[LM_NET] HIT: Internet Filtering in Schools - Survey Results

["LEROY D. SMITH" <leroysmith98@GMAIL.COM>]

(Please excuse crosspostings and duplicate messages.)

Thanks to the 117 people (including 98 school librarians) who took the time
to participate in this survey this summer.  I'm appending a link to the
results at the end of this message.  First, a brief summary of the
highlights:

While schools are using a wide variety of filtering programs, there is
considerable consistency in how those programs are being implemented.
     --80% reported they had "no part in the process" of selecting the
filtering system (over 85% of librarians reported this).
     --55% indicated their systems blocked "by category;" only 17% did not
use this approach (28% weren't sure).
     --53% indicated they had no part in deciding which categories would be
blocked (this figure was 60% among librarians); only 9% were the primary
decision makers in deciding which categories were blocked (only 4% among
librarians).
     --83% reported their systems allowed for blocking/unblocking of
specific, individual sites on request; the most common configuration (47%)
seemed to be a teacher or librarian at the school level submitting the
request with the decision to block or unblock being made at the district
level--only 15% of respondents indicated that teachers or librarians could
unblock sites immediately at a students request.
     --In more than 50% of situations reported, the decision to block or
unblock was made by a district-level computer technician or district-level
administrator.
     --"Overblocking" was perceived to be a greater problem (41%) than
"underblocking" (12%).

There was, however, less agreement amont respondents in terms of
satisfaction with the systems and in perception of the effects on teaching
and learning.
     --31% were extremely or somewhat "dissatisfied" with their filtering
systems; 31% were extremely or somewhat "statisfied" with the systems (these
levels were somewhat different amont librarians:  36% dissatisfied vs. 24%
satisfied).
     --More respondents felt filtering had hindered rather than helped
teaching and learning, but not by much (34% said "hindered," 28% said
"helped"); again, there was a slightly greater difference in responses among
librarians (38% said "hindered," 24% said "helped").

To see complete results, click here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/Report.asp?U=221508932770

I welcome any questions or further comments off-list.

Thanks again to those who participated.

Leroy Smith
High School Librarian, retired
leroysmith98@gmail.com

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