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So today, Wikipedia and many other websites (including thousands of Wordpress blogs) "shut down" for 24 hours to protest the proposed US law called "Stop Online Piracy Act" or SOPA. While the whole issue is quite complex and convoluted, there are plenty of issues there of interest to students, parents, and anyone using the internet.

There is plenty of scaremongering and advice around regarding the dangers of children being online and the steps parents should and should not take to cope with that. It can be hard for any parent to know how they should react and what they should think about their child's life online.

During the past week, a few articles have come out showing the popular press' take on technology and education. The New York Times had an article describing a Waldorf school in Silicon Valley which refuses to use technology.

This past week, I was in Nairobi attending an institute sponsored by AISA, the Association of International Schools in Africa. Around a dozen international schools from Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, and more were invited to attend this institute.

In 2010, ICS started implementing a 1:1 laptop program, in which every secondary student was to be issued a laptop computer for use in school and at home. Such a program is neither new (the first 1:1 programs were starting in the 1980s) nor unique (there are thousands of international and national schools around the world that have such programs).  

draft in progress - completion by 30/09/11

The internet is full of wonderful things: fantastic resources of information, communication channels that let you stay connected with friends around the world, shopping sites, places to learn, etc. Just like the real world, however, there are unpleasant areas and unpleasant people. You can find or stumble upon shocking, offensive or even dangerous areas. For parents whose children are using computers (or cell phones or tablets) online, the worry is that those children will find offensive and shocking material or fall prey to malicious people.

Ubuntu ...a strange South African word is making the rounds at ICS. Going along with it is another word, native to no language: Linux. What is all this about?

Common Sense Media has done it again. They have posted a terrific article of advice by and for parents on rules and tips for helping your children deal with cell phones, internet use, etc. Parents offer advice on setting time limits, outlining expectations, and changing your rules based on the age of your child. It's simply must-read info for any parent.

I get a newsletter from Common Sense Media - as a parent and as a teacher, I always find it useful. In the latest issue, there was this article:

There have been many reports lately in the news media about malware on Macintosh computers. There is a new scam going around, enticing Macintosh users to download a supposed anti-virus software called "Mac Defender" or "Mac Protector" or "MacGuard." 

Some reports worth reading: