Clemente Tech News – Late-April 2002

Clemente Tech News | Late-April 2002 Update | Volume 1 | Issue 4

Internet block-out?

The Federal Government has passed the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), which requires all schools and libraries to protect their children from inappropriate/harmful material on the Internet. In order to comply with this Act and in an effort to provide a safe learning environment for our students, Information Technology and Curriculum offices are implementing an Internet filtering software solution. Our school has been selected to participate in a pilot program for Internet filtering software based on our school’s high level of Internet connectivity.

The pilot began on April 19, 2002 and will run until May 3, 2002.

Filtering software works by blocking access to web pages that have been deemed inappropriate. Please note that this technology does not replace the need for teacher supervision of children–the software is not foolproof as the Internet is constantly changing. In an effort to determine both the technical and educational impact of putting a centralized Internet filtering solution in place the offices implementing this filtering system will need your feedback.

They are most interested in how this filtering solution:

Affected performance over the network. (i.e. Did connections to the Internet appear to be slower?)
Affected the teachers/librarians ability to effectively research for relevant content.
Affected the integration of Internet based learning in the classroom.
What, if any exceptions or variance, will be needed in the course of day-to-day teaching and learning activities to the filtered topics.

How it works:

When the user goes to a website that is blocked, a page will appear indicating that they are in violation of the Acceptable Use Policy. If they believe this is a mistake they may submit the URL (web address) to filtering@phila.k12.pa.us.
Due to the constant change of the Internet, an inappropriate website may not be blocked yet. In this case the URL can be sent to filtering@phila.k12.pa.us indicating that this site should be added to the list of blocked sites.
During the pilot period, central office requests that all communication come through the principal or the TTL for best facilitation of issues.
Attached are two feedback forms that you may use to communicate problems related to the filter to our computer department. Please fill the forms out as needed and drop them in Ron Walker’s mailbox. Your feedback will be forwarded to the appropriate office.

Please keep in mind that our school is not implementing the filter. It is being implemented by central School District offices. Thank you in advance for your cooperation with this program.

Cheese stands alone

As early as mid-April the computer department began configuring LC575’s and LC580’s as stand-alone computers to be assigned to classrooms that could accommodate them. Already we have received requests from teachers for some of these computers. We also have notes from teachers who have similar computers already in their rooms. These computers will be configured in as timely a fashion as possible.

Our desire is to take these computers off the school’s network and replace them with faster, more efficient computers that can better take advantage of our advanced network features. We thank you for and encourage your continued cooperation and patience as we move every classroom into the 21st century!

Ron Walker, Webmaster, Clemente School Internet Website
Bruce Stern, Webmaster, School Intranet Website
T Martin, Editor, Clemente Tech News

CWASP

Clemente Tech News – Late-April 2002