Glogster in the classroom

Well looking at glogster, it is fair to say that this could be a lot of fun for kids to use as a tool for presenting class work.  Unfortunately, children must be 13 years or older to be fulfilling requirements set by the site.  As a preservice teacher I am obligated to work within the legal requirements and ethical guidelines when working with children in a professional arena.  As I will be working with primary students who will not fit the criteria for using this site, I feel it would not be beneficial at this point in time to focus on a technology which I could not use with them.  By allowing children under 13 years of age to use this technology under another name, you are opening the door to dishonesty, trust and compliance issues.  Would you inform parents that their children will be or are participating in online environments which legally exclude them?  What do you think their position would be?   Where is the duty of care to ensure that the students are kept safe?  Also, what happens if a student posts a link which is not correct and instead links to inappropriate material when they should not legally have even been using the technology?  Yes this can happen anywhere online however, what are the implications of this occurring on technology which excludes the child from using in the first place?  You will be liable, is your registration worth it?   You must follow the rules you expect your children to abide by and it is our job to teach them the reality, so that they can become responsible online citizens.  If you don't follow the requirements, how will your children know when and where to 'draw the line' and besides, can children of this age predict consequences of a legal and ethical nature?   They will not always be working online within a classroom environment where a teacher can supervise their activity and we are leading the way for them to gain their own computer and online literacy skills.  Important to note is that in this circumstance there are other tools which can be used it its place.  The bottom line is, we are significant role models, involved in shaping the knowledge, skills and abilities of other peoples children who have been entrusted to us, under the understanding we will 'do the right thing'.  Compliance is the gold standard that will provide protection for our children and ourselves.