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Hi folks, I agree wholeheartedly with Nancy's advice that priority should be give to students who need to use computer and other technology resources to complete academic tasks. No debate about that one. I would not discount, however, the advisability of allowing students to use computers and the Internet to explore areas of personal interest (so long as they are within the keeping of the school's AUP) and to complete work of a personal nature while in the library. My reasoning has always gone such: One of the more common consequences of improper use of the Internet is the suspension of its use by the offending student. If little Johnny uses the Internet each morning to check the latest soccer scores, he is LESS likely to misuse the Internet at other times knowing that in doing so he will not be able to get to information he finds of personal interest. If little Johnny's school dictates that the Internet can be used ONLY for school work, what is the penalty if Internet use is taken away? "Gee, what do I have to do to get my textbook taken away next?" little Johnny might also ask. Personally, the more we encourage kids to explore their own interests using technology resources like the Internet, the better off we will all be. Kids will get reading and search practice as well find school a meaningful and friendly place. Librarians will get better behaved kids. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! All the best, Doug ************ Doug Johnson Director of Media and Technology I.S.D. 77, Mankato Public Schools Box 8713, Mankato MN 56002-8713 Voice: 507-387-7698, Fax: 507-387-2496 E-mail: dougj@doug-johnson.com Web: www.doug-johnson.com "The fates guide those who go willingly; those who do not, they drag." Seneca Nancy Willard wrote: In my opinion, school technology resources should be used to support educational activities as their primary use. High quality non-curricular use also ought to be allowed, but severe limits should be places on what I would call "Internet recess" activities. Any student needing to use the Internet for class work should have the ability to "bump" any other student who is not using the computers for actual class work. An assessment of the degree to which the technology is actually used for class work provides excellent insight into the degree to which the school is effectively using its technology resources to support learning. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. LM_NET Help & Information: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ Archive: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml LM_NET Select/EL-Announce: http://www.cuenet.com/archive/el-announce/ LM_NET Supporters: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ven.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-