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I've been thinking a lot about Least Restrictive Environment quite a bit in terms of internet filtering. If we are truly going to prepare students for college, career, and citizenship, we must be preparing them within as authentic a "real life" learning environment as possible.

Couldn't agree with you more. All the worries (inappropriate, controversial, miss informational sites, etc) are exactly what students will face in the "real life" environment. In fact, they already do. They need to experience this in school as well, as this is the place they will begin to establish a set of values and acquire the skills to discern what information is valuable to them. In our efforts to "protect" students, we are robbing them of these needed skills. I would argue that the Viagra adds during the Super Bowl are just as bad. Let's move away from a fear-based model of filtering to a more pro-active model of educating.

Hey Matt, a very interesting take on access! My argument has been that in locked down environments, kids can't develop ethics or appropriate use habits which are critical in life. You have to allow the possibility of misuse to test whether the ethic is in place, so this skill can't be demonstrated and is not developed in some systems. Nothing like developing internal locus of control.... much like intrinsic motivation.

fun graphic comparing media-related data from 2000 to 2010

Ideas and considerations for using Skype in the classroom