Acceptable Technology Use Policy

An acceptable technology use policy (AUP) is a set of principles or rules that are intended to shape the actions of students and parents when using school-provided technology (Acceptable Use Policies in a Web 2.0 & Mobile Era: A Guide for School Districts, 2011).

In detail, an AUP is a corporate, organizational, or internet service provider's rules governing use of computers, networks, and associated resources. In general, an AUP states that employees, or users (1) should not try to access system areas for which they do not have authorization, (2) are accountable for what they do, (3) should use the system only for its designed purposes, (4) are responsible for the confidentiality of their passwords, (5) should refrain from illegal activities, and unethical or obscene online (internet) behavior, and (6) should not access pornographic material on the internet. (Business Dictionary, 2018).

Helpful Resources for Acceptable Technology Use Policies:

WebWise provides a quick and simple explanation of what an AUP is and why AUPs are needed.

Baseline Magazine has a quick and easy to understanding slide show to explain how to create a an acceptable use policy.

Get Safe Online has created a pdf template that can be modified to fit any organization. This pdf is a great resource for creating a new AUP. It covers the basics including viruses, internet usage, and emails.

References:

BusinessDictionary.com. (2018, October 13). Acceptable use policy (AUP). Retrieved from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/acceptable-use-policy-AUP.html

Acceptable Use Policies in a Web 2.0 & Mobile Era. (2011, February 18). Participatory Learning, Leadership, and Technology. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?q=acceptable use policies &id=ED517922