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Acceptable Use Policy
Nuts and Bolts of the Contract
What should be in an Acceptable Use Policy?
An Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) should be called a Technology Contract (the Contract) as this is truly what is contained within the text. When you sign on the line, it is a binding contract with consequences and subsections and should be referred to as such. I think those bound by its lingo upon adorning their signature on the line would take more consideration and seriousness to their actions if the AUP was referred to as a contract.
The Technology Contact should be written in plain English (or Spanish as we have in my district) that can be understood by someone with a fifth grade education. I do not say this in humor, I write this with sincerity. Not all parents are educated. If a parent with limited education is reading this Contract and are not sure for what they are granting permission, the parent and child are at a huge disadvantage. The parent cannot protect their child because they are not sure to what they agreed. Children proudly sign the Contract in many instances because they just learned to sign their name (and they feel important). Students in fifth grade should also be able to read and understand the Technology Contract.
The Contract should be short, sweet and concise. I understand the thought process of the legal minds when these contracts are synthesized as every "t" should be crossed and every "i" should be dotted. However, I believe there is a shorter, more organized and simpler way to present the Contract.
Retreating back to elementary school story writing, the policy should be written in a who, what, where, when, why and how format, redundancy would be eliminated and The Contract would be succinct and concise.
Who? Students, employees, guests
What? Use of technology including and not limited to: network resources, Internet, email, digital material, physical technology (computers, cameras, phones, tablets, MP3 players, printers)
Where? Anywhere using District resources
When? Anytime
Why? Education Purpose, Access, Unacceptable Uses, Your Rights, Limitation of Liability, Personal Responsibility, Personal Safety
How? Using district resources including and not limited to: network resources, Internet, email, digital material, physical technology (computers, cameras, phones, tablets, MP3 players, printers)
After evaluating all four policies, the Camden City Public Schools does an excellent job with their AUP. While it appears to be five pages, one page is a parent letter and the neat-and-tidy format extends the contract to five pages. AUP closes with some strong and powerful words that I think should be included in every contract: Personal Responsibility. When you are using the CPSnet, it may feel like you can more easily break a rule and not get caught. This is not really true because whenever you do something on a network you leave little "electronic footprint," so the odds of getting caught are really about same as they are in the real world.
But the fact that you can do something or think you can do something without being caught does not make it right to do so. Even if you don't get caught, there is always one person who will know whether you have done wrong--and that person is you. Your use of the Internet can be a mirror that will show you what kind of a person you are. " (1)
It is important that anyone who signs a Contract agrees to what it says and agrees to be an exceptional digital citizen.
The "Consequences" policy in the East Orange Public School District (4) was really explicit while promoting student behavior modification. I think that the language they use does not sugar coat any topic and eliminates any "questionable" jargon. For example,
"Consequences for misuse/abuse of the Internet (depending on the severity of the situation, the disciplinary process may include combinations of the following consequences).
The East Orange School District maintains certain policies with regard to the use and security of its system. All users of our facilities are expected to be familiar with these policies. Violations of this policy can lead to the suspension of their computer account pending investigation of circumstances.
Serious violations of this policy will be referred directly to the appropriate academic or outside authorities. Unauthorized use of district computing facilities can be a criminal offense. The penalties may be as severe as suspension or dismissal from the district and/or criminal prosecution." (4)
First of all, this Contract can be understood by an individual with a fifth grade reading level. Second, there is a clear progression of consequences. Third, the list is concise and succinct.
Newark Public Schools had the longest AUP compared to their peer schools. I commend them on including information about student safety because it not only warns students; it reminds staff to protect those students who were entrusted to them,"
"Pupil Internet Safety Policy. It is the responsibility of the school staff to educate and provide ongoing guidance for pupils on personal safety practices, appropriate on-line behavior, cyberbullying awareness and response, and effective techniques for identifying and evaluating information and its sources. School staff shall be required to supervise and monitor appropriate usage of the online computer network and access to the Internet in accordance with this policy. No user may post personal contact information about themselves or others. Pupils shall not engage in any kind of personal contact with individuals they meet online. Attempts at contact from such individuals shall be reported immediately to the staff person monitoring that child's access to the Internet. Personal contact information includes, but is not limited to names, home/school/work addresses, telephone numbers, or personal photographs." (2)
While Vineland does not have the "prettiest" AUP, I like the way that it is formatted in their "Violations" section. I do think that their AUP is quite possibly a little too brief and needs clarification.
The one thing to remember about the Contract is the purpose. Acceptable Use Policies are the "laws" than protect, enforce and exonerate. Technology leaders much ensure that these policies do what they are enacted to do to ensure that the highest quality of education is being taught by our staff and received by our students.
Acceptable Use Policies
(1) Camden City Public Schools
(2) Newark Public Schools
(3) Vineland Public Schools
(4) East Orange Public Schools
An Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) should be called a Technology Contract (the Contract) as this is truly what is contained within the text. When you sign on the line, it is a binding contract with consequences and subsections and should be referred to as such. I think those bound by its lingo upon adorning their signature on the line would take more consideration and seriousness to their actions if the AUP was referred to as a contract.
