Tennessee’s Internet Safety and Acceptable Use Policy Resource Guide for Best Practices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This guide was created with the cooperation of the Tennessee State Attorney General’s Office and the Tennessee Department of Education

September 2008

 

For questions and comments contact Dr. Barbara Denson, Coordinator of Instructional Technology, Department of Education (615) 532-4757

 

Copyrighted by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education.  All rights reserved.  Reproduced with permission.

Contents

 

Foreword……………………………………………………………..…3

 

Introduction……………………………………………………………..4

 

Legislation………………………………………………………………5

 

Guidelines and Issues School Districts Must Address………………….9

 

Integrating Internet Safety into the Curriculum………………………...9

 

The Role of Students…………………………….……………………...10

 

The Role of Parents, Grandparents, and Caregivers…….…………..….11

 

The Role of Educators ………………………………………….……...12

 

The Role of School Boards……….…………………………………….17

 

The Role of Directors …………....…………………….………………18

 

The Role of Administrators…………………………………………….19

 

APPENDIX A Student Resources……………….………….……….…21

 

APPENDIX B Parent, Grandparent, and Caregiver Resources…….….24

 

APPENDIX C Educator Resources…………………………….……..26

 

APPENDIX D School Board Member Resources……………….……29

 

APPENDIX E District and School Administrator Information………. 30

 

APPENDIX F Tennessee School Boards Association Acceptable Use Policy…………………………………………………………………..31

 

Works Cited……………………………………………………………34

Forward

 

Students in Tennessee access technology as a tool to enable them to become competitive, skilled, critical thinkers in the global economy of the 21^st century.  They will need to learn to utilize technology in a creative, collaborative, and ethical manner in order to live prolifically in a continuously evolving digital world.

 

It is the goal of the Tennessee Department of Education and the State Attorney General’s Office to provide resources and guidance to public and private schools in Tennessee to develop and implement Internet safety policies and programs as directed by Public Chapter 989.  This document is intended as a guide to aid districts and designated private school entities in adding required Internet safety components to current acceptable use policies and to aid in the required integration of Internet safety into the curricula.  This document offers several recommendations; however, specific details of policies and curricular details are left to the discretion of the districts and/or private school entities.

 

These guidelines were developed with input from the Department of Education and the Tennessee State Attorney General’s Office.  

     

Disclaimer 

 

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided in this manual. However, the information in this manual is only intended as general summary information that is made available to the public. It is not intended to provide specific legal advice or to take the place of laws or regulations and is not to be construed as or used as legal or other professional advice. The publishers assume no responsibility for the statements and opinions contained in this document. If you have any questions about the application of issues raised herein to your present situation, seek the advice of a competent attorney or professional.

 

   

Introduction

 

Tennessee public schools have high-speed broadband access to the Internet.  With this enhanced ability to access the Web, students can access vast resources.  Students have the ability to communicate with anyone, in any place, at virtually any time and have the opportunity to become members of communities representing their own personal interests and activities.  Along with having access to advanced technologies, children need guidance and knowledge to responsibly navigate the World Wide Web.  It is imperative that children of all ages understand the potential risks involved when using the Internet as much as they understand its potential benefits.

 

All Tennessee public school districts currently have Internet acceptable use policies in place for students and operate protective software to filter and secure appropriate access to the Internet.  However, while utilization of these measures is undeniably necessary and effective, policy and software alone cannot prevent all dangers or risks in the innovative, high-speed environment of technology.  Therefore, teachers, students, and parents should be educated in such a way that they acquire the lifelong skills and tools needed to adapt to the ever changing dynamics of the Internet.

   

Student Safety on the Internet

 

Being Internet savvy does not necessarily make a student Internet safe.  Students should be aware that people are not always who they say they are and predators are always present on the Internet. Students should understand that personal information should never be given out without parental/adult permission and once information is posted it is never really deleted or invisible to others.  Additionally, students should recognize the various forms of cyberbullying and know the appropriate steps to take if confronted with that behavior.

 

Information and Activities on the Internet

 

With ninety-three percent (93%) of all Americans between 12 and 17 years old using the Internet, students and parents should have discussions about which types of sites are acceptable to visit and what to do if an inappropriate site is visited (Lenhart, A., & Smith, A., 2007).   Information about Web advertising techniques should be disseminated to students and parents for discussion.  Also, parents and students should have discussions concerning acceptable social networking and communication methods and the appropriate steps to take if there is a problem.  Students should be aware of the potential dangers of emailing, gaming, downloading files, and peer-to-peer computing (viruses, legal issues, identity theft, harassment, sexual predators, etc.). 

The information in this guide is intended to help all educational stakeholders address these issues within their schools and communities. 

 

Legislation

 

Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)

 

The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is a federal law that was enacted by the United States Congress in December 2000.  It was designed to address concerns about access to offensive content over the Internet on school and library computers. CIPA imposes certain types of requirements on any school or library that receives funding for Internet access or internal connections from the E-rate program (Federal Communications Commission, n.d.).  E-rate is a program that makes certain technology more affordable for eligible schools and libraries.  Therefore, any school or library that receives federal funding is required to install filters on their Internet computers to retain federal funding and discounts for computers and computer access (American Library Association, 2008).

