What is the nature of the firewall blocking access to applications? Is there a process to transcend or move around the firewall? Who is in control? What is available and what is blocked and why?
I believe Mrs. Anders has total control over the firewalls at St. Dominic. Again, I am not sure which sites are closed off, but when my teacher goes online for something, nothing is ever blocked off for her. She could easily go on Facebook if she wanted to. I am not sure if the Chromebooks are more restricted as those are for the students. When working with the iPads, though, students were able to go on Safari no problem. They of course were not supposed to, but nothing was really blocked off on the iPads. I feel like there is less control on the iPads as students don’t use those as often as they would the Chromebooks. Our first graders are only on the iPads for about 15-20 minutes, two-three times a week. Most of the time, they are just playing the games that are already pre-downloaded onto them.
Significantly, pay close attention to and document who you are speaking with. What is their role or do they have a title? Who is able to direct you to the people with the most information? Who has the most and/or best information?
Whenever I have a question regarding technology at St. Dominic, I am always told by most staff members, especially my cooperating teacher, “Ask Avril, she’ll know what to do.” Mrs. Anders really knows her stuff, and I actually would like to observe her technology class when I am on my planning period to get an idea of what things are in her room tech wise, as well as to learn how she integrates technology into her lessons. She is a wonderful teacher and the students really enjoy going to her class because of how knowledgeable she is.
ED 386 Educational Technology - Lauren's Blog 