The Technology Contact should be written in plain English (or Spanish as we have in my district) that can be understood by someone with a fifth grade education. I do not say this in humor, I write this with sincerity. Not all parents are educated. If a parent with limited education is reading this Contract and are not sure for what they are granting permission, the parent and child are at a huge disadvantage. The parent cannot protect their child because they are not sure to what they agreed. Children proudly sign the Contract in many instances because they just learned to sign their name (and they feel important). Students in fifth grade should also be able to read and understand the Technology Contract.
The Contract should be short, sweet and concise. I understand the thought process of the legal minds when these contracts are synthesized as every "t" should be crossed and every "i" should be dotted. However, I believe there is a shorter, more organized and simpler way to present the Contract.
Retreating back to elementary school story writing, the policy should be written in a who, what, where, when, why and how format, redundancy would be eliminated and The Contract would be succinct and concise.
Who? Students, employees, guests
What? Use of technology including and not limited to: network resources, Internet, email, digital material, physical technology (computers, cameras, phones, tablets, MP3 players, printers)
Where? Anywhere using District resources
When? Anytime
Why? Education Purpose, Access, Unacceptable Uses, Your Rights, Limitation of Liability, Personal Responsibility, Personal Safety
How? Using district resources including and not limited to: network resources, Internet, email, digital material, physical technology (computers, cameras, phones, tablets, MP3 players, printers)
After evaluating all four policies, the Camden City Public Schools does an excellent job with their AUP. While it appears to be five pages, one page is a parent letter and the neat-and-tidy format extends the contract to five pages. AUP closes with some strong and powerful words that I think should be included in every contract: Personal Responsibility. When you are using the CPSnet, it may feel like you can more easily break a rule and not get caught. This is not really true because whenever you do something on a network you leave little "electronic footprint," so the odds of getting caught are really about same as they are in the real world.
But the fact that you can do something or think you can do something without being caught does not make it right to do so. Even if you don't get caught, there is always one person who will know whether you have done wrong--and that person is you. Your use of the Internet can be a mirror that will show you what kind of a person you are. " (1)
It is important that anyone who signs a Contract agrees to what it says and agrees to be an exceptional digital citizen.
The "Consequences" policy in the East Orange Public School District (4) was really explicit while promoting student behavior modification. I think that the language they use does not sugar coat any topic and eliminates any "questionable" jargon. For example,
"Consequences for misuse/abuse of the Internet (depending on the severity of the situation, the disciplinary process may include combinations of the following consequences).
- Warning
- Loss of credit for the assignment
- Loss of credit for the unit
- Loss of privilege to use the Internet
- Loss of computer privileges in the East Orange School District
- Referral to administration for discipline
- Referral to authorities for processing.
- District staff (responsible for Internet use) will receive inservice training and instruction in the use of the Internet system hardware and software and will be responsible for following the established usage policy.
The East Orange School District maintains certain policies with regard to the use and security of its system. All users of our facilities are expected to be familiar with these policies. Violations of this policy can lead to the suspension of their computer account pending investigation of circumstances.
Serious violations of this policy will be referred directly to the appropriate academic or outside authorities. Unauthorized use of district computing facilities can be a criminal offense. The penalties may be as severe as suspension or dismissal from the district and/or criminal prosecution." (4)
First of all, this Contract can be understood by an individual with a fifth grade reading level. Second, there is a clear progression of consequences. Third, the list is concise and succinct.
Newark Public Schools had the longest AUP compared to their peer schools. I commend them on including information about student safety because it not only warns students; it reminds staff to protect those students who were entrusted to them,"
"Pupil Internet Safety Policy. It is the responsibility of the school staff to educate and provide ongoing guidance for pupils on personal safety practices, appropriate on-line behavior, cyberbullying awareness and response, and effective techniques for identifying and evaluating information and its sources. School staff shall be required to supervise and monitor appropriate usage of the online computer network and access to the Internet in accordance with this policy. No user may post personal contact information about themselves or others. Pupils shall not engage in any kind of personal contact with individuals they meet online. Attempts at contact from such individuals shall be reported immediately to the staff person monitoring that child's access to the Internet. Personal contact information includes, but is not limited to names, home/school/work addresses, telephone numbers, or personal photographs." (2)
While Vineland does not have the "prettiest" AUP, I like the way that it is formatted in their "Violations" section. I do think that their AUP is quite possibly a little too brief and needs clarification.
The one thing to remember about the Contract is the purpose. Acceptable Use Policies are the "laws" than protect, enforce and exonerate. Technology leaders much ensure that these policies do what they are enacted to do to ensure that the highest quality of education is being taught by our staff and received by our students.
Acceptable Use Policies
(1) Camden City Public Schools
(2) Newark Public Schools
(3) Vineland Public Schools
(4) East Orange Public Schools