CIPA uses the term “technology protection measure'' that refers to a specific technology that blocks or filters Internet access to visual depictions that are obscene, pornographic, or harmful to minors, and this particular measure must be incorporated into their policy.  In 2001, the Federal Communications commission (FCC) issued rules implementing CIPA.  Schools and libraries subject to CIPA may not receive the discounts offered by the E-Rate program unless they certify that they have an Internet safety policy and technology protection measures in place. Schools subject to CIPA are required to adopt and enforce a policy to monitor online activities of minors. Also, schools and libraries subject to CIPA are required to adopt and implement a policy addressing: (a) access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet; (b) the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications; (c) unauthorized access, including so-called "hacking," and other unlawful activities by minors online; (d) unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors; and (e) restricting minors access to materials harmful to them (Netsweeper, 2008).

 

Public Chapter No. 989, TCA § 49-1-221                                        

 

In May of 2008, Tennessee’s General Assembly enacted Public Chapter No. 989, TCA § 49-1-221, concerning Internet use in public and private schools in Tennessee.  PC 989 approaches Internet safety through education and outreach to students, educators, administrators, and community stakeholders.  It is intended to work in conjunction with CIPA, adding the responsibility of establishing appropriate measures to be taken against persons who violate the policy; an educational component, as well as outreach to stakeholders.  The law in its entirety is below.

       

Public Chapter No. 989, TCA § 49-1-221                                                     May 2008

 

PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 989

 

SENATE BILL NO. 3702

 

By Haynes, Raymond Finney, Marrero, Burks

 

Substituted for: House Bill No. 3051

 

By Winningham, Cooper, Fincher, Hardaway, Maddox

 

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to internet use

in public and private schools.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF

TENNESSEE:

 

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 2, is

amended by adding the following language as a new, appropriately designated

section:

 

§ 49-1-221.

 

(a)(1) Every two (2) years, each director of schools shall file with

the Commissioner of Education an acceptable use policy,

approved by the local school board, for the international network

of computer systems commonly known as the Internet. At a

minimum, the policy shall contain provisions that:

 

(A) Are designed to prohibit certain inappropriate

use by school district employees and students of the

school district's computer via the Internet;

 

(B) Seek to prevent access by students to material

that the school district deems to be harmful to juveniles;

 

(C) Select a technology for the school district's

computers having Internet access to filter or block Internet

access through such computers to child pornography and

obscenity;

 

(D) Establish appropriate measures to be taken

against persons who violate the policy;

 

(E) Include a component on Internet safety for

students that is integrated in a school district's instructional

program; and

 

(F) Encourage that communications with parents

which raise awareness about Internet safety are made

using existing avenues of communication, such as parent-teacher

conferences.

 

(2) The policy may include such other terms, conditions,

and requirements as deemed appropriate, such as requiring

written parental authorization for Internet use by juveniles or

differentiating acceptable uses among elementary, middle and

high school students.

 

(b) The director of schools shall take such steps as appropriate to

implement and enforce the school district's policy.

 

(c) On or before December 1, 2008, and biennially thereafter, the

Commissioner of Education shall submit a report to the chairmen of the

Education Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives

which summarizes the acceptable use policies filed with the

commissioner pursuant to this section and the status thereof.

 

(d) In addition to the foregoing requirements regarding public

school Internet use policies, the principal or other chief administrator of all

category 1-3, non-public schools, approved by the Department of

Education shall select a technology for such school's computers having

Internet access to filter or block Internet access through such computers

to child pornography.

 

(e) The Commissioner of Education shall issue guidelines to

school districts regarding instructional programs related to Internet safety.

Within forty-five (45) days of the effective date of this act, the

commissioner shall issue a memorandum advising school districts of the

provisions of this section and encourage cooperation with local law

enforcement agencies in its implementation.

 

(f) The attorney general shall work with the Department of

Education to assist local school districts in developing their own methods

for teaching Internet safety to elementary and secondary students, as well

as parents, which are within the guidelines established by the Department

of Education.

       

(g) The attorney general shall also work with the Department of

Education to establish best practices for teaching Internet safety and

make those best practices and other resources, including sample

curricula on Internet safety, available to public and private schools

throughout Tennessee.

 

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2008, the public welfare

requiring it.

   

PASSED: May 6, 2008

 

APPROVED this 21st day of May 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guidelines  

As written in Public Chapter 989, each public school district and category 1-3 nonpublic school in Tennessee must add a comprehensive Internet safety component to its Acceptable Use Policy.  Each entity should review the entire policy and make additions and changes where applicable.  The district will then submit the policy to the Commissioner of Education on or before October 31, 2008, and biennially thereafter.

 

Even though Internet safety programs may be similar from district to district, each district should formulate their own programs according to the specific needs and resources of their district.  The program should be inclusive of, but not limited to, the development and implementation of the following:

• a method to prohibit inappropriate use of the Internet by school district employees and students.
• a data and network security plan.
• procedures to address breaches of Internet security and protect student identities.
• appropriate measures against persons who violate the policy.
• k-12 Internet safety curriculum and instruction that meets State standards.
• outreach programs to parents, grandparents, caregivers, and community stakeholders.
• professional development opportunities for teachers and staff across the district.
• safety, security, and ethics measures.
• a process for reviewing, evaluating, and revising the Internet safety program biennially.

 

Integrating Internet Safety into Curriculum Content Instruction

 

PC 989 of 2008 requires districts and schools to integrate the Internet Safety component into the curriculum and instruction of all grade levels, k-12.  Districts should design the program to be age and grade appropriate.  Students should be educated about Internet safety from kindergarten through high school.  All educators should teach Internet safety and take every opportunity to warn students of potential dangers, as well as model safe and appropriate Internet use.

