AUP Driven by Vision not Protection

Here is my draft of an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for the elementary school. I’m eager to share it with our school community because I like the way it portrays the way we approach teaching and learning. I hope it shines light on our vision.

I hope it does not build a great wall of protection. I see an AUP as another force driving a school’s vision. A vision for literacy and an approach to teaching and learning should drive such policies…not fear. The need to protect children, although very important, follows the need to build the right kinds of literacy skills. If we do that, the digital citizenship (safe, responsible, and legal uses of technology) will fall in place.

This AUP needs to hear what parents, students, and teachers think. What are your thoughts?

ELEMEMENTARY AUP (DRAFT)

Introduction
Our students use technology to learn. Technology is essential to facilitate the creative problem solving, information fluency, and collaboration that we see in today’s democratic societies. While we want our students to be active contributors in our connected world, we also want them to be safe, legal, and responsible. This acceptable use policy (AUP) supports our vision of technology use and upholds in our students a strong sense of digital citizenship.

How We Use Technology
The integrated information technology program at IST develops in our students the literacy skills they need to contribute in a connected world. We use technology to facilitate creativity and innovation. We use technology to support communication and collaboration. We use technology to extend research and information fluency. We develop in our students a sound understanding of technology operations and concepts. We believe technology can be transformative and we encourage students to use technology to do what they could not otherwise do. We create a safe online environment for everyone. Filtering software keeps unwanted sites off our computers. And adults supervise our students’ computer activities at school.

Our Hardware and Software
Our students can access the Internet via both wired and wireless connections that cover the entire school campus. We are a PC and Mac school with more than three hundred computers distributed throughout mini labs in shared classrooms, on portable labs, and stand-alone computer labs. Digital projectors and interactive whiteboards in both the elementary and secondary schools facilitate group viewing and discussions. Elementary and secondary students each have access to a standard suite of software to support their learning needs.

Being a Digital Citizen
In the elementary school we use information and technology in safe, legal, and responsible ways. We embrace the following conditions or facets of being a digital citizen.

• Respect Yourself. I will select online names that are appropriate, I will consider the information and images that I post online.
• Protect Yourself. I will not publish my personal details, contact details or a schedule of my activities.
• Respect Others. I will not use technologies to bully or tease other people.
• Protect Others. I will protect others by reporting abuse and not forwarding inappropriate materials or communications.
• Respect Intellectual Property. I will suitably cite any and all use of websites, books, media, etc.
• Protect Intellectual Property. I will request to use the software and media others produce.

Consequences for Violations
I understand and will follow this Acceptable Use Policy. If I break this agreement, the consequences could include suspension of computer privileges and/or disciplinary action.

I also understand that my school network and e-mail accounts are owned by IST and are not private. IST has the right to access my information at any time.

Student’s Name (please print)   ________________________________

Student’s Signature    ________________________________                  Date _______________

As the parent or guardian of this student, I have read the Acceptable Use Policy. I understand that technology is provided for educational purposes in keeping with the academic goals of IST, and that student use for any other purpose is inappropriate. I recognize it is impossible for the school to restrict access to all controversial materials, and I will not hold the school responsible for materials acquired on the school network. I understand that children’s computer activities at home should be supervised as they can affect the academic environment at school.

I hereby give permission for my child to use technology resources at IST.

Parent or Guardian’s Name (please print)    ________________________________

Parent or Guardian’s Signature   ________________________________                  Date _______________

Sharing Policy for Students and Parents
The spirit of technology education is one of sharing. We create blogs, podcasts, videos, wikis, and other social media, but we don’t create them for one person. We create them to share with the class, the school, and the school community and, perhaps, the world, because we understand that a global audience drives achievement. We might share our work on websites like www.voicethread.com, class blogs, and wikis. These are teacher moderated sites, where students can collaborate online with teacher supervision. Student full names and personal information are always kept confidential and are not shared online.

Will you allow your students’ created content like videos, writing blogs, audio and video podcasts, which may include their images, to be shared on teacher moderated sites similar to voicethread, blogs, and wikis?

Initial next to the appropriate box:

Yes, it’s okay to share my child’s media on teacher moderated sites       __________
It’s only okay to share my child’s media with the school community      __________
It’s only okay to share my child’s media if I approve it first                     __________
No, please do not share my child’s media outside of class                      __________

Resources

Doug Belshaw’s Acceptable Use Agreements, Definitions & Digital Guidelines

Kevin Jarrett’s School AUP 2.0: The Definitive, Ever-Changing Guide

David Warlick’s School AUP 2.0

Harvey Barnett’s Acceptable Use Policies

Miguel Guhlin’s Acceptable Use Policy DRAFT

Gordon Dahlby’s AUP’s (Acceptable Use Policies) for students; for staff (Discussion)

Sylvia Martinez’s What message does your AUP send home?

Tony Baldasaro’s AUPs, Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll