Will Richardson

Speaker, consultant, writer, learner, parent

Website Envy

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Chris Lehmann writes about the school Website model that he’s using at the Beacon School in NYC. He’s close to creating a “fully interactive portal for all members of the Beacon community,” and it’s a great model. Here’s a list of things that Chris is doing that I wish I could do:

  • “All members have a way to create content, and…all members have easy access to information that is relevant to them as well as relevant to the entire community” — In theory, this is where we are headed. In reality, there is a lot of resistance to allowing everyone to create content, and it’s just not the right environment right now to really push it. I’m sure next year we’ll be doing it in limited ways, but it takes more than the tool to shift the paradigm. Too bad.
  • “This system has grown organically, not as part of a pre-packaged software package, but created, whenever possible, using free software tools and written by myself and the students of Beacon.” — I love thinking about this. Unfortunately, I have no programming skills and no understanding of code on that level. Nor do I have any support for open source type solutions. I need pre-packaged. I’m starting to feel guilty.
  • “We don’t want to merely use technology; we want our students to be creators of technological innovation.” — Again, I love this concept. But this is a scary proposition to many here.
  • “All of the stories are entered on a password protected administration center so that student writers and editors can collaborate with teachers on stories in progress.” — Manila can get me to this in some way, but Chris makes it sound so easy.
  • “Beacon students are able to broadcast radio shows, poetry, sporting events and other events.” — Sigh. We just had a huge, long, grueling (did I mention huge?) discussion about consent issues and whether or not we can televise or Webcast sporting events or plays without written approval for each student involved. Actually, I poked through Chris’s site and frankly, I doubt he has the state imposed restrictions that we do in terms of getting parent/guardian consent to include kids on the site. In New Jersey, it’s amazing. Our school policies are equally strict.
  • “Our Parents Association publishes minutes of meetings, notices of upcoming fundraisers and other information on their Web page.” — Maybe if Chris reads this he can comment on the process here. My guess, they’re trusted to make good decisions about content. Here, we’d have to have review.
  • “And of course, hundreds of students and many teachers keep their own personal Web sites, thus insuring that beaconschool.org is a living document that reflects the diversity of experiences at Beacon.” — Um, yeah. We have lots of sites, but they’re pretty much restricted to academic content. Little reflecting happening, little diversity captured.
  • “Every student and staff member at Beacon has an account which gives them space on Beacon’s file and Web server, a beaconschool.org Email account and access to the portal. The portal is linked to our programming database so that, once a student or teacher logs in, they will then have access to their personalized schedule, as well as several functions that are for the entire community. All Beacon portal members get Web access to their Email, a personalized bookmark system and access to the school-wide discussion forums.” — Can you say “green?”
  • “For teachers, in addition to the school-wide services, logging on to the portal gives them access to a great deal of services.” — Check them out. We’re moving towards this with our SIS, but it’s not in concert with Manila.
  • “When students log into the portal, they are greeted with a page listing all of their classes, with the five most recent homework assignments posted in front of them. One click and they can get to all of the homework assignments posted in the class for the year.” — Nice.

    There’s more, but I have to stop. This is what a Website should be, and Chris has the vision and the skills to make it happen. It sounds downright dreamy, and I’m jealous as heck…people shouldn’t be able to think it without the skills and the environment to do it. Not fair, I say… But great job by Chris and his kids.

    • Comments

    1. John Carlson says

      “Here, we’d have to have review.”… This seemingly harmless little phrase creates as many huge impediments to the integration of new technologies as does technophobia. Technology coordinators too often worry about being liable ( or at least responsible ) for all internet content or they become control freaks who are convinced that the unwashed masses will spoil their little fiefdom. The rank and file either fear the new technology or determine that it isn’t worth the trouble. In my district, ANY change to a website is supposed to be signed-off by the building principal. That’s simply too much oversight. New technologies should be empowering teachers not encumbering them.

    2. Michael Bazeley says

      Wow. I mean, wow. And here I was all proud because I got a few teachers blogging this year, and set up a few staff e-mail accounts.

      They’ve certainly raised the bar. Thanks for the info.

    3. Chris Lehmann says

      Thanks Will, for your comments… it’s funny, we’ve built it piece by piece for so long that I see all the stuff I still want to do, and it’s great to get the chance to step back from it and see what others see.

      As for the questions / comments:

      We do trust our PA to post responsibly, but I also check their comments after general meetings and such to read the minutes.

      And yes, I don’t think that I have the restrictions that a lot of suburban districts have. (Of course, I don’t have the budget that you have either, I’m guessing…) Beacon was blessed by having really forward-thinking founder / administrators who had the vision to see educational technology as a risk worth taking. A lot of what I’ve been able to build come from talking to teachers, administrators, parents and students and having that “Wouldn’t that be cool if we could…” conversation, and then knowing that I’d always have the backing from my administration to try to make it happen.

      Oh… and the 2004 Film Festival was out of this world. We’ve got almost two hours of original student short film work… it’s going up online within the next two weeks. Kate Reed, one of our amazing faculty, put in hundreds of hours of sweat work working with kids to get them all done, and they are as good as any student films I’ve ever seen.