 

In 2007 the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) updated student technology standards.  Standard V, Digital Citizenship, states that:

“Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.  Students advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology; exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity; demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership for digital citizenship.” 

 

Resources for students k-12 to learn about Internet safety can be found in Appendix A.   

 

 

 

The Role of the Student

 

 

The Internet is a resource and a tool that should be used wisely and with caution.  Students must learn to recognize and avoid dangerous situations online and know how to report abuse or misuse.

 

Students:

 

• should recognize that not all Internet information is true, valid, or appropriate.

 

• should learn to maximize the Internet’s potential while protecting themselves from potential abuse.

 

• should recognize the potential for misrepresentation and deception by predators online, especially in chat rooms and other social networking forums.

 

• should understand that cyber bullies anonymously use the Internet to harm others through online peer pressure and manipulation.

 

• should understand fair use and copyrights with Internet activities, such as gaming or downloading music or videos.

 

• should understand the rules of plagiarism as it applies to online sources.

 

• should understand and practice identity security online.

 

• should understand the risk of computer viruses and security breaches when going to certain websites or making online purchases.

 

• should understand web advertising techniques and as well as hoaxes and scams perpetrated online.  

 

• should understand that social networking sites, chat rooms, and blogs are very public forums that can be viewed by future employers, college admission officers, and others. 

For resources, please see Appendix A

 

 

   

The Role of Parents, Grandparents, and Caregivers

 

The Internet provides opportunities for learning, communication, and entertainment.  It is a tool that many children will need to utilize and master for their futures.

 

Internet use by children should be based upon age, family values, and needs.

 

Parents and caregivers should educate their children about the virtual world just as they would the real world.  

 

Follow responsible safety practices at home:

 

• Install spyware and adware blocking software on your computer.
• Make sure you have a working firewall.
• Install anti-virus software and update it regularly.
• Take advantage of spam-blocking tools offered by your Internet provider or e-mail software.

 

Teach at home:

 

• Think before you click: With whom are they chatting or e-mailing?  What are they saying and how are they saying it? Will the person on the other end know they are joking?

 

• Walk away from the computer and “Take 5” before responding to something that upsets them online.

 

• Avoid spreading rumors, joining in cyberbullying, or sharing private communications online.

 

• Follow the golden rule of cyberspace: Don’t do anything online that you wouldn’t do in real life (Aftab, 2008).

For resources, please see Appendix B

 

    

 

 

 

The Role of Educators

 “Educators must help parents understand the potential dangers that exist on the Internet and provide the same degree of oversight they would provide for any other activity in which their child is involved” (Favata, 2006).

Monitoring is vital.

Content control software, also known as filters, is not fail proof. Often students know or learn how to do “work arounds” and bypass filtering attempts.  Teachers should physically monitor where students go on the Internet and teachers should acquaint themselves with new tools that allow students to visit protected sites.  As often as possible, teachers should browse the students’ history online and examine the pages they have visited.  The teacher should make sure that the classroom rules adhere to the district rules and that students follow the Acceptable Use Policy regarding the steps they should take after accidentally accessing an inappropriate site.

Students need to hear the rules often.

Teachers should establish and post rules for safe Internet use near computers in classrooms, libraries, and labs. Students should be reminded regularly that the rules are intended to ensure their safety. Further, students and parents should know the consequences of disobeying the rules.  Schools must be consistent and fair in enforcing classroom rules and the district’s Acceptable Use Policy.

Internet use in the classroom should be age appropriate and integrated into the learning environment. 

Teachers should create age-appropriate activities for students.  Various issues or successes can occur due to differing developmental stages and skill levels for each age group

What happens online doesn’t always stay online.

Teachers should be aware of and knowledgeable about cyber bullying, recognize the signs of bullied students, and know what to do about it. Students and parents should be made aware of how and when to report incidences and the proper steps necessary to handle those situations.  Students must be taught which types of personal information are safe to share with others because online and wireless communications can compromise students' privacy and safety. Technology-savvy predators may “eavesdrop”, and seriously threaten that child’s privacy and safety both on and off the Internet. Educators must remind students that people are not always who they claim to be and that Internet information is not always accurate or appropriate.

 

Piracy            

According to the Motion Picture Association, “Internet piracy is the downloading or distribution of unauthorized copies of intellectual property such as movies, television, music, games and software programs via the Internet. Illegal downloads occur in many forms including file sharing networks, pirate servers, websites and hacked computers. Each file posted on the Internet can result in millions of downloads. Hard goods pirates also use the Internet to sell illegally duplicated DVDs through auctions and websites” (Motion Picture Association, n.d.).

In the past, it was assumed if work didn’t show the standard copyright symbol of ©, that it was free to use. This is no longer the case. Everything created after April 1, 1989, is now automatically protected by copyright law even if it does not contain this symbol (Internet Piracy.com, n.d.).

 

The Software & Information Industry Association is the principal trade association for the software and digital content industry.  According to an article on their website, using pirated software is not only illegal, but, also risky for users. Aside from the legal consequences of using pirated software, you or your organization forfeits some practical benefits as well. Those who use pirate software:

• Increase the chances that the software will not function correctly or will fail completely;
• Forfeit access to customer support, upgrades, technical documentation, training, and bug fixes;
• Have no warranty to protect themselves;
• Increase their risk of exposure to a debilitating virus that can destroy valuable data;
• May find that the software is actually an outdated version, a beta (test) version, or a nonfunctioning copy;
• Are subject to significant fines for copyright infringement; and
• Risk potential negative publicity and public and private embarrassment.

