Dayah's Acceptable Use Policy

South Eastern Primary School Internet Acceptable Use Policy
Preamble

The internet is a resource that is now being used extensively in schools to facilitate and improve students’ learning. However, the content on the internet is unregulated and some of it is very inappropriate for students. In addition, almost anyone can access the internet and there are deceitful users who can pose a threat to the safety of students. The South Eastern Primary School is aware of its responsibility to protect the well-being of students and is adopting this Acceptable Use Policy to provide guidance on the appropriate use of the internet and its resources.

The school wishes to encourage ethical and responsible conduct in all online network activities by students. Students are reminded that the use of the internet service is a privilege, not a right, and in order to maintain the privilege, students must agree to learn and comply with all of the provisions of this policy.

Definitions

Computer network – two or more computers that are connected together to share resources such as hardware, data, and software.
Email - (Electronic mail). The exchange of electronic messages and computer files between computers that are connected to the Internet or some other computer network.
Internet - a worldwide system of computer networks that allows users to send and receive information from other computers.

Policy Statement

The computer network at South Eastern Primary School has been set up to allow internet access to students for educational purposes. Students of the Standards One to Standard Five will be able to use the internet for classroom activities, research activities, peer review of assigned work, and the exchange of project-related ideas, opinions, and questions via email and message boards. Students will have access to the internet via the computers in the computer laboratory once per week for forty five minutes during their assigned computer science class. Additional usage can be negotiated with the computer science teacher. Students’ internet use must always be carried out under the supervision of a teacher. Each class will have an email address to be used for communicating with students in other schools, businesses and other teacher approved persons. All students must complete a “computer responsibility” mini course to understand the AUP guidelines before being allowed internet access.In order to ensure the computer network is being used properly all internet activity is monitored and logged. All emails coming in or leaving are scanned for viruses and the content scanned for offensive material.

Students will:

• Design and post web pages and other material from school resources only after obtaining a teacher’s permission.
• Seek a teacher’s permission before using personal floppy disks, memory sticks, CD-ROMS, or other digital storage media in school.
• Treat others with respect at all times and will not undertake any actions that may bring the school to disrepute.
• Report accidental accessing of inappropriate materials immediately to a teacher.
• Report threatening or discomforting materials to a teacher.
• Only use e-mail accounts that have been assigned by the school to communicate with teachers and peers.

Unacceptable Uses

Students will:

• Not copy information into assignments and fail to acknowledge the source (plagiarism and copyright infringement).
• Not make illegal copies of music, games or movies (copyright infringement).
• Not download materials or images not relevant to their studies.Never disclose or publicize personal information about themselves, their classmates or family members on the internet (no photos, last names, addresses, phone number, and passwords).
• Never agree to meet in person with anyone they have met online or via emails unless they first have the approval of a parent or guardian.Not intentionally visit Internet sites that contain obscene, illegal, hateful or otherwise objectionable materials.
• Not use vulgar, derogatory, or obscene language. They may not engage in personal attacks, harass another person, or post or email private information about another person.
• Not participate in chain letters or send an email to more than ten people at the same time (spamming).

Violations/Sanctions

Misuse of the internet may result in disciplinary action, including written warnings, withdrawal of access privileges and, in extreme cases, suspension or expulsion. The school also reserves the right to report any illegal activities to the appropriate authorities.

Permission

Student: I agree to follow the school’s Acceptable Use Policy on the use of the Internet. I will use the Internet in a responsible way and obey all the rules explained to me by the school.
Student’s Signature: _______________________________ Date: ________________________

Parent: As the parent or legal guardian of the above student, I have read the Acceptable Use Policy and grant permission for my son or daughter or the child in my care to access the Internet.
Parent/Guardian’s Signature: _______________________________ Date: _________________

References

Classroom Connect (2004). Connected teacher: Accepted use policy. Retrieved November 15, 2007 from http://www.classroom.com/community/connection/howto/aup.jhtml

Education World: The Educator’s Best Friend (n.d.). Getting started on the internet: Developing an acceptable use policy (AUP). Retrieved November 15, 2007 from http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr093.shtml

Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics (n.d.). Appendix A: Sample acceptable use agreements and policies. Retrieved November 15, 2007 from

http://165.224.221.98/pubs2005/tech_suite/app_A.asp

Media Awareness Network (2007). Acceptable use policies for internet use.
Retrieved November 15, 2007 fromhttp://www.media- awareness.ca/english/resources/special_initiatives/wa_
resources/wa_teachers/backgrounders/acceptable_use.cfm

Model Acceptable Use Policy Information Technology Resources in the Schools.( n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2007 from
http://www.cybercrime.gov/rules/acceptableUsePolicy.htm

National Center for Technology in Education (n.d.). Acceptable use policy template Retrieved November 15, 2007 from
http://www.ncte.ie/documents/InternetSafety/AUP/DOC/Sample_AUP_Eng.doc

Oklahoma State Department of Education (n.d.). Sample internet usage policy. Retrieved November 16, 2007 from http://title3.sde.state.ok.us/technology/aup.htm

Vail, K. (2000). Who’s got Mail? In Electronic School. Retrieved November 15, 2007 from http://www.electronic-school.com/2000/01/0100sbot.html

Virginia Department of Education (n.d.). Acceptable use policies: A handbook. Retrieved November 15, 2007 from
http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Technology/AUP/home.shtml#components