Double Journal Entry #3 - Quest Atlantis

While I was reading the article

Making learning fun: Quest Atlantis, a game without guns

the following quote caught my attention. 

Since we are working in this class to essentially design a video game I thought this was an excellent quote to examine as we are study the course. It is important when designing a video game that we understand the social commitments and that we clearly understand what constraints that need to be put in place. We also have to make sure that these constraints do not take away from the learning process of the student. We need to make sure that the game allows for social interaction and collaboration with out posing a safety threat or a distraction to the students. 

In my county we are going through the process of instituting a social media policy - and there is great concern with this. If we are going to be having our students communicate via Internet in any matter or form we are to send home letters to the parents and receive a signature of approval for their student to use this. As I use Edmodo in ALL of my classes this will become a very time consuming process - and as I continue to implement various forms of communication and collaboration over the Internet this will pose even more paperwork. There is also concern as how the board will gain access to all of the teachers personal social networking information. Currently they have withdrawn the policy for further review.