Types of Software Piracy

According to The Software & Information Industry Association (2008), many computer users have found themselves caught in the piracy trap, unaware they were doing anything illegal. To avoid such unpleasant surprises, it may be helpful to know the ten basic ways one can intentionally or unintentionally pirate software:

1. Softlifting - occurs when a person purchases a single licensed copy of a software program and loads it on several machines, in violation of the terms of the license agreement. Typical examples of softlifting include, "sharing" software with friends and co-workers and installing software on home/laptop computers if not allowed to do so by the license.

2. Unrestricted Client Access - piracy occurs when a copy of a software program is copied onto an organization's servers and the organization's network "clients" are allowed to freely access the software in violation of the terms of the license agreement. This is a violation when the organization has a "single instance" license that permits installation of the software onto a single computer, rather than a client-server license that allows concurrent server-based network access to the software. 

3. Hard-disk Loading - occurs when an individual or company sells computers preloaded with illegal copies of software. Often this is done by the vendor as an incentive to buy certain hardware. If you buy or rent computers with preloaded software, your purchase documentation and contract with the vendor must specify which software is preloaded and that these are legal, licensed copies.

4. OEM Piracy/Unbundling - OEM (original equipment manufacturer) software, is only legally sold with specified hardware. When these programs are copied and sold separately from the hardware, this is a violation of the distribution contract between the vendor and the software publisher. Similarly, the term "unbundling" refers to the act of selling software separately that is legally sold only when bundled with another package. Software programs that are marked "not for resale" are often bundled applications.

5. Commercial Use of Noncommercial Software - Using educational or other commercial-use-restricted software in violation of the software license is a form of software piracy. Software companies will often market special non-commercial software aimed at a particular audience, such education. The price of this software is often greatly reduced.

6. Counterfeiting - is the duplication and sale of unauthorized copies of software in such a manner as to try to pass off the illegal copy as if it were a legitimate copy produced or authorized by the legal publisher.

7. CD-R Piracy - is the illegal copying of software using CD-R recording technology. This form of piracy occurs when a person obtains a copy of a software program and makes a copy or copies and re-distributes them to friends or for re-sale. Although there is some overlap between CD-R piracy and counterfeiting, with CD-R piracy there may be no attempt to try to pass off the illegal copy as a legitimate copy - it may have hand-written labels and no documentation at all.

8. Internet Piracy - is the uploading of commercial software (i.e., software that is not freeware or public domain) on to the Internet for anyone to copy or copying commercial software from any of these services. Internet piracy also includes making available or offering for sale pirated software over the Internet. Examples of this include the offering of software through an auction site, IM, IRC or a warez site.

9. Manufacturing Plant Sale of Overruns and 'Scraps' - Software publishers routinely authorize CD manufacturing plants to produce copies of their software onto CD-ROM so that they can distribute these CD-ROMs to their authorized vendors for resale to the public. Plant piracy occurs when the plant produces more copies of the software than it was authorized to make, and then resells these unauthorized overruns. Piracy also occurs when the plant is ordered by the publisher to destroy any CDs not distributed to its vendors, but the plant, in violation of these orders, resells those CDs that were intended to be scrapped.

10. Renting - software for temporary use, like you would a movie, was made illegal in the United States by the Software Rental Amendments Act of 1990 and in Canada by a 1993 amendment to the Copyright Act. As a result, rental of software is rare (The Software & Information Industry Association, 2008).

Plagiarism

According to Dictionary.com, the definition of plagiarism is the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work.

 

 

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines plagiarize as:

• to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own 
• use (another's production) without crediting the source
• to commit literary theft  
• present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source  

 

On a website dedicated to teaching about plagiarism, Plagiarism.org, the question was asked if words and thoughts could really be stolen.  According to Plagiarism.org, the answer is yes.  They describe the following as plagiarism:

 

• turning in someone else's work as your own
• copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
• failing to put a quotation in quotation marks
• giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation
• changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
• copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not (Plagiarism.org, 2008).

         

Citing of others’ works should be age and grade level appropriate.  There are various websites that show examples and have guidelines for citations that are based upon the level of the student.  Teacher discretion can be used when teaching citation, but the most important thing is to teach it!  To view websites that address citation rules, please see Appendix C.

   

For resources, please see Appendix C

 

 

 

The Role of School Boards

 

Each school board should review and approve its districts Acceptable Use Policy and implementation plan as presented by its director of schools.  The board must verify that the Acceptable Use Policy complies with current federal, state, and local laws relating to Internet safety. 

 

School boards should recognize the educational benefits of the Internet and understand how it is used in their district.  Additionally, the board should have an understanding of the potential risks of using the Internet for instructional purposes and have a system for data collection, storage, and communication.  Board members should stay current with new technologies and vulnerabilities related to the Internet and legalities related to school responsibilities.

 

In addition, board members:

 

• should provide current information regarding school Internet policies, technology securities, and Internet safety to parents and caregivers within their district.
• should provide its district’s students and parents with clear consequences associated with specific Internet violations that students and parents can understand.
• should verify that district policies and procedures are in place to address Internet related crisis management.   
• should help provide opportunities for professional development on Internet safety for all educators within their district.
• should budget in order to provide communication about and training on Internet safety within their district.

 

For resources, please see Appendix D

Communication among all stakeholders is essential for Internet safety and successful security policies.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Role of Directors

 

Public Chapter No. 989, TCA § 49-1-221 requires that directors of schools play a key role in the development and implementation of their district’s Internet safety and Acceptable Use Policy.  Each director must submit his policy to the Commissioner of Education every two years. The Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) has provided language appropriate for Tennessee school boards that can be found in Appendix F.

 

 Directors must adhere to the following guidelines for developing, implementing and submitting an acceptable use policy containing an Internet safety component:  

 

• Instate a method of communicating to school district employees and students about what is prohibited on the Internet. 
• Develop and implement a data and network security plan.
• Develop and implement procedures to address breaches of Internet security.
• Establish appropriate measures to be taken against persons who violate the policy.
• Integrate Internet safety into k-12 curriculum and instruction.
• Solicit classroom teachers and school administrators for subject-related and age- appropriate lesson plans, websites, and feedback pertaining to technology use and Internet safety issues.
• Establish outreach programs for parents, grandparents, caregivers, and community stakeholders.
• Provide professional development opportunities for teachers and staff across the district.
• Evaluate, measure, and maintain current safety, security, and ethics measures.
• Develop and implement a process for reviewing, evaluating, and revising the Internet Safety program biennially in order to keep current with technological advancements.

 

Communication among all stakeholders is essential for successful safety and security policies.   

For resources, please see Appendices E & F

           

The Role of Administrators

 

Administrators are the liaison between needs of the classroom instructor and the mandates of district policy providers.  Communication among all stakeholders is essential for successful safety and security policies.   

 

 

Administrators should:

 

• Realize the Internet’s educational advantages and how it is used throughout their school. 
• Have an awareness and understanding of the potential risks of using the Internet for instructional purposes and have a network for data collection, storage, and communication
• Stay current with new technologies, vulnerabilities, and legalities related to the Internet and school responsibilities.
• Keep parents and students regularly informed about all aspects of Internet safety.   
• Recognize professional development on Internet safety as a high priority and offer multiple learning opportunities for staff. 
• Budget for means to implement communication and training on Internet safety and curriculum.  
• Maintain current and credible acceptable use policies.     

 

 

For resources, please see Appendix E

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer

 

This document provides links to web sites created and maintained by other public and/or private organizations.  The links provided are for information purposes only; the presence of a link is not an endorsement of the site or its content. We are not responsible for the content of web sites not controlled by the State of Tennessee, nor does the State's Privacy Statement apply to external sites. Use of information obtained from such web sites is voluntary and should be independently verified. Although every reasonable effort has been made to present current and accurate information, Internet content appears, disappears, and changes over time.  Reference of these websites to any specific commercial products, process, service, manufacturer, company, or trademark does not constitute its endorsement or recommendation by the State of Tennessee and its Agencies and other Divisions including the Tennessee Department of Education or the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office.   Please inform the Department of Education about any links that may be inappropriate. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX A

 

Resources for Students K-12

 

Many sites include resources suitable for multiple age groups, parents, and educators.

 

 

Legal

 

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/referenc.html#copyright - Easy-to-use reference, library-related, copyright, and citation resources from Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators.

 

http://www.pics4learning.com/ - Pics4Learning is a copyright-friendly image library for teachers and students. The Pics4Learning collection consists of thousands of images that have been donated by students, teachers, and amateur photographers. 

 

http://www.podsafeaudio.com/ - Free music (Creative Commons) 

 

https://magnatune.com/genres/ - Royalty free music by genre

 

http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/free.html - Royalty free music sample downloads

 

http://www.freefoto.com/index.jsp - Royalty free pictures  

 

 

Safety

 

 

http://disney.go.com/surfswell/index2.html - A Disney site.  Surf Swell Island is a place on the Internet where kids and parents can learn about Internet safety.

 

http://www.wiredkids.org/wiredkids_org.html -Wired Kids is part of the WiredSafety family of sites and programs. Those include WiredPatrol.org, WiredSafety.org and Cyberlawenforcement.com. WiredKids is devoted to kids online issues and empowering children to use the Internet to make a positive difference in the lives of others. It is run entirely by unpaid volunteers from around the world. 

 

http://wiredsafety.org/911// Cyber 911 – a place that kids (anyone) can report cyber crimes  

 

http://ikeepsafe.org/iksc_kids/ - Faux Paws Fun Zone for Kids.  The Internet Keep Safe Coalition is a broad partnership of governors and/or first spouses, attorneys general, public health and educational professionals, law enforcement, and industry leaders working together for the health and safety of youth online.  iKeepSafe® uses these unique partnerships to disseminate safety resources to families worldwide.

 

http://www.att.com/gen/general?pid=1391 - AT&T Internet Safety game. AT&T’s Internet safety game for kids is designed to teach elementary school children about safety and security while surfing the Web.

http://www.safekids.com/kidsrules.htm - List of Kids’ Rules for Online Safety from safekids.com

 

http://www.isafe.org/channels/?ch=ai - i-SAFE Inc.  i-SAFE is a non-profit foundation whose mission is to educate and empower youth to make their Internet experiences safe and responsible. 

 

http://www.netsmartzkids.org/indexFL.htm - An organization that has a wide range of materials and presentations available for parents, teachers, and law enforcement. NetSmartz^® is an interactive, educational safety resource from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children^® (NCMEC) and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) for children aged 5 to 17, parents, guardians, educators, and law enforcement that uses age-appropriate, 3-D activities to teach children how to stay safer on the Internet.

 

http://www.onguardonline.gov/games/overview.aspx - Test your cyber smarts with one of the interactive quizzes on everything from spam and spyware to phishing and file-sharing.

