[elearning] Sponsorship of school websites

Sat Mar 21 17:06:29 EST 2009

Interesting suggestion Clarke, I might contact them for more information
about this. Had an interesting negative response from one parent.

Regards Roland

2009/3/20 Clarke Stevenson <clarke.stevenson at bigpond.com>

>  Hi Cameron
>
> There is a solution provided my Mediasphere in Brisbane that a number of
> school in Victoria have taken up that the schools control what they
> advertise and the “business site” is separate to the “school’s site”.
>
> “In addition to school websites, Mediasphere's has created a powerful and
> effective fund raising e-business websites for schools. The simple-to-manage
> e-business websites are linked to existing school websites and automatically
> generate between $20,000 to $100,000 in fundraising revenue with free
> services and benefits to parents and alumni.”
>
> For more information visit http://www.mediasphere.com.au/education
>
> Clarke Stevenson
> Director, Sales and Marketing
> EdCube Pty Ltd
> Ph: 03 9846 5602
> Fax: 03 9846 5702
> Mob: 0433 202 383
> Skype: clarke.stevenson
> c.stevenson at edcube.net
> EdCube - Digital Portfolios made simple www.edcube.net
> Teacher Tube:
> http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=d91a15cf42214ae5f484
> http://letmegooglethatforyou.com/?q=edcube
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* elearning-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:
> elearning-bounces at edulists.com.au] *On Behalf Of *Cameron Bell
> *Sent:* Wednesday, 18 March 2009 3:18 PM
> *To:* elearning Teachers' Mailing List
> *Subject:* Re: [elearning] Sponsorship of school websites
>
>
>
> 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 c! ode 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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-- 
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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