[elearning] Sponsorship of school websites

[Cameron Bell]

Whilst there are various points of view as to the relative merits of  
such a system and the implications of sponsorship (which many schools  
seek for other activities - sports, performances, music etc) I think  
the main reason not to do it is that it (IMHO) makes the website look  
cheap, cluttered and nasty.
My Prin was quite clear - (paraphrasing) we are not going down that  
path - it has nothing to do with our programs and cheapens/trivialises  
the website and teaching and learning.
I was very happy to hear that.

Cameron

On 18/03/2009, at 1:30 PM, Roland Gesthuizen wrote:

> Interesting development. A group is buying space on state school  
> websites .. actually it goes beyond this. They are taking over the  
> entire school website, offering free online hosting and tools to  
> facilitate the publishing of online content, in exchange for  
> advertising space and a cut in the online profits.
>     http://www.sponsor-ed.com.au/
>
> There are several primary schools on this program listed here and I  
> notice Kew High School. Our school administration was approached to  
> be a secondary partner. Faced with a glossy brochure, I was  
> approached to take our current school website down in exchange for  
> this service. You can view the full list here http://tinyurl.com/c3zad2 
>  (google maps)
>
> School sponsorship was raised over a decade ago by an ABC story back  
> in 2000 with concerns raised by the different groups.
>      http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s136808.htm
>
> I have some further reservations whilst looking over this MCEETYA  
> code of practice for school sponsorship
>      http://www.mceetya.edu.au/mceetya/national_code_sponsorship,12054.html
>
> From what I can spot, there are a couple of concerns
> Schools used as a captive market for commercial sponsors
> Vendor lockin for internet hosting (considering the investment of  
> time to build a site or later migrate content with cut / paste)
> Tacit endorsement of a product by association with the Department of  
> Education
> Sponsor-Ed probably has the best wishes at heart, providing schools  
> with a precious revenue stream but I that alone does not make this a  
> good thing. Whilst there is no such thing as a free lunch, off the  
> top of my head, groups such as Google, WikiSpaces and Edublogs will  
> remove commercial advertising for their 'free' services when they  
> are used by students.
>
> Whilst they indicate that the sponsorship will be ethical but how  
> will these guidelines be managed? If the local mayor advertises,  
> will political parties be next? If we accept the red cross, how  
> about green-peace or local church groups? Do we next permit  
> hospitals to promote themselves online with ethical drug-company  
> advertising? Will teachers next raise a few dollars with an  
> advertising banner bundled to their departmental e-mail messages?
>
> Whist I am excited by new Web2.0 based techologies and free online  
> hosting of school websites, is this something that we really wish  
> schools to engage with?
>
> What are your thoughts?
>
> Regards Roland
>
> -- 
> Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College
> http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au
>
> "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens  
> can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." -- 
> Margaret Mead
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