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Facebook becomes teachers’ business
A new program called SchoolVue allows teachers in the school full control over all the computers in their classrooms. Teachers can view each student’s monitor screen and even work on each computer from one central location.
Business and computers teacher Kathleen McNeal has been teaching around the Midwest for over 20 years.
“SchoolVue is a great asset to class,” McNeal said.
While teaching in class, McNeal has easier options to help students.
“I’m able to help with lecture classes. We can all view the same thing on our computers at once,” McNeal said.
SchoolVue has been known to be an easy route into one’s MySpace or Facebook account, but McNeal believes there’s a line that can be crossed
“I haven’t heard of any teachers doing it, if I knew how to work MySpace I could do a lot,” McNeal said in laughter.
In order for any teacher to view a students personal business, a student must be signed on to that website.
“They’d have to be signed on, and I’d have to be aware of it, but that would never happen,” McNeal said.
Senior Alen Ademovic has been taking computer classes for his entire high school career. Ademovic has a lot of respect for SchoolVue.
“They use it to help you, and if you’re stuck on something they can help from their computer,” Ademovic said.
In business classrooms, privacy on social networking sites has never been an issue. “SchoolVue is mostly used for help. If a teacher sees you on MySpace they’re just going to tell you to get off,” Ademovic said
Principal Doug Wheeler is a strong supporter of the SchoolVue program.
“Teacher’s like it, it’s a very strong tool in special education classrooms. It keeps students off of inappropriate sites, and is great for one on one classes,” Wheeler said.
Teachers being able to access one’s private information is the main concern with students, but Wheeler doesn’t think it’s an issue.
“It’s not used for that purpose, it just keeps everyone on the same page and out of trouble,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler compared employees to students, making a point that these computer programs are used in the work place.
“Most jobs involve computer usage, and if your boss catches you on an inappropriate site you’re at risk of losing your job,” Wheeler said.