13/masked-commentors/#comment-763 I am wrestling with the idea to include a school blog on the school website myself. I have the pleasure of working in a district were people who are unhappy or disgruntled would rather make their name known to the public than go around remaining anonymous. However, students in the school are just trying out their wings a bit when it comes to using websites and blogs to get a message out that t hey are unhappy with an administrative decision. I am torn though, on the one hand it is what we are teaching our kids to do, stand up for themselves and to not blindly accept things in life as they are. On the other hand, their is a fine line between voicing your opinion and following the right channels and being disrespectful and feeling you can say whatever you want under the security blanket of anonymity. As things progress and this platform becomes the norm, I am sure their will be policy and protocol that follows it, until then it is important to use this as a teaching moment, as you said, and try to get students and communities to understand how important and powerful words are and that once you use them they are awfully hard, if not impossible, too take back. Especially when they are in print for the world to see. Brad I am wrestling with the idea to include a school blog on the school website myself. I have the pleasure of working in a district were people who are unhappy or disgruntled would rather make their name known to the public than go around remaining anonymous. However, students in the school are just trying out their wings a bit when it comes to using websites and blogs to get a message out that t hey are unhappy with an administrative decision. I am torn though, on the one hand it is what we are teaching our kids to do, stand up for themselves and to not blindly accept things in life as they are. On the other hand, their is a fine line between voicing your opinion and following the right channels and being disrespectful and feeling you can say whatever you want under the security blanket of anonymity.

As things progress and this platform becomes the norm, I am sure their will be policy and protocol that follows it, until then it is important to use this as a teaching moment, as you said, and try to get students and communities to understand how important and powerful words are and that once you use them they are awfully hard, if not impossible, too take back. Especially when they are in print for the world to see.

Brad

]]> By: Dean Shareski http://kwhobbes.edublogs.org/2007/03/13/masked-commentors/comment-page-1/#comment-737 Dean Shareski Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:29:57 +0000 http://kwhobbes.edublogs.org/2007/03/13/masked-commentors/#comment-737 Sounds like a discussion you need to have with kids...teachable moment. I think the idea of digital integrity may be one of the most important skills we can teach. Sounds like a discussion you need to have with kids…teachable moment. I think the idea of digital integrity may be one of the most important skills we can teach.

]]> By: Vicki Davis http://kwhobbes.edublogs.org/2007/03/13/masked-commentors/comment-page-1/#comment-733 Vicki Davis Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:44:38 +0000 http://kwhobbes.edublogs.org/2007/03/13/masked-commentors/#comment-733 The reporter admitted to me that I was included because my name was catchy -- not because blog anonymously. She shouldn't have used it but she did! So, I am very open about my name -- yet another example of people stretching the truth for a story. The reporter admitted to me that I was included because my name was catchy — not because blog anonymously. She shouldn’t have used it but she did! So, I am very open about my name — yet another example of people stretching the truth for a story.

]]> By: Barbara http://kwhobbes.edublogs.org/2007/03/13/masked-commentors/comment-page-1/#comment-732 Barbara Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:59:40 +0000 http://kwhobbes.edublogs.org/2007/03/13/masked-commentors/#comment-732 I certainly agree with your concerns. I have not yet made a public blog for the school community although many do know about my professional reflections blog. I am sure you have explored this but I think my school blog will be set to only allow registered users to comment. I will have to think about that. Your experience also highlights for me the need to not only provide training to our students on ethical and acceptable use but also to reach out and educate the parent community. Before technology I still had to communicate about anonymous complaints and make it clear to the community that if the letter came with no name it would be filed in the trash can. On a more positive note I also made clear that I have an open door policy as I am sure you do too. Integrity as you say is the key and its should be a key value for our students and families alike. I certainly agree with your concerns. I have not yet made a public blog for the school community although many do know about my professional reflections blog. I am sure you have explored this but I think my school blog will be set to only allow registered users to comment. I will have to think about that. Your experience also highlights for me the need to not only provide training to our students on ethical and acceptable use but also to reach out and educate the parent community.

Before technology I still had to communicate about anonymous complaints and make it clear to the community that if the letter came with no name it would be filed in the trash can. On a more positive note I also made clear that I have an open door policy as I am sure you do too.

Integrity as you say is the key and its should be a key value for our students and families alike.

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