Group+D+7-C-2

=Home > Group D Workspace > Learning Activity 7-C-2 =

=**Dealing with Unacceptable Responses Made to Student Work Online** =

//Example Scenario:// //Your high school Spanish students have been extremely excited about a recent project in your class. Students have been writing scripts and acting out “commercials” in Spanish for imaginary products. You have recorded the commercials on a digital camcorder and uploaded the videos to YouTube. The response has been very positive to these videos, and several students have uploaded them to their personal MySpace pages and blogs to share them with friends.//

//However, one of your students, Olivia, just forwarded you a comment written in response to one of the videos in which she participated and asks for help translating. The comment is in Spanish and contains several sexual references and curse words. When Olivia clicks on the commenter's username to find out more about the person, she sees videos with sexual content. What do you tell your students about the comment and what Olivia saw, and how do you advise them to respond?//

What is your initial response when the unacceptable comments and video are to brought to your attention?
1. Debrief Olivia about what has happened, and make sure that she understands the comment is not her fault, and does not put her in danger. Express your gratitude to Olivia for having brought it to your attention. If the teacher has administrative rights to the video, I would also delete the comment after saving the link for documentation. Make sure that Olivia has not made contact with the commenter besides the initial click on the username. It might be advisable to take all the commercials offline for a few days as the situation gets worked out.

2. Call Olivia's parents, or schedule a meeting for that day or the next day. The important thing is for Olivia's parents to be reassured that this situation is possible when sharing videos publicly, and that they can be seen from anywhere. Assuming there was a permission form signed in advance, both the students and parents were aware of the risks, but also the great possibilities of online sharing.

3. Contact an administrator. Alert an administrator of the situation, including the permission statement, technology policy, and objectives of the lesson. This meeting should not necessarily "defend" the lesson, as much as it should explain the problem so that the administrator has heard of the situation from the teacher first, not an angry parent. Inform the administrator of your intent to discuss the situation with Olivia's parents and your intent to address the issue with your class.

How do you address the issue with your class?
1. Most likely the other kids have seen the inappropriate response and know that it is inappropriate, so use this as a teachable moment. This is the time for an authentic lesson regarding safety on the internet.

2. Discuss the school district policy and guidelines with students to be sure they understand that by alerting a teacher to inappropriate content accidentally accessed on a school computer, they protect themselves.

3. Explain the particulars of Olivia's situation, outline the response to the situation, and the outcome. Do not mention Olivia's name to the class or classes unless she and her parents have given you permission to do so. Clearly list the steps that students are expected to take when encountering a similar situation. Stress the importance of immediately notifying the teacher and not making any contact with the responder.

4. In small groups, kids could devise a personal plan for what to do if they do receive an inappropriate response to their work, post, etc. This plan should address inappropriate responses and contacts both at school and at home, on the district network and on their personal devices.

**What standards had previously been set for the students?**
**School District Policy and Guidelines : Inappropriate Access to Material **

 A. Students shall not use the district computer systems and internet to access material that is profane or obscene or that advocates illegal acts or violence or discrimination unless it is relevant to research and approved by the teacher.

 B. If students mistakenly access inappropriate information, they shall immediately inform a teacher, school authority or other person designated by the school. This shall protect students against claims of intentional violation of this policy.

Privacy Interest
Students shall have no expectation of privacy regarding the contents of computer files on, or communication undertaken by way of, the district computer system. All computer files and communications generated by students on the school district computer systems and/or networks are data records of the school district. Teachers and school district administration will maintain and monitor the system that may lead to discovery of violations of this policy, the School Code or federal or state laws. Teachers and/or school district administration may conduct individual searches of student computer files, e-mail or other related items, by access to archive or storage or real time interception. Parents or guardians will subsequently be advised as appropriate. This policy does not abridge ownership of intellectual property.