Monitoring Service from Gaggle Protects Students

BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Internet communication offers a rare window into the lives of students, which presents a tremendous opportunity to provide a positive environment for learning and development. Beginning July 1, 2012, Gaggle will include its Human Monitoring Service (HMS) as a part of its subscription service in order to better protect students and allow educators to focus on teaching.

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The Human Monitoring Service puts the monitoring of blocked messages in Gaggle's hands, eliminating the need for teachers to review questionable communications so they can concentrate on classroom instruction. The Human Monitoring Service greatly improves the safety and security of students, both online and in the real world. Gaggle's HMS team has uncovered bullying, drug use, threats of school violence, teen depression, suicidal intentions, and abusive domestic situations. Detecting issues early allows parents and educators to intervene positively on behalf of students.

Director of Instructional Technology Cleon Franklin of Memphis City Schools, which currently uses the service, says the additional safety feature offers peace of mind. "The HMS team keeps the job of reviewing inappropriate content off our teachers' plates," he said. "An unexpected benefit of the system is the student safety situations that Gaggle has brought to our attention, even after school hours, allowing us to intervene and avoid potential tragedies."

"Our top concern is student safety, and HMS makes it easier for teachers to protect their students in and out of the classroom," said Shannon Sweeney, Cyber Security Agent at Gaggle. "Teachers don't have to worry about monitoring the system themselves, giving them more time to devote to classroom instruction."

Chief Executive Officer Jeff Patterson of Gaggle said, "This is the final puzzle piece that districts need to safely incorporate social networking into the classroom. Districts using HMS can be assured that communications are being constantly monitored and that safety concerns will be quickly addressed."

About Gaggle
Gaggle, founded in 1998, is the leading provider of safe online communication tools for schools. Gaggle hosts more than 3 million users in the U.S. and 23 countries. Based in Bloomington, Ill., the company is an expert in secure communications and offers proprietary technology and monitoring systems developed specifically for the school environment. Gaggle's collaboration tools have won numerous education industry awards, including a prestigious CODiE(TM) Award in 2011 and Tech & Learning Awards of Excellence in 2009, 2010 and 2011. For more information on Gaggle's full line of products, call 1-800-288-7750 or visit www.gaggle.net.

PR Contact: Anne Smith, C. Blohm & Associates, P: 608.216.7300, [email protected]
Gaggle Contact: Susan Heykamp, Director of Marketing, P: 800.288.7750, [email protected]

SOURCE Gaggle