Technology can make life easier and more efficient when used correctly. It can also cause quite the headache and worry. Are students accessing inappropriate materials? Are they getting onto a social media site that isn’t blocked by the school? Will they open something that could cause a virus? Are they plagiarising or cyber cheating? Will they illegally download music, video, or documents? When teachers are asking themselves these questions, how can they trust that students are doing the right thing? (Roblyer, 2016)
An Acceptable Use Policy should and can be taught to students so they know how to stay safe, respectful, and responsible while using technology. An Acceptable Use Policy outlines the guidelines for students to use technology at school. It is in place to keep students safe. It can create stress when a teacher is worrying what students will get into. The use of the Acceptable Use Policy should help ease this worry. Students are responsible for complying with the guidelines set by the school or district, and normally, both the parents and students sign the agreement.
Campbell County School District (the district I teach in) has a Technology Acceptable Use policy that includes using technology resources responsibly, unacceptable uses of technology resources, digital citizenship, communication and collaboration tools, and student images and products for educational use. I like that it includes what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. Parents, students, and staff members have to sign the agreement and there is a disclosure about how privileges can be revoked if misused.
Scarsdale Elementary School has a very simple Acceptable Use Policy. It has bullets that discuss how students will only use the computers for school work and will not change settings. Students are to handle equipment with care, the school will enforce copyright laws, and a few more bullets about cyber bullying and inappropriate material. There is nothing for students, parents, or staff to sign. I think that this policy could benefit from including more about digital citizenship and netiquette.
The Davis School District Technology Resources Acceptable Use Agreement is a very thorough agreement which separates the parent and student sections. It starts by introducing what the agreement is, explains that the purpose is to promote educational excellence and prepare students for success by using technology. It explains how using technology resources is a privilege and not a right. Then in the student section, it discusses ways to stay safe, how to be polite and not cyber bully, follow copyright law, tell the teacher immediately if there is inappropriate material, and to not purchase anything online. Both students and parents have to sign the agreement and it discusses disciplinary actions if violated.
The Independence School District has a very well put together Technology Acceptable Use policy for elementary students. They discuss the places that students will be able to use technology in the school, digital citizenship, equipment and internet use, printing, and consequences of misuse. The students and parent have to sign the policy. I like that they include printing. If students are using printing according to the directions given, they will be fine. If students are printing in excess, they will be charged for the extra copies. This is a great idea since students need to learn that printing is a huge expense for schools.
Each of these Acceptable Use Policies have components that make them unique and effective for each school. I believe that the Independence School District’s policy contains the best components that are in kid-friendly terms. I think it’s important that the students are able to read and understand the policy on their own.
Bibliography
Campbell County School District. (2015, August). 6150 R Technology Acceptable Use. Retrieved October 6, 2015, from http://www.campbellcountyschools.net/admin.cfm?subpage=115242
Davis School District. (n.d.). Technology resource use agreement. Retrieved October 6, 2015, from http://www.davis.k12.ut.us/cms/lib09/UT01001306/Centricity/Domain/12/Forms/ EleStudentAUA.pdf
Independence School District. (2014). Technology acceptable use policy for elementary school students. Retrieved October 6, 2015, from http://sites.isdschools.org/technology_department/elem_auc
Roblyer, M.D. (2016). Integrating educational technology into teaching. (7 ed). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Scarsdale Public Schools. (2012). Acceptable use policy / Overview. Retrieved October 6, 2015, from http://www.scarsdaleschools.k12.ny.us/domain/1036
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ReplyDeleteHi Amy,
ReplyDeleteYou made some great points in your blog post about AUPs. One of the items that you pointed out how the Davis School District AUP states that technology resources are a privilege and not a right. I think that this is important to include in an AUP because then students and parents know that the abuse of technology resources can result in their use being revoked. You also noted some of the good qualities included in the AUPs you read, which I found useful. When I read through the AUPs of different district, I really looked at their similarities and differences, but didn't really think to evaluate them in terms of how useful their guidelines were, and I wish I had done that! Overall, nice job on your blog post. - Norm