 

http://www.teenangels.org/ - Teenangels - is a group of 13-18 year-old volunteers that have been specially trained by the local law enforcement, and many other leading safety experts in all aspects of online safety, privacy, and security. After completion of the required training, the Teenangels run unique programs in schools to spread the word about responsible and safe surfing to other teens and younger kids, parents, and teachers. 

 

http://www.safeteens.com/ - Safeteens - Tips and articles geared toward teenagers.

 

http://www.cyber-safety.com/preteens.html - Cyber Safety for Kids in a Wired World (Pre-Teens) 

 

http://www.cyber-safety.com/teens.html - Cyber Safety for Kids in a Wired World (Teens) 

 

http://www.idthecreep.com/ - online safety quiz from Cybertipline

 

http://www.cybersmart.org/for/students.asp - Cyber Smart  

http://kids.yahoo.com/ - Yahoo! Kids is Yahoo!'s entertainment and education site for children aged 6 through 12. Launched in 1996 as "Yahooligans!," Yahoo! Kids uniquely combines the power of the Yahoo! network, our relationships with the top producers of children's content and kid-safe search built on more than 10,000 Web sites vetted by our editors.

http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ - US-CERT (United States Computer Emergency Response Team) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

 

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/games/privacy_playground/ - Privacy Playground:  The First Adventure of the Three CyberPigs (Ages 8-10) In this first adventure, the CyberPigs learn about online marketing, and about protecting their privacy as they surf the Internet.

 

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/games/cybersense_nonsense/ - CyberSense and Nonsense:  The Second Adventure of the Three CyberPigs (Ages 9-12) the three CyberPigs learn some important lessons about authenticating online information and observing rules of netiquette.

 

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/games/allies_aliens/kids.cfm - Allies and Aliens:  A Mission in Critical Thinking - this interactive module for Grades 7 and 8 is designed to increase students' ability to recognize bias, prejudice and hate propaganda on the Internet and in other media. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeNkvAByjWo - Video of an online predator scenario.

 

Digital Citizenship

 

http://www.clubpenguin.com/ - Disney’s Club Penguin.  Safe Social Network to practice digital citizenship.  

 

http://www.imbee.com/ - A free account for students to blog, create groups, upload photos – 

 

http://www.whyville.net/smmk/nice

Whyville is a virtual world where boys and girls from all over the real world come to chat, play, learn, and have fun together. You design your face, earn clams by playing games, hang out at the beach, and go to town events at the Greek Theater. You can start your own business, buy a car and give your friends a ride, or write for the town newspaper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX B

 

Resources for parents, grandparents, and caregivers

Many sites include resources suitable for multiple age groups, parents, and educators.

     

http://connectsafely.org/ - Forum is for parents, teens, educators, advocates - everyone engaged in and interested in the impact of the social Web.  The site has tips for teens and parents, as well as other resources for safe blogging and social networking.

 

http://www.ikeepsafe.org/ - The Internet Keep Safe Coalition is a broad partnership of governors and/or first spouses, attorneys general, public health and educational professionals, law enforcement, and industry leaders working together for the health and safety of youth online.  iKeepSafe uses these unique partnerships to disseminate safety resources to families worldwide. Website has links to materials for educators, parents, and children.

 

http://safekids.com/ - Guidelines for Parents of Pre-Teens  

 

http://www.kidzui.com/joinus/safety?term=1885916 - The KidZui browser was designed to offer kids the same expansive experience adults have on the web. KidZui brought together a team of over 200 teachers and/or parents to scour the web in search of the best content for kids.

 

http://www.commonsense.com/internet-safety-guide/index.php - Keeping your kids Internet safe and smart

 

http://www.staysafeonline.info/basics/family.html - Internet Safety for families and children by the National Cyber Security Alliance

 

http://www.getnetwise.org/ - Safety Tips for Families by the Internet Education Foundation – includes video tutorials

 

 http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm - A Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety

 

http://www.netbullies.com/pages/7/index.htm - Resources about Net Bullies  

 

http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/parents/index.html - Stop CyberBullying. This website offers a parents’ guide to cyberbullying and addresses the issue for various age groups.

 

http://www.cyber-safety.com/parents.html - Keeping Kids Safe in a Wired World  

  

http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ - US-CERT (United State Computer Emergency Response Team) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

 

http://www.internetsafety.com/internet-safety-tips-for-parents.php - Internet Safety's 5 Tips for Creating a Cybersafe Home

 

http://tcs.cybertipline.com/ - Know the Dangers  

 

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PublicHomeServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&  - National Center for Missing Children website

 

http://internetsafetyeducator.com/internet-safety-downloads/Chat_abbreviations.pdf -

 A list of common chat abbreviations

 

http://edtech.ocde.us/Assets/EdTech/Cyber+Lingo+Quiz.pdf - Cyber Language Quiz - Want to know what all those letters mean that your kids use in chatrooms and text?  Take this quiz!  

 

http://internetsafetyeducator.com/internet-safety-terms/ - a list of Internet safety lingo

 

http://www1.k9webprotection.com/ - K-9 Web Protection Free Internet Filtering

 

http://www.techcorps.org/resources/internetsafety/primer.html - Internet Safety Primer

 

http://www.netsmartz.org/netparents.htm - Internet Safety Resources for Parents

http://www.adinasdeck.com/ - Adina's Deck - website & learning program especially suitable for 13-17 year old girls.

http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=42 - Ad Council cyberbullying issue

http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=56 - Ad Council sexual predators

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX C

 

Resources for Educators

Many sites include resources suitable for multiple age groups, parents, and educators.

