If you had to close a window that popped up on this screen, then you need to read on because this could happen to you or your students.
Hot in the news recently is the case of supply teacher Julie Amero in Connecticut. Ms. Amero was found guilty of risking injury to a minor. The story is that in Julie's classroom, the computer began to display popup windows with inappropriate content that at least part of the Grade 7 class could see. She was found guilty in court and is awaiting sentencing that could include up to 40 years in prison.
Research on this topic from all sources generate reports that she was instructed never to turn the computer off, of her attempt to turn the monitor away from the students, computer experts who indicated that the computer was filled with spyware, the IT Department not keeping the Internet content filter current, testimony that the browser history contained links to non-academic websites, and on and on.
The case has certainly sparked a great deal of interest among the technology using community.
And, the technical part could happen to any of us at any time.
If you didn't see a popup window when you reached the page, that's a good thing. At least your computer protected you from this one instance where I wrote some code that spawned a new window on top of your browser. If, on the other hand, you had to close a window, think of what else a person could be doing to your computer.
It's not something that you have to dig into the deep reaches of a computer to do. It's a relatively easy Javascript that you include in your page to make it happen. Lots of websites use the technique to get your attention to special announcements that you might otherwise miss in a myriad of other flashing, swirling content on the page. You could do a little more programming and pop up a new window when this one closes and in effect trap your visitors to a stream of these things.
Commercial sites will sell advertising and the person renting the space will do the popup (or popunder) to deliver their message separately from the rest of the webpage.
Probably the most friendly way of doing it would be to have a link that a person physically clicks in order to make it happen. If you want to see what I was talking about above, click here. A new window will open.
The fact remains though, that a web programmer could just make it happen automatically.
It's a whole technology literacy piece for all of us. We do have certain things in place in Greater Essex. The Student Reference Portal serves as a starting point for our students to assist in getting the maximum benefit from the use of the Internet. Licensing of databases like eLibrary, Grolier Encyclopedia, and the recently announced Knowledge Ontario initiative provides authoritative places for reference. Work with your teacher-librarian to learn how to search and find what it is that you're looking for.
The Acceptable Use Policy is signed and on file for all students. Of particular note should be a discussion with students who are using the internet about what to do when "it" happens. Click back on your browser, turn the monitor off, minimize the browser, are all good solutions. Then, report the incident to the teacher.
At work, we have an IT Department that looks after these things. At home, this may serve as a wakeup call to take a security lookthrough of your computer. Is your operating system up to date with patches? Do you scan regularly for viruses and malware? Are you using a browser that lets you block unwanted popup windows? Is it time to switch to one that does?
Sentencing in the Julie Amero case is scheduled for March 2.
