It’s “ON[the]LINE”:A CA 21st Century School

District Initiative

Elizabeth Calhoon-BrumbaughManager

Educational Technology ServicesSanta Clara County Office of Education

Dr. Kelly J. CalhounChief Technology Officer/Asst. SuperintendentSanta Clara County Office of Education

These slides can be found here: http://bit.ly/isteontheline

One idea…

Making the complex and crazy world of technology policies and guidelines simpler and more manageable for districts and county offices of education throughout California.

Or the Alternative Secret Revolutionary Session Title…

No More Tech Policies!

TECHPOLICIES

First, the caveat…

This presentation does not constitute legal advice

Today we’re discussing some PRINCIPLES you can use to approach this topic productively….

This presentation may cause allergic reactions, swelling, sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, or the inability to operate heavy machinery. Proceed at your own risk…

Birth of an Initiative

The evolution of tech policy madness… Everyone desperately seeking the answers

to the same questions (over and over…) The rapid changes in the environment

We’re not in Kansas anymore – “I got my own stinkin’ Internet!”

The “10 fingers, a million holes in the dam” problem

The “Can a kid understand a 20 page legal document?” problem

Relevance, relevance, relevance

The Concept

A few simple principles to guide you through understanding and using ON[the]LINE’s ideas and resources in YOUR environment

To learn them, a couple simple questions…

The Challenges….

What’s at the core of your typical technology policies today???

Technology!!!

And what’s the flaw to that? Building policies around a constantly

moving target… The “nailing jello to the wall” dilemma

The Revolution…

What is it we’re REALLY trying to influence with technology policies for our staff and students?

Human Behavior!!!

What we discover is that the problems we’re trying to solve are not actually technology problems at all…

Let’s test this theory…

Johnny copies his entire essay from an article he finds online and submits it as his own work.

What is the principle at play here? Is this a technology problem? Something

that requires a policy about copying from the Internet?

Would it not be more accurate to say the challenges we need to confront are plagiarism and cheating, whether by photocopying from a book, copying somebody’s paper, or from the Internet???

Let’s try another one…

Mr. Smith, the science teacher, spends half his day in class gambling online

What is the principle at play here? Is this a technology problem? Would it not be more accurate to say the

challenge we need to confront is neglecting (sometimes criminally) his professional duties, whether by gambling online, surfing porn, or reading a book in class while neglecting his students?

The lists go on and on…

Cyberbullying… Bullying, in person or online….

Lying about others in a social network… Slander (or Libel), in person or online

Responsible behavior In person or online

Personal/Information Safety In person or online

Reputation management In person or online

Etc., etc., etc……

So would it not be true…

…that rather than constantly battle to control by stripping (or trying to) the technology out of the hands of our students….

…that rather than worrying about strengthening the effectiveness of our web filters

…we need to be focusing our efforts on preparing our students (and staff!) to be responsible citizens of the 21st century, surrounded daily by technology???

And would it not also be true… … that these future responsible citizens

need to know things like: What to do if they encounter inappropriate

content on a web page?▪ And if they’re online, they will….

How to protect information about themselves and others, and communicate responsibly online (in whatever arena)?

What is and isn’t okay use of a cell phone when you’re in an instructional environment (or any other one for that matter)?

And would it not also be true… … that we need to be clear about

expectations of the ADULTS in these environments? What constitutes “appropriate

supervision”? What constitutes fulfilling the professional

duties for which I’m being paid? Where can I find models of effective use of

technology in my area of instruction? What is “reasonable and appropriate” in my

OWN use of technology?

What we’re hoping to accomplish…

The development of resources school districts and COE’s can USE, including: Ultimately, the modification of existing

standard CSBA policies that will be more helpful and useful to districts, COEs, etc.▪ Adopt them as-is or adapt to your own needs

In the meantime, guidelines to assist LEAs in the development or modification of their own policies

Model samples of Codes of Conduct, PD, etc. This work under way now

To have an effective 21st century environment, some tools…

Board Policies Administrative Regulations Published Guidelines Codes of Conduct Curriculum Guidelines Online Resources Professional Development

A series of interdependent tools…

Policy Guidelines Codes of Conduct

Relevant Programs

Professional

Development for All

The Partners

What’s coming?

Check out the ON[the]LINE web site (http://onthelineca.org)

CSBA working on navigating through policies now through their regular updates

Schedules of upcoming CSBA articles, next policy reviews, etc.

Resources will be continuously added on the site – keep checking back!

Fagen, Friedman, Fulfrost adding legal news and updates

Be sure to…

Begin your exploration! Check out the schedule of upcoming events… Contribute ideas and questions via email or social media CONNECT!

Twitter: @ONtheLINECA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onthelinecalifornia

Welcome to ON[the]LINE!

Dr. Kelly J. CalhounChief Technology Officer/Asst. Superintendent

Santa Clara County Office of Education

Elizabeth CalhoonManager, Educational Technology Services

Santa Clara County Office of Education