     

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide  - Part of the Discovery Education website, Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators is a categorized list of sites useful for enhancing curriculum and professional growth. It is updated often to include the best sites for teaching and learning.

 

 http://www.imbee.com/teacher  - Free account for teachers to set up a classroom blog

 

http://www.isafe.org/channels/sub.php?ch=ai&sub_id=2 -   i-SAFE is a non-profit foundation whose mission is to educate and empower youth to make their Internet experiences safe and responsible.  The goal is to educate students on how to avoid dangerous, inappropriate, or unlawful online behavior. i-SAFE accomplishes this through dynamic K-12 curriculum and community outreach programs to parents, law enforcement, and community leaders.

 

 

 http://www.thejournal.com/articles/15921 - Cyber Smart software from The Journal

 

http://webwisekids.org/index.asp?page=videos  - Webwise Kids Resources - They suggest donation amounts for the full package, but there are some free videos on there, too.

 

http://www.netbullies.com/pages/1/index.htm - Resources about Net Bullies

 

 http://www.aftab.com/ - Parry Aftab is heavily involved in Internet safety and security for children, senior citizens and victims of cyber-stalking and abuse. In her pro-bono role, she runs the world's largest online safety and help group that works closely with all major law enforcement agencies worldwide.  

 

http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/educators/index.html - Stop CyberBullying

 

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=843 (Grades 9-12) - Naming in a Digital World: Creating a Safe Persona on the Internet

 

http://www.readwritethink.org/beyondtheclassroom/summer/grades9_12/OnlineName/  (Grades 9-12) - Creating a Safe Online Profile

 

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=1019 - (Grades K-2)- Safety Tips With Officer Buckle and Gloria 

 

http://www.cybersmart.org/for/parents.asp - Cyber Smart contains scope and alignment, lesson plans, and professional development suggestions.

 

http://connectsafely.org/ - Forum is for parents, teens, educators, advocates - everyone engaged in and interested in the impact of the social Web.  The site has tips for teens and parents, as well as other resources for safe blogging and social networking.

 

US-CERT (United State Computer Emergency Response Team) - http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/

 

http://www.netsmartz.org/netteens.htm - NetSmartz Teens - Lessons and Videos geared toward teens   

 

 http://internetsafetyeducator.com/ - An Educational Resource for Parents, Educators and Law Enforcement

http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=42 -  Ad Council cyberbullying issue

http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=56 - Ad Council sexual predators

http://www.parentsformeganslaw.com/html/about.lasso - Megan's Law information

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PublicHomeServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US& - This is the home page for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  It has links to resources to help protect children on the Internet.  Many of these are through its related NetSmartz service.  It also has resources for reporting missing and exploited children. 

   

Correct Citation Formats

 

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/referenc.html - Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators – Bibliographic Citations for Students by Grade Level (1-6)

 

http://secondary.oslis.org/resources/cm/mlacitationss - MLA Secondary Citation Maker (7-12)

 

http://secondary.oslis.org/resources/cm/apacitations - APA Secondary Citation Maker (7-12)

 

Copyright Resources

 

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/referenc.html#copyright - Copyright Resources including Lesson Plans and Web Quests

 

http://www.copyrightkids.org/ - A website designed for kids to answer questions about copyright laws.  It even has a place for kids to register their own copyright.

 

Music and Pictures Resources 

 

Free Music (Creative Commons) – http://www.podsafeaudio.com

 

Royalty Free Music – https://magnatune.com/genres/

 

Royalty Free Music – http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/free.html

 

Royalty Free Pictures – http://www.freefoto.com/index.jsp

 

Free pictures - http://www.pics4learning.com/

   

 

APPENDIX D

                                                            Resources for Board Members

   

http://www.educationlaw.org/  - Serving three divergent constituency groups from across the country: Attorneys, Professors, and School Administrators.

 

http://www.nsba.org/site/page.asp?TRACKID=&CID=397&DID=8638 - National School Board Association Technology Page   

 

 

APPENDIX E

Resources for Administrators

 

http://securedistrict.cosn.org/safewired/tookit/index.cfm - Toolkit for online safety

 

http://securedistrict.cosn.org/tech/resources.html - The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), in partnership with Mass Networks Education Partnership, created the Cyber Security for the Digital District leadership initiative to provide information and tools for K-12 technology leaders and policy makers to help them protect network and information security in ways that help technology contribute to their school’s primary goal of teaching and learning.

http://www.e-ratecentral.com/CIPA/cipa_policy_primer.pdf - Internet Safety Policies and CIPA

 

 

 

APPENDIX F

 

Tennessee School Boards Association Acceptable Use Policy:

 

4.406

   

Review: Annually in November

 

Use of the Internet

The Board supports the right of staff and students to have reasonable access to various information formats and believes it incumbent upon staff and students to use this privilege in an appropriate and responsible manner.

