Internet Filtering
School System Filtering
Frequently Blocked Sites
- most blocked for both teacher and student access
- some sites have limited access
- webfilter-Websense
- can obtain access
Digital Curation Platforms
- access available for teachers
- limited student access
- researched lesson ideas
- viewed pages of others
Breast Cancer
- access available for teachers
- viewed site video
- access to images/video
- no access for ads
Contraception
- access available for teachers
- planned Parenthood site access
- access to images/video
- no access for ads
Gangs
- access available for teachers
- no access to YouTube on gangs
- access to images and site videos
- no access to ads
Games
- no access
- Porta Portal-Cool Math
- some access under video for teachers
- only educational games
Websense Protection Options
- Filter inappropriate content, malicious code and other threats
- Control access to protocols such as IM, P2P and streaming media
- Provide controlled social media access
- Prioritize network access according to users, time of day and other parameters
Internet Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
- no information given about specific blocked sites
- sites deemed pornographic, obscene or material NPS deems harmful
- use is for approved educational purposes
- no steps for unblocking published on policy
- Superintendent selects and operates technology protection
Please, Please, Please Letter
Norfolk Public Schools
800 E. City Hall Ave.
Norfolk, VA 23510
Re: Unblock YouTube
I am writing to plead for access to YouTube in the classroom. I understand the possible dangers if access were granted to the wrong individuals. I would like to propose monitored, full access to teachers for educational support and enhanced lessons.
I am a teacher who loves to engage my students. I love to relate concepts to real-life situations and take trips to places that we neither have the means or money to physically reach. Many of my lessons include times when I have to take a brief intermission to bring life to a concept that I am teaching. I am often moved to show my students a short video that can enhance their learning. Often times, I spend an extended period of time getting knocked down by the filters put in place and have to use a resource that does not add as much value to my lesson. I am a witness to how this tool enhances learning. Students have been able to see and hear instruments they did not know existed or watched a movie about an interesting person they were studying in social studies. They have even been able to take a tour of a country they were studying. In a district where our students do not have many experiences outside of their own community, I feel it my duty to expose them to those most appropriate experiences.
I welcome your positive feedback and your willingness to work in harmony for the betterment of our students. I look forward to hearing from you.
Respectfully,
Tanisha M. Ricks
Works Cited
Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2015. <https://games.d3.ru/>.
Fox, Linzi. Various contraction methods. Digital image. Contracetion/Sexeducationwithlinzifox. Wordpress, 15 Oct. 2011. Web. 24 Mar. 2015. <https://sexeducationwithlinzifox.wordpress.com/category/contraception/>.
Graves, Darci. Breast Cancer for Minorities. Digital image. Health Power. N.p., 2015. Web. 24 Mar. 205. <http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://healthpowerforminorities.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/breastcancer.jpg&imgrefurl=http://healthpowerforminorities.com/breast-cancer-and-my-new-normal-365-days-after-bilateral-mastectomy-and-reconstruction/&h=581&w=900&tbnid=CHi7THK3aJioGM:&zoom=1&docid=UZivOprHcZ8U-M&ei=iSIRVeP5N_GwsAS1uYDwAg&tbm=isch&ved=0CDMQMygBMAE>.
Preventing Gangs. Digital image. Preventin Gangs. City of Ukiah, California Police Department, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2015. <http://ukiahpolice.com/news/hot-topics/preventing-gangs/>.
Websense. Websense Triton, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2015. <http://www.websense.com/content/Home.aspx>.