COBHAM’S ROLE

This section outlines our school’s approach to supporting safe digital technology use.

Cobham recognises the opportunity that digital technology has brought to education and also the complexity that digital technology has brought for educators. Our students have a right to receive a high-quality education in a safe online and offline environment. We are committed to supporting our team to manage the risks that you and your students may face.

We will do this by:

• Providing information and support to ensure staff and students are aware of, and able to meet their responsibilities.

  • See 2021 - Cobham Intermediate DIGITAL AGREEMENT - Staff Interpretation and Guidelines for Safe Digital Practice

• Teaching a curriculum that reinforces and promotes positive online safety behaviours.

• Providing technology that oversees students’ use of the school’s digital devices and platforms.

• Offering appropriate access to the internet and online services.

• Allowing the use of technology for personal reasons as long as it does not negatively impact on others.

• Supporting staff and students who need help dealing with online incidents.

• Securing the personal information the school collects about you.

• Protecting your freedom of expression under New Zealand’s Bill of Rights.

• Having a plan in place when something serious or illegal happens. This might include getting in touch with the Police or Netsafe.

ONLINE INCIDENTS

This section outlines how staff are expected to respond if students seek support and assistance or if they encounter any online concerns.

Despite the advantages technology offers and people’s best intentions, sometimes there will be challenges and harm will occur within an online community. Staff are expected to action incidents regardless of whether they were accidental or purposeful in nature. Even incidents that occur outside of the school or outside of school hours are required to be actioned if they are negatively impacting on student learning.

Cobham is committed to supporting staff to manage online safety incidents.

• Receiving reports: Incidents of online bullying or harm are not tolerated at our school and students are encouraged to report them to any staff member. Staff are expected to receive these reports and to take appropriate steps in response.

• Responsibility to report: If you become aware of any online incident or suspected incident with a potential to cause harm to a member of this school community, you must act upon it. Incidents impacting students within your care should be recorded and actioned appropriately. Risks to other members of the school community should be escalated appropriately.

• Supporting students: Staff are expected to prioritise student safety and to escalate reports appropriately. Students should be encouraged and, if necessary, helped to preserve evidence of what is happening so an investigation can occur. They should be discouraged from putting themselves at further risk by engaging with the person(s).

• Abuse of staff: Online abuse and harassment of staff is not tolerated by the school. Any staff member that is subjected to online abuse and/or harassment should be encouraged to seek support from school management. The school will mediate disputes or report them to external authorities as appropriate.

• Incidents involving you: When you become aware of any online incident or breach of these guidelines that have the potential to cause harm to a member of this school community (including you), you are responsible for reporting it to school management. For matters that are complex, or sensitive – we recommend seeking advice and support from Netsafe.

• Support from Netsafe: Netsafe is New Zealand’s independent online safety organisation and it provides services in support of educators and schools under contract to the Ministry of Education. They provide free confidential advice seven days a week. They can be contacted on 0508 NETSAFE (0508 638 723) or online at netsafe.org.nz/report

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

This section outlines what your school/kura considers appropriate professional conduct in the use of digital technology and online spaces in school and as a member of the school community.

Staff members of Cobahm’s community are guided by the professional conduct outlined in the Codes and Standards (Education Council of Aotearoa NZ) and how these relate to the safe use of digital technologies and online spaces in schools. As role-models for students, staff have a responsibility to uphold the school’s values and ensure our online environment is a positive place to learn, connect and enjoy. This means modelling safe, responsible and ethical use of digital technology and online spaces.

The school directly oversees and is responsible for the use of devices, systems and principles in place designed to support learning. These are:

• Password security: Use strong passwords and keep them private. Do not share your login details or use others’ login details.

• Log in and out: This is an essential security measure for keeping sites and content safe.

• Hardware: Digital equipment including Macbooks, televisions, Apple TVs, device safes and classroom iPads are the responsibility of the staff member issued the device. These (and accompanying equipment - chargers, cables and remotes etc) must be stored safely and securely at all times.

• Personal device security: Staff are responsible for the security settings of their own devices. Staff should endeavour to ensure any device used within the school has appropriate security software, that all software is up to date – and that the devices are free from any harmful content which could be accidentally exposed during use.

• Offensive content: Do not bring into the school or add to school systems content that is considered inappropriate for our students.

• Recognise copyright and intellectual property: Follow copyright and intellectual property requirements by attributing references, images, text, audio and video appropriately.

• Cobham things are for Cobham only. Your school Google account is for your time at Cobham only and must be used for exclusively for official business, including all in-house electronic communication. Cobham staff and students may not initiate digital communication through social media or personal accounts.

Staff at times also use technology that is not directly governed by the school. It is important to recognise that technology blurs the lines between what is strictly inside of the school, and that from outside of school and therefore within the jurisdiction of employment agreements. For staff safety and the avoidance of doubt, the following requirements apply to activity that may impact a staff members’ ability to perform their role or on the safety of other members of the community.

• Know the law: New Zealand has a number of pieces of legislation that govern online spaces. You should be familiar with your responsibilities under these acts to ensure you are operating within the law and are able to guide students to do so.

• Protect your reputation: Social media can expose our private lives to our professional communities. Be wary of how and where you post personal content that could undermine your reputation as a teaching professional.

• Share with care: Freedom of expression protects our right to share our views, but it does not protect people from the harm expressing those views can create. Be wary of creating or forwarding content that could be considered harmful, inappropriate or hurtful to any member of the school community.

• Protect privacy: Don’t disclose sensitive personal information about another person in any digital communication and consider what information you share about yourself online. Messages that you send privately can be made public by other parties.

• Keep it offline: Don’t participate in our community’s disputes online. From time to time disputes will arise between parents and/or students within the school community and can be carried out online. The school has processes in place for complaints and disputes should be handled through these channels where possible.

Get consent for content: Only record and share video, photo or audio content if the people in it know it has been taken and have provided their consent.