I absolutely agree with Doug, as usual.
I can't understand why there would need to be a time policy - do we limit
the time a kid may read or write a story or run around outside during their
break? Certainly school-based work should take priority but otherwise ...
When our school went online in 96 (the year it was opened) the principal
encouraged us to play and send each other emails (even if we were standing
behind the sender). Later in 97 when we got a networked lab (one of the
first primary schools to do so) it was open at lunchtime for the kids to
come and do what they wanted, within safety reasons. Internet access was
still a novelty for most.
The purpose behind the thinking was to get us to explore what the Net had to
offer, to embrace this new way of teaching and learning and to begin to
integrate it into our classroom practices. And it worked - when I analyse
what the staff who were there at the time are doing with ICT now and compare
it to those who have come since, it is clear that it was a smart policy.
Likewise with the kids - those who have been here with ICT access since
kindergarten are over the novelty factor, responsible, safe use is embedded
in their lessons and as the ICT co-ordinator I have not had one breach of
the AUP to deal with since 97. All our classrooms have networked computers
in them and they are there to be used as needed and when needed.
If you want to keep the Internet a dark, mysterious thing and have the kids
always pushing the boundaries and you tearing your hair out, then limit its
access. If you want to get them over the novelty factor and use it as a
tool then let them explore - what you see as time-wasting is actually
building a lot of searching, navigating, evaluating, interpreting and
reading skills! All stuff that others have to build into their lessons!
Barbara
Barbara Braxton
Teacher-Librarian
Palmerston District Primary School
PALMERSTON ACT 2913
AUSTRALIA
T. 61 2 6205 6162
F. 61 2 6205 7242
E. barbara@austarmetro.com.au
W. http://www.palmdps.act.edu.au
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