Scenario+A

=Scenario A= Your class has been blogging for about two months now. They have shared several writing projects on their class blogs, including revisions of some short stories with illustrations. To protect your students’ identities, all students use only their first name and first letter of their last names (e.g., Kayla F., Joseph R.). Your students have commented on each others' blogs, and a few parents and other teachers have added comments as well. Your students have become accustomed to this feedback from your internal audience. Today, one of your students, Aaron, asked you about a comment on his blog. Someone complimented him on his story, but Aaron doesn’t recognize the name. You review the comment and the link provided, and it appears to be someone from Canada doing educational research. Aaron asks what he should do next.


 * Some ideas from Jason:**
 * Mindmap with students what they think it means to be professional. The class could use an app like [|bubbl.us] or [|thinkature].
 * Mindmap with students what they think it means to be safe online using common sense.
 * [|Google Blog: Online Safety is Common Sense]
 * Use Aaron's blog comment as an example to apply the principles from the two previous mindmaps with the class.
 * Student wiki discussion with suggestions of what to do with the commenter invited, allowing everyone in the equation to know there is transparency and accountability.


 * Some ideas from Jenn:**
 * Congratulate the student for going to the teacher for assistance. Use this experience as an example for the rest of the class.
 * The teacher could contact the commenter first, and at that time continue to closely monitor the blog.
 * Once the teacher hears back from the commenter, tell Aaron that he is allowed to post a comment back, but to keep the teacher updated if he sees something before the teacher does.
 * Have a question and answer session with the students. While this is something that has already been discussed before the use of blogs, a very serious discussion should take place where all the students' questions, fears, and ideas are addressed. This scenario is probably something that would have come up in that discussion.


 * Some ideas from Sandy:**
 * Use this opportunity as a lesson for the entire class on safety! Have a class discussion on the situation and brainstorm a list of suggestions on how to deal with this as a class. This discussion could be a great springboard to safety and the Internet.
 * Contact an administrator or at least your technology leader to let them know about the situation. Better safe than sorry! (And at least, you've notified someone above you of the situation just in case it becomes an issue).
 * Maybe find programs that are housed within the district. That way outside sources are not allowed to comment on students' work. It is a much safer environment!