Code of Ethics vs. list of rules

It’s been 4 years, just about, since our first set of technology studio rules were created by middle school students. The rules worked very well: there were only a few, they were positive statements, and easily understood by lower school students.
Computer Use Policy (Old Version)

Get Permission! (To get online, to make changes, to [...]

Honoring Each Child

I came across two things recently, each of them instantly made sense to me.
First, this brave young man’s Eagle Scout project as pointed out by Karl Fisch on his blog:
“First, please download and watch this movie (18.4 MB, 11:36). Then think about how often we stamp “can’t” on somebody’s forehead.”
The Fischbowl: Ability Awareness
Second, this [...]

This Blog is Rated “C” for Civility

Today is “Stop Cyberbullying Day” and many of the bloggers I read have posted some great tools, information, and videos. For instance, this badge is from a selection offered by Scott McLeod here:
www.scottmcleod.net - Cyberbullying
With all that good stuff getting added to the net, I need some time to process and research. But [...]

Where the rattlesnake bites…

I can’t resist pointing to this New York Times article, having just blogged about censorship in the previous post.
A book wins the prestigious Newbery Medal award. It is “The Higher Power of Lucky,” by Susan Patron.
It becomes controversial because it uses an anatomically correct word. This word use is fitting with a theme [...]

Artistry in Residence

We’re enjoying having Rand Whipple, master mind behind Box of Light Theatre, spending mornings with us for two weeks as “artist in residence” at our K-8 school, supporting our all school thematic study.  Our thematic study this year builds on our previous year’s thematic study, and reflects our diversity initiative (there is a whoooole lot [...]

What’s More Real Than National Geographic–or Newsweek–or Time?

Turns out, that’s a very good question. Better than you might think.
I’ve found this wonderful link to a series of “pictures that lie.” (I’ve been getting a feed on the newly added bookmarks of del.icio.us user LibrarianEdge and this site was added by LibrarianEdge today–Thanks!). I’m extremely excited, because I was looking [...]