Oak Hills Technology Acceptable Use Policy: Ramsdell’s REMIX

Community + Respect + Safety =

Rocket-Boosted Learning, Collaboration & Creativity

“We will leverage existing and emerging technology as a means to learn and thrive in the 21st Century and prepare our students for success toward their goals in the competitive global, electronic age.”  

- From the Oak Hill Acceptable Use Policy (a document worth re-reading!) 

Some food for thought about Acceptable Use Policies from Mike King

(suggestion: you might want to mute background boombox track)

The Oak Hills School District promotes technology-supported learning as being integral to 21st Century learning, both locally and globally. A well-crafted best-practice technology policy for educators, students, and families, our document uses positive language to help staff, families, and students understand the wonderful benefits of technology-enhanced learning, while at the same time outlining parameters for the safe and legitimate use of technology in the Oak Hills District. In this document, the district takes a strong, laudable stand that digital learning is critical and necessary; the policy encourages guardians to allow students to use technology as a vital part of the education of successful citizens, while allowing guardians to withhold permission to use technology. 

The document also addresses adults and students alike on what is and is not acceptable use of technology. The AUP is a practical tool to use, not only at the beginning, but throughout the school year. I plan to let kids translate it into "Kid Speak" as a first assignment. 

Technology-enhanced learning is AWESOME...

...if you stay safe, are respectful, and follow the rules.

WE ARE A DIGITAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

Oak Hills technology is shared by all of us in our community: students, teachers, parents, staff, administrators, and the community at large. All of the technology we use is meant to be for our mutual benefit, with the common goal of educating our children and helping to be part of the "village" that raises them well.

As community members, our use of technology, the Internet, email, Websites, research, digital publication, etc., is public. We can expect what we put out there to be read by other students, teachers, staff, families, and the public. If we remember this fact, it will help us as students and educators to keep bringing forward our best work, our best knowledge, and our best selves. 

"We believe that the tremendous value of technology and the information technology network as an educational resource far outweighs the potential risks." - from the policy

WE ARE RESPECTFUL

First being respectful ourselves, and then teaching our children, we show respect by honoring the contributions and thoughts of others, using appropriate and non-hurtful language, being mindful of tone. We teach digital citizenship and show digital citizenship. Even using good grammar and bothering to spell correctly is a way of showing respect.

We are respectful to the district’s electronic equipment and respectful of rules. We respect the right we are given to use technology as a professional and learning tool. Students must learn to respect the privilege to use the technology that is available, and to use the technology only for what they are supposed to be using it for. We respect the privacy of others and groups; we work to maintain the integrity of all electronic resources by reporting anything that is out of order.

WE ALL HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD SAFETY

For adults and children, sticking with the intended purposes of educational usage will go a long way to keeping us all being responsible and safe. For teachers, teaching about cyber bullying, being very clear about where students are allowed to “be” on the Internet, being very clear about tasks, and using Learning Management Systems can help ensure safety. Monitoring student use is serious business. Just keeping students doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing online--at times one of the biggest challenges--is perhaps one of the most important things we can do to help students stay digitally safe.

Teaching students about their digital footprint is critical. Troubleshooting with students, i.e., letting them know the kinds of things that are not safe, such as giving out identifying information or being too open with feelings, is really key. Of course, helping them understand ways others take advantage of others online is key as well (predators, identity theft, etc.). For everyone, reporting anything that causes discomfort or that is questionable helps us to vigilantly work toward safe usage.

Being part of an active digital community, acting responsibly, respectfully, and using rules of safety promotes the a fabulously enriched environment for student collaboration, research, creativity, and publication.

WHAT DO YOU THINK: IS OUR ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY A GOOD ONE?

According to the "Acceptable Use Policy" article on the site, The Digital Sandbox, the following are some questions that can be used to evaluate an AUP. Does your AUP:

• Protect students from objectionable or questionable material?
• Protect students from contact with questionable persons who may exhibit deviant or objectionable behavior?
• Protect students from materials that encourage students to participate in destructive behavior?
• Provide consideration for privacy and access rights for students?
• Ensure that the Internet and related school equipment be used for educational uses only?

In my opinion, our AUP covers all the bases with flying colors. What do you think? Would you add, modify, or edit out anything?