Discussions

Your Name and Title:  Dr. Larry S. Anderson, Founder/CEO

School or Organization Name:  National Center for Technology Planning

Co-Presenter Name(s):

Area of the World from Which You Will Present:  Tupelo, MS

Language in Which You Will Present: English

Target Audience(s):  Administrators, Technology Directors, Policymakers, School Board members, Teachers

Short Session Description (one line):  Why are technology policies so important for schools around the world? Learn how to develop, understand, and promote necessary technology policies that protect you and your school, no matter where you are on the globe.

Full Session Description (as long as you would like):  

   AUP!  Cell phones in school!  iPods!  iPads!  Mobile devices!  What on Earth do we do to handle all these gadgets that students bring with them?  Shouldn't we have a policy that covers all these things and how our students use them in school?  Well....maybe!

   Far too often, we educators seem prone to creating barriers, via our policies, to students' use of innovative technologies for learning.  We tend to bar the very technologies that enable students to reach out across global boundaries and collaborate with their learning peers from a variety of cultures and nations.  On one hand, we applaud student collaboration.  Yet, on the other hand, we build barriers to prevent their doing so if they use the robust technologies available to them, even the ones they carry in their pockets, purses, and backpacks.  Further, we prevent teachers from having access to the resources they need for most effective teaching techniques.  All this "restriction environment" is brought on because we're running scared from the fear that we will be sued by somebody if/when something bad happens.  Somehow, we've come to believe that poor behavior while using technology is different from poor behavior, in general.  Not so!

   Wise application of learning technologies is a global imperative.  Far too often, we restrict conversations about technology policies to only our own systems, countries, and/or cultures.  This session is designed to disrupt that pattern.  Leaders and participants in global education efforts will be able to discuss various policy strategies that will result in enhanced use of learning technologies by students, no matter their location on Earth.  

   This session will survey the general principles of school policy, with particular attention to technology policies (including some interactive activities, using the chat window and voting for responses).  Special emphasis will be given to Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) and their preferred alternatives, as well as varying strategies school leaders employ for exercising these policies.  We will examine sample school policy statements, highlighting the areas of danger existing in current technology policies.  Then, we will talk about how to deploy policy and procedure strategies so that educators can avoid the troubles (often, legal troubles) that come with ill-designed policies.

   Although this topic may not seem to be particularly invigorating at first glance, all participants in prior sessions have expressed delight that they attended.

Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session:  http://www.nctp.com