EdTechUK

Edublogger Meet-Up! Edinburgh 5 September 2006

If you’re going to ALT-C at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland this year, or are in the area, why not come along to the next Edubloggers meet-up? Delegates should plan on getting together at the ALT-C evening meal on campus at 6.30pm on Tuesday 5th September and then adjourn to the Lectern Bar for 8pm, which is open to non-delgates.

As always, the meet up will be extremely informal, all bloggers and friends of bloggers are welcome. Come and get the heads up on plans for the new edubloggers directory and blog.ac.uk activities. Turn up on the night, contact me directly or leave a comment if you’re able to come along, and do spread the word.

DOPA, social networks and keeping young people safe

Over at AoC NILTA, our press release got pushed out today:

Online safety secured by education – not blocking and filtering

A leading e-learning body has today (3 August) expressed its alarm at the new U.S. ‘Deleting Online Predators Act’ (DOPA) and warned against the UK adopting similar censorship measures.

The new Act - passed by Congress on 27 July and going forward to the Senate  would require many public internet providers such as libraries and schools to block social networking websites and chat rooms, including sites like Blogger, Flickr, MySpace and Yahoo! Groups.

DOPA is intended to protect minors from online predation but AoC NILTA, the independent voice of the post-16 sector in ICT and e-learning, says that it is a ‘step backwards in social and education terms’ and will not work.

On  July 27th The US House of Representatives voted on the ‘‘Deleting Online Predators Act of 2006’’, an amendment to the Communications Act of 1934 proposed by Congressperson Fitzpatrick. The Bill is designed to protect minors from child sexual abuse by blocking online community sites and requires “recipients of universal service support for schools and libraries to protect minors from commercial social networking websites and chat rooms,” - effectively withdrawing funding from institutions which fail to censor designated sites. DOPA was passed by a majority of 410 to 19 and now goes forward to the Senate.

In addition to commercial ownership, the bill defines social network sites as those which elicit personal information, include a personal profile, support blogging or journals, and enable communication amongst users. This includes many sites which are effective in supporting learning and teaching, and are currently being used across all education sectors to support engaging, creative and effective learning– including Blogger, Flickr, and Yahoo! Groups.