Acceptable Use Policy

Anne Arundel County Public Schools Acceptable Use PolicyBy: Michele Bodine

What is an Acceptable Use Policy?An Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is a document that outlines a set of rules to be followed by users or customers of a set of computing resources, which could be a computer network, website or large computer system.

AUPs are important for school systems because it is important to have set rules and regulations for the employees and students to follow.

http://www.rockypointschools.org/aup.html

Components of AUPsa description of the instructional values and approaches to be sustained by Internet access in schools a statement on the educational uses and benefits of the Internet in the school a list of the duties of teachers, parents, and students for using the Internet a code of ethical conduct for appropriate behavior on the Internet a description of the consequences of violating the AUP a description of what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable use of the Internet a statement reminding users that Internet access and the use of computer networks is a privilege, not a right a signature form for teachers, parents, and students indicating that they intend to abide by the AUP

Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) AUPAACPS provides an AUP for all employees of AACPS and all AACPS students.

Links to both hand-books:AACPS Employee pages 16-22Student pg. 20

Northeast High School does not have a school wide AUP. The AACPS AUP is what is followed.

AACPS Employee AUPEmployee: Pages 14-18 in employee hand book

Signing of the teacher contract acknowledges that the rules and regulations regarding technology use are understood.

Images retrieved from http://www.aacps.org/humanresources/handbook.pdf

AACPS Employee AUP Cont.Main Points:Employees may not log-on to the AACPS server with their personal devices unless it has been approved by the board of education.

Use AACPS e-mail appropriately:Forwarded e-mail maybe intercepted and modifiedAll deleted e-mails may be recovered

AACPS employees may not ad or remove components form the computer without permission.

Implementing the Employee AUPDue to the lack of awareness of the AACPS Employee AUP, all employees should participate in a professional development that informs them about the dos and do nots for using technology provided by AACPS. Even teachers who use technology everyday in their classes (yearbook, photo and digital, journalism, etc.) were not familiar with AACPSs AUP Quotes from some of the teachers:I dont have an AUP for my class. I just use the one that the county provides. Actually, I dont really know a lot about the countys AUP.I had no idea there was an AUP. I knew we had one but I do really know what it includes.

This Professional Development should occur during the week before the students return from summer break.

Extra Professional Developments are also available through the Office of Instructional Technology.

Violating the AACPS AUP - EmployeeViolations of policy may result in administrative sanctions that may include prohibited or restricted use of AACPS electronic communications and computer resources. In addition to administrative sanctions, violators are subject to certain disciplinary actions including criminal charges that may result in termination of employment, contract, or volunteer agreement.

AACPS Student AUPStudent: Page 20 in the student handbook.

Students review the student handbook with their parent/guardian to ensure that the appropriate behavior will occur while using AACPS technology.

Students and parent/guardian sign a paper indicating that they understand what is required of them.

http://www.aacps.org/html/studt/studenthandbook.pdf

AACPS Student AUP Cont.Main Points:Use provided school account for school-related tasks onlyOnly use AACPS recommended search engines and sites.May not use another students username and passwordUse only AACPS authorized accounts and passwordsMany not remove or damage hardware components.

10Implementing the Student AUPAt the beginning of every school year, students participate in lessons about the overall rules and regulations for the school.

One of these lessons should be dedicated to AACPSs AUP.Example AUP lesson Plans

https://www.blendspace.com

Violating AACPSs AUP - StudentsIf a student does not follow the rules, he/she will loose their technology use privileges.

Along with lose of privileges, more severe consequences can occur depending upon the infraction.

http://pyneartstechnology.blogspot.com/2013/10/2013-2014-student-acceptable-use-policy.html

Violating AACPSs AUP Students cont.Teachers can help prevent students from violating the AUP by effectively monitoring the students while they are using AACPS technology.

Teachers can do this by: walking around to ensure that students are staying on task.Use the software that allows teachers to monitor the students computer screens at the teacher computer.

Digital CitizenshipDigital citizenship is a term that describes how a person should act while using digital technology online.

http://www.nisd.net/digitalcitizen/sec_digcit/etiquette_6_12.htm

Digital CitizenshipAlong with the AUP provided by the school board, AACPS students also have lessons about Digital Citizenship.

In the FY2015 Operating Budget - Promote Digital Citizenship by developing curriculum lessons designed to be delivered through Social Studies classes in K-8 and Health classes in the high schools.

http://www.edtechschools.com/how-to-tackle-digital-citizenship-the-first-5-days-of-school/

Digital Citizenship Cont.Digital Citizenship lessons will be taught during the Health Education course. Health Education was chosen for high school students because every student is required to take it.

Topics covered include:Rules and Regulations for Technology UsePosting on Social Media SitesEthical Use of TechnologyCyberbullyingOptional Topic: Sexuality and Technology

http://margaret-powers.com/2013/09/

What can be changed:The employee AUP is extremely thorough. It covers all technology use teachers requirements in regards to students use of technology, and the repercussions if those rules are violated.

One change that can be made is the availability of sites that an AACPS employee can access. Teachers have more variety of internet sites than all other faculty members. For example: Teachers have access to Youtube where all other faculty members only have access to the educational parts of Youtube.

All AACPS employees should have the same type of access to internet sites.

What can be changed cont.:The first statement in the student AUP reads:Use the provided school network account in an ethical, responsible, and legal manner for school-related tasks only.

This statement is vague because there is no further explanation of the terms ethical and responsible in regards to using technology.

Although the students should know the regulations that go along with ethical and responsible use, AACPS can not assume that the students know this information.

Thank you for viewing and listening to this presentation about the AACPS AUP.

ReferencesSlide #2: http://www.techopedia.com/definition/2471/acceptable-use-policy-aup

Slide #3: http://education.illinois.edu/wp/www.sjfschool.net/whitepages/acceptableusepolicy.htm

Slide #8: http://margaret-powers.com/2013/09/

Slide #13: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_citizenship#Online_etiquette