LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Hi Gang,
I'mm going into quiet mode for a few days for a little R&R. Jill (my wife)
and I are going to head down to D.C. to check out the cherry blossoms.
They hit peak bloom today. Then when I return, I will be getting messages
out to various mailing lists to expand our experiment. I want to thank
everyone who has made a report. The comment's in particular made it clear
to me that we need to get a better picture and an awareness of how
filtering is effecting our educational efforts and if we have to, how we
can make lemonade from lemons.
Some of the current comments lead me to believe that in part, Pogo was
right when he said.... "We have met the enemy and he is us."
A good many of the blockages you have been sending in have been blocks made
because of faulty engineering behind the software. However, some of the
blockages are being caused by the "engineers" who have installed the
filters. As I look at the URLs and the reasons that the filters are
giving for blocking, it is apparent that in some cases the filter is doing
exactly what it was told to do.
Most filters have 15 or more categories in which blocking can take place.
The also have different protocols that can be controlled. It is critical
that the people in charge understand the implications of turning on more
than is necessary. It doesn't take a genius to realize that the more
agressively you filter the more you block. If you abritraily turn
everything on you might be able to visit more web sites by truning of the
computer and watching ZD TV.
If filtering is done, it should be to prevent material from coming to them,
NOT prevent them from going to it. That's what supervision and the AUP is
for. When filters are used to POLICE our students, that is not protecting
them and that is not sending the right message. That is Big Brother territory.
This is where I would organize the troops and storm the tech offices. Well
maybe storming the offices isn't the best way to get things done, but I
would certainly open channels of communication and educate them as to the
hardships they are putting you and your students under.
Now there's always the possibility that the filter was put in place by an
Internet expert who is teaching six classes, running the network, coaching
basketball and running the French club. Now we know how much spare time
this person has, but the term Internet expert is what is key here. You
know the definition of an educational Internet expert, don't you? Oh you
don't? Well and educational Internet expert is anyone who has been online
two weeks longer than you.
This person may have installed it a just accepted the default settings,
which may be that ALL features are turned on. Even worse, they may make a
mistake of turning on Blocking instead of Filtering (though that's a tough
mistake to make and not catch.) If you Block instead of Filter, that
feature is completely unusable.
Get a committee together to determine what settings should be activated and
what should not. Ideally, this should be a decision that is made by staff,
administrators, parents, and students.
If you have to filter and have a say in what will be used, download and
test as many as you can. Most companies give you a 30-day trial version.
Gather a representative set of at least 100 bookmarks you use all across
the curriculum (500 is better). Then turn on every feature and test the
filter to see how it performs. This will also help you in determining what
should be turned on or off.
I haven't had a lot of nice things to say about filters in general and
CyberPatrol in particular, but what's fair is fair. I have to say
something positive about CyberPatrol. I just turned on every feature in
CyberPatrol and checked 100 of my bookmarks at random. It didn't block a
single one.
Based upon my earlier reports, this may seem like an inconsistancy, but it
really isn't. Sites that are inappropriately blocked are usually the
victem of guilt by association. Personal sites are often discriminateded
against. Certain ISP's may have all of their sites blocked. Large
portions of an entire server may be blocked because of adult content.
However, the big players like National Geographic, Discovery, NASA, and
many others have their own dedicted servers and are not likely to suffer
indiscriminant blocking. My bookmarks have been gathered over a 6 year
period and are periodically being upgraded an updated. I try to collect
only the best of the best. The are not likely to be blocked in error.
Maybe what I said was more a compliment to myself than to CyberPatrol. You
can be the judge. <grin>
Well, I'm off to see the cherry blossoms. Just hope the rain holds off, but
just because I'm taking some time off, that doesn't mean that you can slack
off. ;->
Don't forget to post your URL's that are getting blocked to the web form at
http://oii.org/html/overblocking.html
Take care,
Art
***************************************************************
Art Wolinsky awolinsky@oii.org
OII Technology Director http://oii.org/
East Coast Facilitator http://web-and-flow.com/
National Action Committee http://www.wiredkids.org
(609) 597-9481 ext 337 (609) 698-8223
***************************************************************
I am perfectly capable of learning from my mistakes.
I will surely learn a great deal today.
***************************************************************
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