We recently have set up email accounts for all Students at CV using the help and services of Epals. They provided us with filtered email for all of our students and the best part it’s free! I would encourage teachers to allow students to use these emails for communication student to student, teacher to student and student to teacher. Another nice aspect of all students having emails is now they can sign up for web 2.0 apps and actually have valid email address to check and verify account setup with.
Epals also allows us to set up teacher’s accounts so you can monitor specific students email if they would like. Keep in mind every email is already monitored, filtered, and flagged for inappropriate content, but if you would like to have your ability to see you specific students please contact Chris Smith with you class list so he can set it up. Let’s face it kids will be kids and that means they will find creative ways around “inappropriate content.” So an extra set of eyes in monitoring them won’t hurt.
The “How to” info
Email address: firstname_lastname_cv@epals.com
To log into their email accounts go to www.epals.com
Username: firstname_lastname_cv
Password: 7 digit student ID (teachers can find this in their grade books or class roster)
I would recommend teachers create an excel or spreadsheet document that has the student’s usernames, passwords and their email so they have it for reference (copy and paste) or so they can quickly upload the information into web 2.0 applications such as wiki’s, Moodle, Google docs, or any other web app that requires and email.
With this new and exciting opportunity will come all types of questions, comments and concerns. I would encourage you to post your thoughts as comments on this blog in hopes to provide valid and useful information to all of our CV staff.
For 10 ways to integrate email into classroom learning check out this video by Kari Stubbs.
November 24, 2008 at 1:39 pm
(Q) Do you know is this something we could just hand out to other
students, or are there privacy rights that we have to oblige with?
(A) All students can figure out other students’ email addresses. (It’s just
first name last name)
(Q) Can or could I just give these out to my students so they could
communicate with each other in or about whatever they want? OR
does it have to be strictly school related?
(A) They can email whatever they want. It is monitored and filtered.
School related or not.
(Q) Would I be held accountable for whatever takes place between student
to student emails?
(A) As far as who is accountable for what takes place… they are. Just like
they are accountable for what takes place in class.
November 25, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I think it is important that our students realize they are responsible for their actions inside or out of school. Whether they be physical, verbal, or electronic.