Blogging dillemmas and questions...

At the first ICT option class last Friday our tutor was talking about the value of blogging as a good way of teasing out thoughts, clarifying opinions and testing ideas within a supportive group of fellow educators who will question and challenge these thoughts, opinions and ideas. As I was writing that first blog entry to share with the rest of the class I immediately felt a little bit vulnerable – my thoughts, opinions, ideas were going to be laid bare for people to comment on, for them to judge. What if I came out with something totally off the wall, or badly thought through?  It would be there in black and white (forever, according to the GTC). 

Later that evening I was with a friend who works in local government, who was saying how careful he has to be about what he writes online. He has had direct experience of vitriolic personal attacks for his actions as a councillor, or for his political views, which are posted after anything he publishes online. Just read the bile that is brought forth on the Scotsman online comments (who take the view that the comments are moderated by ‘the people’ ie if no-one complains then comments can stay) and you'll get a flavour.  We do not live in a culture where in politics it is even remotely acceptable not to have an instant opinion on anything, and it is always seen as a weakness if you change your mind.  And it’s not just politicians. Rory Lamont was all over the papers this week for using Twitter to express his political opinions (albeit in sweary language). 

How do we protect ourselves from horrible comments about what we write?

How do we gauge what is acceptable for public view?

How do we protect pupils from getting horrible comments if they make a blog?  Would they have to set up a moderator for their blogs, or only invite certain people to read it (in which case they’d lose the possibility of connecting with the world)?

We were given links to educational blogs that Primary schools have developed such as Sandaig Primary blog or Mrs Vass's class blogs. I’ve also been taken aback a bit with the level of information that a stranger could get from viewing these class blogs.  Although they do not use surnames, it would be fairly easy to use the information to trick a child into thinking you knew their parents for example.  One kid, in P6, wrote about her holiday, when she went to x, y and Z, who with etc. Pictures of her as a baby, of her with their dad, info about their family are viewable online through this ‘safe’ web. From a child protection point of view there is a huge amount here that someone could use to groom a child. 

How far should we go to keeping identities safe? 

Is it a risk that kids just have to learn how to manage? – ie if you’ve not seen them meet your dad, don’t believe that they actually ARE a pal, and tell someone.

Is there enough out there to educate children about keeping safe online?  (The only resource I know is ThinkUKnow, which is quite good).