Acceptable Use Policy

Assignment:Step One: Read about Acceptable Use Policies

    • Administrators The Acceptable Use Policy protects the student, the instructor, and the educational institution by providingguidelines for proper use of online resources and online behavior. Check out the online resources I’ve attached to this module to get an idea of what is included in an Acceptable Use Policy. As you read, try to identify components that would apply to your educational setting.

Step Two: If you haven't already, create a Google account and familiarize yourself with Google Sites.

Step Three: Access the Group Pages (Tools -> Communication -> Group Pages) to work with your group on organizing the project: Acceptable Use Policy. Set up a Skype chat to decide who will contribute what to each project. Decide who will create the Google Sites website template and invite each member to join the page. You may want to have team leaders for each project, etc…

Step Four: Access the Google Sites page to work on your collaborative pages for the Acceptable Use Policy and add your content. Work with your group to edit your Acceptable Use Policy until all are satisfied.

Step Five: I plan to access your webpages directly for grading purposes. You will need to post your team's URL on the Discussion Forum so all Acceptable Use Policies may be accessed by the entire class. Be sure to post a response to the other group websites.

Step Six: Using the Effective Collaborator Rubric for Group Project Evaluation form found in the Assessments folder, reflect on both peer and individual collaborative project participation.

My Group's Work:

Acceptable Use Policy for K12 Online Learning

Description

An Acceptable Use Policy provides guidelines for the appropriate use of online resources and behavior. This policy protects the student, the instructor, and the school.

Description:

In this module we will use a constructivist approach, working in teams to interact and collaborate online. The focus of our online project will be on developing policies that provide a framework for cultivating online interactions and relationships among community members.

We'll also examine ways to communicate learning expectations with parents and to establish protocols for following educational institutional regulations.

Specifically, we’re going to work in teams using Google Sites to develop an Acceptable Use Policy. We will use Skype to plan our activities and Google Sites to collaboratively create our documents.

Preamble

The goal of this Acceptable Use Policy is to educate students and parents about appropriate usage of school computers with Internet access. This policy outlines acceptable uses, unacceptable uses and consequences of misuse. The school's code of conduct also applies to student use of computers with Internet access and student online activities. All users must sign and return this form before they will be granted access to computer services.

DefinitionsComputer Services: any use of any computer within the school system's network

Copyright: a legal concept that gives authors control of their works and prohibits others from financially benefit from them. There are copyright limitations or fair use exceptions that give users certain rights.

Cyber-bullying: the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group that is intended to harm others.

Educational Purposes: any purpose involving coursework or other school related activities as instructed by a teacher or library staff member.

Hacking: to illegally access computer networks.

Inappropriate content: online violent content related to child abuse images, pornography, illegal activities, sexist, discriminatory, and extremist or terrorist related material.

Online activities: include, but are not limited to, email and use of the Internet.

Plagiarism: a fraud that involves stealing another individual's work or words without giving credit.

Spam: any kind of unwanted online communication.

Vandalism: any malicious attempt to damage or destroy equipment and/or information of anyone connected to the network or Internet, including uploading, creating, or transmitting computer viruses.

Policy StatementComputer services covered by this Acceptable Use Policy include, but are not limited to, student use of any computer with Internet access. Students may use provided computer services only after they and their parents have signed and returned this Acceptable Use Policy form to ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities, expectations of acceptable uses, and consequences of unacceptable uses. The use of the Network/Internet is a privilege, not a right. The inappropriate use will result in the cancellation of these privileges.

Acceptable Uses

  • I will observe all network security practices.

  • I will use only assigned accounts.

  • I will use the Internet resources only for educational purposes.

  • I will install or download software under the approval and supervision of a teacher or parent.

  • I will keep my passwords private.

  • I will keep my personal information out of my web projects. This information includes, but is not limited to, email address, family name, home address, school name, city, country, or other information that can help someone locate me. Photos or videos need to be authorized by the teacher and parent.

  • I will obey the copyright laws.

  • I will use appropriate spelling and grammar in all written work. That includes the use of email.

  • I will be polite, kind, and respectful in all of my communications.

Unacceptable Uses

  • I will not plagiarize by downloading copyright protected music, videos, images, documents, or games without permission.

  • I will not download, upload, or forward material that could be considered inappropriate, offensive, or illegal.

  • I will not engage in "spamming" or other mass unsolicited mailings.

  • I will not distribute private information about others, including passwords.

  • I will not download or install software without the instructor's permission.

  • I will not participate in cyber-bullying.

  • I will not damage, change, tamper, or hack software, hardware, settings, or the network.

Violations/Sanctions Vandalism, unacceptable uses and failure to comply with acceptable uses will result in the limiting or loss of computer privileges and will be handled using the school's general disciplinary policy and the student code of conduct. Such misuses may be reported to the classroom teacher, library staff or administration staff.

By signing below, I confirm that I understand and agree to follow the terms of this Acceptable Use Policy. I also confirm that I understand any violation of the policy or uses is unacceptable and will result in the loss of computer privileges in addition to disciplinary action in accordance to the school's general disciplinary policy, including, but not limited to, legal action for criminal offenses.

Student Signature______________________

Printed Name_________________________ Date_________

Parent Signature_______________________

Printed Name_________________________ Date_________

My Scenario:

Students and their parents will be required to read and sign the Acceptable Use Policy to participate in our class. The AUP that I use will be tailored a bit to fit the younger age group of my students. However, the intent of policy above will be evident.