Online Social Media Workspace Gives Administrators Greater Oversight

With the rapid inroads social networking sites have made into schools, a prevailing concern among educators and administrators is the oversight necessary to keep students "safe" while interacting in such online communities. In response, ePals has launched LearningSpace, a new online workspace aimed at adequately addressing this concern.

The goal of LearningSpace is to provide all of the standard Web 2.0 tools for collaborative learning and social interaction, including forums, wikis, blogs, etc., while still giving user schools and districts the control necessary to keep their students from accessing information or media that some might find inappropriate for K-12 students. Administrators can create and manage specific groups for collaborative learning and others for social interaction, all customizable by subject or other category, and can set permissions in each group for each tool, allowing them to control access and monitor activity while avoiding the security threats and other safety concerns posed by access to and, more importantly, from the World Wide Web.

Explained Ken Graham, assistant superintendent for administration and technology at Hauppauge Union Free School District in Hauppauge, NY, "ePals LearningSpace offers our educators a collaborative learning environment in which students can participate in a wide variety of projects across the curriculum while using Web 2.0 technology, all within a school-safe 'gated learning community' insulated from the chaos and hazards of the public Internet."

About the Author

Scott Aronowitz is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas. He has covered the technology, advertising, and entertainment sectors for seven years. He can be reached here.

Featured

  • students using digital devices, surrounded by abstract AI motifs and soft geometric design

    Ed Tech Startup Kira Launches AI-Native Learning Platform

    A new K-12 learning platform aims to bring personalized education to every student. Kira, one of the latest ed tech ventures from Andrew Ng, former director of Stanford's AI Lab and co-founder of Coursera and DeepLearning.AI, "integrates artificial intelligence directly into every educational workflow — from lesson planning and instruction to grading, intervention, and reporting," according to a news announcement.

  • toolbox featuring a circuit-like AI symbol and containing a screwdriver, wrench, and hammer

    Microsoft Launches AI Tools for Educators

    Microsoft has introduced a variety of AI tools aimed at helping educators develop personalized learning experiences for their students, create content more efficiently, and increase student engagement.

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Point to Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warns of the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • Two hands shaking in the center with subtle technology icons, graphs, binary code, and a padlock in the dark blue background

    Two Areas for K-12 Schools to Assess for When to Work with a Managed Services Provider

    The complexity of today’s IT network infrastructure and increased cybersecurity risk are quickly moving beyond many school districts’ ability to manage on their own. But a new technology model, a partnership with a managed services provider, offers a way forward for schools to overcome these challenges.