Responsible Technology Use

ICS promotes the responsible use of technology by every member of the community: students, teachers, administrators, parents, staff members, etc.

Electronic communication devices such as cell phones and smart watches may be used before and after school only. If a parent feels their child must have a cell phone, it must remain in their backpack, TURNED OFF while in the classroom. If it is being used during class, school personnel may confiscate it. The cell phone may be retrieved by the parent at the end of the day.  

We describe Responsible Use in terms of the ICS Way: We expect all users to follow The ICS Way in Technology.

 I can make a difference by: Taking care of myself

• Protecting my privacy.

• I will keep my personal information to myself, including my account and password.

• I will avoid or ignore people or sites that ask for private information.

• Keeping myself safe.

• I will pay attention to where I go on the web and look for safe and appropriate sites.

• I will quickly back out if I accidentally access dangerous or inappropriate material or sites.

Taking care of others

• I will be caring and respectful to others.

• I will respect their privacy and not give out their personal information, nor try to find out or use their password or account info.

• I will practice proper netiquette and be polite and respectful when communicating online.

• I will not download or bring offensive, explicit or inappropriate material into school or share it with others.

• I will respect other people’s ownership of what they create.

• I will not copy, share or download things without proper permission.

• I will give credit and properly cite when I use other people’s work.

• Being considerate of other people’s need to use the network and equipment.

• I will use school equipment for school work.

• I will avoid activities that will slow down the network (such as streaming video/audio or downloading large files).

Taking care of this place

• Respecting and protecting the equipment.

• I will use equipment safely and carefully.

• I will immediately report any problems or damages to the IT Department staff.

• Respecting and helping to preserve the network.

• I will use the network properly and not do things that might harm or damage the system, including attempting to bypass security or crack into systems or accounts.

• I will work in a positive way on the network and Internet, doing constructive work that will help make it better.

We ask all members of the ICS community to sign the parent/student signature sheet acknowledging awareness of this handbook and of these specific rules on the use of technology at ICS.  Internet access and the use of computers and other technological equipment is offered to students and community members for productive, academic work. This Responsible Use Policy for Computer, Internet and Other Electronic Resources guides all users' use of any technology equipment and network access at ICS. The ICS administration will determine what inappropriate use is and may revoke, suspend, or cancel the accounts of specific users if they deem the use inappropriate.

Where not in violation of Ethiopian law, ICS supports individuals' rights to seek electronic sources so as to obtain balanced, authoritative information presenting all sides of issues. ICS has a responsibility to provide access to educational information, materials and communication channels, and to try to screen out inappropriate materials or information. Web filters have been installed to limit access to inappropriate material. It is important to note that no screening software is entirely effective in blocking access, and therefore no school can absolutely guarantee that students or other users will not gain access to inappropriate material. All users are expected to take personal responsibility for their use of technology and the Internet, and to avoid inappropriate websites or other sources of objectionable or inappropriate material.

ICS respects users' privacy, but has the right and the responsibility to protect our students and safeguard the security and operations of our network. Therefore, ICS reserves the right with reasonable cause or as part of a random inspection program to monitor and review any user accounts, files saved or transmitted, user activity, etc., to ensure users are complying with this Responsible Use Policy. ICS also reserves the right with reasonable cause or as part of a random inspection program to inspect any items brought onto the campus, whether owned by the school or by an individual, to ensure that inappropriate materials, files, software, etc. are not brought on campus.