Using Online Applications in a classroom

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nancy Bosch on November 26, 2007 at 12:38pm

I've used some of these tools and do allow the 4-6 grade kids to log in with their own username and password, but we have all of our student emails through Think.com, a VERY closed environment owned by Oracle. No one could contact them if they wanted to because the student has to add outside emails to their address book. I also make them use the same password for all of the stuff they do with me and I keep a database of all usernames and passwords. I make sure my parents know what they are doing because many times the kiddos will continue to explore at home, maybe a parent signed AUP for these applications would help ease your mind.

What I'm struggling with is accountability tools for Web 2.0 stuff---"who's doing what" forms. I opened a discussion about that here at ning but didn't get any ready made forms or checklists so I guess I'll end up making them myself. I teach gifted kids--they are great tech explorers. They want to see what a program can do but sometimes aren't interested in actually completing a project--the messing around is enough.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Daniel Craig on November 26, 2007 at 6:50pm

Hi David,

We all have constraints, both personal and organizational, and this will mediate how you approach the use of these services in your classes. I tend to agree with Nancy on this. I think that the students should have their own accounts. These are easy enough to follow as long as you know their usernames. Most of these services allow you to follow users via email notification or RSS.

However, I'm also all for classroom accounts. Some services allow you to add editors, co-administrators, and other designations that enable students to publish materials. These offer great functionality with you retaining a great amount of control and give you absolute monitoring. However, If the whole class has the administrator login and password, you might be asking for trouble. If you are concerned about one student doing something wrong on their own account, just imagine one troublemaker changing the admin email and password. You'd have no idea who did it and you'd lose all control of the account. AND, they could continue to publish on something that was started as an official classroom space. I'm assuming that you are murmuring something like "oh, god!" right now :)

You are then left to balance these two approaches with public services and/or think about installing applications on your own (school's) servers to give you more control over the whole process. However, this then adds many layers of complexity for the tech folks and likely removes affordances available in the public service.

I don't think that there is a perfect answer to your question. I just want to provide some scenarios for you to consider when developing your approach.

Dan

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David Kapuler on November 27, 2007 at 7:21am

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep that in mind as a I move forward.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by GeneralChaos on November 26, 2007 at 6:59pm

My school does not allow email addresses for students. This is a requirement for most online accounts. So I have them type in one that does not exist under the domain name that I own. Yet another benefit of having a personal website.

A general student account may work with some sites(like picnik.com) really well. But if each student is working on their own project this may be a huge problem.

As for security, after a month or less you should have a solid idea on which students you need to keep a closer eye on. I tend to come down hard on any infractions, so few try to test the limits.

As for restricting what they view or publish, you can't. At least not everywhere. Thats the thing about an online applications. They are available everywhere there is an internet connection. It's like telling them not to write swear words on a sheet of paper. Sure in a classroom they can't, but anywhere else is open game.

• ▶ Reply