 

Employees

Before any employee is allowed use of the district's Internet or intranet access, the employee shall sign a written agreement, developed by the director/designee that sets out the terms and conditions of such use. Any employee who accesses the district's computer system for any purpose agrees to be bound by the terms of that agreement, even if no signed written agreement is on file. The director of schools shall develop and implement procedures for appropriate Internet use which shall address the following:

1. Development of the Network and Internet Use Agreement.

2. General rules and ethics of Internet access.

3. Guidelines regarding appropriate instruction and oversight of student Internet use.

4. Prohibited and illegal activities, including but not limited to the following:

• Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures

• Using obscene language

• Harassing, insulting, defaming or attacking others

• Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks

• Hacking or attempting unauthorized access to any computer

• Violation of copyright laws

• Trespassing in another's folders, work or files

• Intentional misuse of resources

• Using another's password or other identifier (impersonation)

• Use of the network for commercial purposes

• Buying or selling on the Internet

         

Students

The director of schools shall develop and implement procedures for appropriate Internet use by students. Procedures shall address the following:

1. General rules and ethics of Internet use.

2. Prohibited or illegal activities, including, but not limited to:1

• Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures

• Using obscene language

• Harassing, insulting, defaming or attacking others

• Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks

• Hacking or attempting unauthorized access

• Violation of copyright laws

• Trespassing in another's folders, work or files

• Intentional misuse of resources

• Using another's password or other identifier (impersonation)

• Use of the network for commercial purposes

• Buying or selling on the Internet

 

INTERNET SAFETY MEASURES

Internet safety measures shall be implemented that effectively address the following:

• Controlling access by students to inappropriate matter on the Internet and WorldWide Web

• Safety and security of students when they are using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications

• Preventing unauthorized access, including "hacking" and other unlawful activities by students on-line

• Unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal information regarding students

• Restricting students' access to materials harmful to them

The director of schools/designee shall establish a process to ensure the district's education technology is not used for purposes prohibited by law or for accessing sexually explicit materials. The process shall include, but not be limited to:

• Utilizing technology that blocks or filters Internet access (for both students and adults) to material that is obscene, child pornography or harmful to students

• Maintaining and securing a usage log

 

The Board shall provide reasonable public notice of, and at least one (1), public hearing or meeting to address and communicate its Internet safety measures.

     

Internet Use 4.406

A written parental consent shall be required prior to the student being granted access to electronic media involving district technological resources. The required permission/agreement form, which shall specify acceptable uses, rules of on-line behavior, access privileges and penalties for policy/procedural violations, must be signed by the parent/legal guardian of minor students (those under 18 years of age) and also by the student. This document shall be executed each year and shall be valid only in the school year in which it was signed unless parent(s) provide written notice that consent is withdrawn. In order to rescind the agreement, the student's parent/guardian (or the student who is at least 18 years old) must provide the director of schools with a written request.

 

E-MAIL

Users with network access shall not utilize district resources to establish electronic mail accounts through third-party providers or any other nonstandard electronic mail system. All data including e-mail communications stored or transmitted on school system computers shall be monitored. Employees/students have no expectation of privacy with regard to such data. E-mail correspondence may be a public record under the public records law and may be subject to public inspection.

 

INTERNET SAFETY INSTRUCTION

Students will be given appropriate instruction in Internet safety as a part of any instruction utilizing computer resources. Parents and students will be provided with material to raise awareness of the dangers posed by the internet and ways in which the internet may be used safely.

 

VIOLATIONS

Violations of this policy or a procedure promulgated under its authority shall be handled in accordance with the existing disciplinary procedures of this District.

   

___________________ ________________

Legal Reference: Cross References:

1. TCA 39-14-602 Use of Electronic Mail (e-mail) 1.805

2. 47 U.S.C.§ 254; Federal-State Joint Board Web Pages 4.407

on Universal Service, CC Docket No. 96-45

Report and Order (March 30, 2001)

3. TCA 10-7-512

4. Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-1-221

   Works Cited

 

Aftab, Parry.  (2008).  Internet Safety:  What Parents Need to Know. 

     Excerpted from Dateline NBC – “To Catch a Predator”.  Retrieved online

     from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11030746/ on August 12, 2008

 

American Library Association. (2008).  Children’s Internet Protection Act. Retrieved on

     September 8, 2008 from

     http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/ifissues/issuesrelatedlinks/cppacopacipa.cfm

 

Dictionary.com. (2008).  Definition of plagiarism.  Retrieved on September 8, 2008 from

     http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/plagiarism

 

Favata, Charles.  (2006).  Internet Safety:  What Educators Need to Know.  

     Middle Matters.  (15)2.  Retrieved from

     http://www.naesp.org/ContentLoad.do?contentId=2060 on August 13, 

     2008.  

 

Federal Communications Commission. (n.d.). Children’s Internet Protection Act. 

     Retrieved on September 8, 2008 from

     http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cipa.html

Internet Piracy.  Retrieved on September 8, 2008 from http://www.internet-piracy.com/

Lenhart, A.,Smith, A. (2007).  Writing, Technology and Teens.  Pew Internet and

     American Life Project.  Retrieved on September 8, 2008 from

     http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Writing_Report_FINAL3.pdf

 

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. (2008).  Definition of plagiarize.  Retrieved on

     September 8, 2008 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plagiarize

 

Motion Picture Association.   (n.d.)  What is Internet Piracy?  Retrieved on September 8,  

     2008 from http://www.mpaa.org/piracy_internet.asp

 

Netsweeper. (2008).  CIPA Compliant Filtering.  Retrieved on September 8, 2008 from

     http://www.netsweeper.com/Education/CIPA%20Compliant%20Filtering

 

Plagiarism.org. (2008).  What is plagiarism?  Retrieved on September 8, 2008 from

     http://www.plagiarism.org/learning_center/what_is_plagiarism.html

 

The Software & Information Industry Association, (2008).  What is Software Piracy: The   

     Piracy Problem.  Retrieved on September 8, 2008 from

     http://www.siia.net/piracy/whatis.asp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

END/ BACK COVER DESIGN