What is an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)?

Since the early 2000s, there has been a long, contentious debate among teachers, ministry officials and the Barbadian society as a whole, on whether to allow students to have access to the use of cell phones in Barbadian schools. In the right context, cell phones/smartphone can be viewed as simply another technological/communication tool. After all, cell phones or smartphones can do the same as computers and essentially, are less cumbersome to carry! However, empirical evidence has shown that these phones are inappropriately utilized by many students. These inappropriate actions have caused damage to the reputation of schools and other students. Consequently, the use of cell phones by students is PROHIBITED in Barbadian schools! To date, there is still no clear, definitive Cell Phone Use Policy mandated by the Ministry of Education in Barbados. However, this view might now be changing as technology is becoming more integrated within school environments. Click here to view comments by Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education on cellphone use in schools.

As most of our students have devices that will be utilized in class and remotely, we deemed an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) as the most appropriate choice for our school at this time. The AUP covers all technological devices that are permitted to be used (inclusive of cell phones) while accessing the school’s network/internet, whereas a Cell Phone Policy would be limited to a specified tool – the cell phone! Additionally, the AUP will also act as a measure to maintain discipline among students and to promote and maintain good digital citizenship practices among the school's network users. To ensure that students are aware of good digital citizenship guidelines and to ensure adherence to the AUP, educational videos and the modeling of best practices by teachers will be encouraged.

Click here to view a Student AUP educational video.