1) We can include any photo/video of a student in a post so long as we have the normal privacy approval signed by parents on enrolment.
2) We never include any photo/video of any student showing their face on a post.
3) We include photos/videos of students only on secure posts where we can identify all persons with access to the site
4) We include photos/videos of students only when we have explicit approval from student and parent for that inclusion.

5) We never include student names in photos/videos
6) We include only student Christian names in photos/videos
7) We name students only if approval is explicitly given in writing by student and parent.

Many other issues still to be worked through, but that’s a start. It’s a balance between respect for the person, administrative burden and making the most of the potential of the technology. What do you think?

On another note, a friend of mine works in a private school in Parramatta where every teacher must have their laptop on their desk and turned on. Absences are recorded digitally, office messages emailed, photos, etc of school events on You Tube, in short, the laptop is integral to the teacher’s work. No, teachers do not teach from their desk, but develop the habit of checking for messages. Much less intrusive than a phone or intercom. Do some teachers abuse this? I’m sure personal communications do creep into the day, but no less than they do with mobile phones in pockets. Just think, during SSR, teachers could read blogs!

By their very nature, Web2.0 tools present a myriad of challenges for educators, challenges that the corporate or business world might address, but in different ways. They are not generally dealing with children and have not the concerns that present themselves with issues such as Duty of Care and Child Protection. I am not trying to sound negative, but with system wide guidelines that address Web 2.0 communication tools specifically, I’m sure many school leaders would be more at ease with these tools and more willing to adopt them. I know that I have spent considerable time this year, investigating concerns teachers have had in using Web 2.0 tools, and the publishing of student work. Our existing policies do not adequately cover details that present themselves with Web 2.0. publishing. They were great when ‘publishing’ was exclusively the domain of the ‘experts’ and web pages or other online communication was in the control of the IT teacher or equivalent. Now, I feel, they need amending.

Throughout the year, I have found our current Acceptable Use & Policies regarding the publishing of student photos, inadequate when teachers have enquired about different issues in regards to Web 2.0. Their general messages are still very valid, but I think Web 2.0 specific guidelines need to be included. For example, we need to ‘extend’ our current policies to address issues that include, for example:
Types of student photos /video
Identifying names on comments/posts
Copyright
Student “posting” /publishing- ‘monitoring’ issues

Although we have explored these issues, and others, and learnt a great deal in the process, I feel our time as leaders in exploring Web 2.0 tools could have been used better;- devising great learning tasks & engaging with our students in the mediums. I imagine in the corporate world, these issues would have been researched and policies drawn up within a specialist department. Is this one of the reasons why it seems, that our schools are slower in taking up the challenge of Web2.0? We are both investigating and implementing at the same time, while new technologies are being introduced almost on a daily basis. I think a system wide policy would help immensely in this regard. The other issue I feel that is slowing the work of schools down, is the potential volume of work/ thoughts that are being published by students and teachers within schools. It would be worth hearing from schools in the system about how guidelines are being disseminated? How are students and teachers being ‘skilled up’ or made aware of the amended policies (hopefully drawn up within schools)? How is it all being monitored?

I think it is interesting that we are talking about social networking issues, and yet in the ‘big scheme of things’ one of our ‘problems’ is that we don’t know how schools are tackling these issues, where specific schools are in their journeys and how we can help each other!!!

Maybe a system wide wiki or Web 2.0 solution could enable us all to collaborate and ‘draw up’ some guidelines that will assist us on our way….just a thought!!

“Big cultural shifts are required when embracing these new services” – my experience in education has been that any new concept, technology or strategy takes time for teachers to come to terms with. The skills and/or habits, of some teachers are so deeply entrenched that they find it most difficult to adjust and to accept that change is inevitable. It is these teachers that need the supports, systems and strategies to help guide them into understanding the benefits of implementing something new. One of the reasons or perhaps excuses is, as Grayson says, “the security angle”.

Our profession is one of care and protection so how can we ally the fears of teachers who are scared that something may “happen” to one of their students as a result of the use of web2.0? May I be so bold as to say that I feel, as a system, we need some sort of guide, rule or structure that enables us to ensure that we have done everything possible to in keeping our students safe when using web2.0, just as we would if we went on an excursion. This would enable us as school leaders to be sure that we are always promoting the responsible use of web2.0. Is there anything in the pipeline that will assist schools in educating their staff about this aspect of web2.0?

In the community in which I work I know that this is also a concern for parents. We have parents who, whilst they have a computer in the home, do not allow their children access. It is either through fear of what may be seen or heard on the “net” – often due to negative media hype – or that the computer is for high school or adult use. I know and understand that we need to help parents to come on this journey with us and to acknowledge that “the productivity and cost saving advantages of Web 2.0 tools are simply too great to ignore.” I would be grateful if you have any insights as to how this could be done effectively or if you have seen any schools in your travels where parent education of web2.0 was successfully implemented. I know that parents are supportive of anything that will help their child to learn but the cultural shift here, at least in my community, is greater than that of the teachers.

I didn’t introduce blogs to give teachers more work but to actively involve parents in their child’s education. I want to empower families to become a part of the school.

Just think of what we could do with blogs in harnessing the collective wisdom of teachers!

Check out his podcast (tyson2.mp3)