Aug 07 2009
Permission to Podcast
We have had requests for a copy of the permission letter that we send home to parents at the start of the year explaining what podcasting is. Nathan and I created our own letter to meet this purpose. Our school has the parents sign a media release document and computer use document as well but we wanted something specific to podcasting. I understand that some families and school administrators are leery about posting student work on the Internet. This is something that Nathan and I have had a lot of concerns about too. Initially we never identified students by name either on the class blogs or the podcasts. In the beginning, we used nicknames or numbers but as time has gone on we have relaxed a bit, and now, with permission, we use student first names (sometimes the kids prefer to make up names. Billy Bob is a very popular name with our students).
When addressing concerns about maintaining student privacy and security I would point parents and school administrators to the community newspapers that we have. If you look at local papers you will see that in almost every edition there are pictures published of children involved in sporting events, community events, school events. These pictures often contain captions identifying the children with both first and last names and often the schools that they attend. It’s exciting for the kids and parents to see their pictures in our local paper. It is funny to me how many people are not concerned at all about this sort of coverage but have fears about predators finding kids on the internet. I guess it is all about what we read in the paper?
Anyway…here is what we send home in September to our families. I post it here as an example.
September, 2008
Dear Parents/Guardians
Our classes maintain class websites (5nt.ca and 56js.ca) and a podcast (portableradio.ca). These sites are used to share information about what is going on in class and provide an opportunity for continued discussion outside of class. Students will use the sites as areas to explain their work and interests to a larger audience. We teach our students lessons of safe internet use through the experiences that we offer on the websites and podcasts. All work is moderated by Mr. Toft or Mrs.Smith before it is posted or uploaded.
Please read the attached permission form and return it to Mr. Toft or Mrs. Smith.
Sincerely,
Jane Smith and Nathan Toft
I consent to allow my child’s school work (text, audio, video, art,…etc) and first name to be used on the class websites and podcasts.
Student name: _____________________________________
Signature of parent/guardian: __________________________
Date: ____________________________________
