Chicago Public Schools Lifts Longstanding Ban On YouTube
By Samantha Abernethy in News on Feb 3, 2012 9:20PM
Chicago Public Schools teachers will finally be able to access YouTube now that CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard has decided to lift the longstanding ban.
CPS is revamping the Social Media Policy to include access to educational content on sites such as YouTube as well as providing guidelines for our schools on what is appropriate. Fifteen schools are currently piloting this program, and the goal is to allow access at all schools this spring.
Teachers can now use YouTube for access to digital learning tools for the classroom. Welcome to 2005. Plenty of schools nationwide ban YouTube for its questionable content or bandwidth usage, so it's good to see CPS finally work around it to grant access to new tools. The Tribune reports that a new enhanced internet filtering program "will keep students and staff using the Internet responsibly."
Brizard announced a new dedication to using technology in the classroom on Wednesday when he visited schools and taught a lesson about space that was broadcast to several other classrooms. He also was teaching with an iPad, one of the many iPads CPS got from a state grant. I