Activity 2E
C&I 335
Summer, 1998
Karen Bennett
Glenwood High School
Chatham, IL
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Part I - ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
My district's Acceptable Use Policy is outlined in the Three Year Technology Plan. It is a multi-paged document encompassing a surprisingly wide range of topics.
The AUP begins with the assertion that technology use is a privilege and not a right. The district has a list of disclaimers about the working condition of the technology and instructs that internet information is gleaned at the user's risk. The policy says that the administration will determine appropriate use in their buildings-this being an "extension of the behavior code". It covers prevention of copyright infringement, piracy of software and "computer hackers". It has sections on the importance of network security and the expected behavior of all who encounter security breaches. It covers the topics of vandalism (and it's penalties), plagiarism, and even morality and ethics (Users are expected to immediately exit when contacting a site that is questionable or inappropriate for school use.).
Chatham's AUP discusses Freedom of Expression. In general, the user is free to publish with the following limits: A network administrator is to monitor electronic publications by students. There is to be no personal info on the site. The user is expected to put his full name on his work. No names can be put on images, movies, etc. No pornography, profanity, obscenity, racial epithets, ethnic slurs or degrading language will be allowed. The internet cannot be used to harrass, nor can it be used for personal, commercial or religious promotion.
Cautions about privacy are included in this document. E-mail and network storage is not necessarily "private". The correlation is made to a school locker. The district has the right to search. There is a list of inappropriate behaviors and the penalties that may be assessed. The document even includes a definitions sections of such terms as "district computer", "computer hacker", "internet", "indirect access to district computers".
My Analysis :
This policy attempts to cover a lot of topics. It is commendable in its attempt to be far-reaching. The authors tried to think of everything! I think it does a good job in making students aware of the importance of doing what you're supposed to do. I think it does a good job in setting down the consequences of unacceptable use. I was surprised to find that we have such a liberal approach in allowing the children to be their own censors. I would not be surprised to see that challenged some day, given the conservative nature of our community. I also, feel that portions of the policy are redundant. For example, the prohibition of offensive messages is listed many times in different sections of the policy. Parents and students sign a version of this policy. It is not this lengthy. I wonder if they are aware of the existence of this longer, more detailed version?
PART 2 - SITE LICENSES
All of the software listed in the Technology Plan as "Network Software" is site licensed. At the high school, we have 46 network software programs. These include:
Geometer's Sketchpad3, Search Plus-LRC Card Catalog, Facts on File-Statistics, Information Finder-Encyclopedia & Dictionary, Gale Index-Index to Authors & Criticism, Masterplots-Literacy Criticism, Monarch Notes-Full Text, Science Survey-Science Info Full Text, New York Times-Index & Full Text Articles, LRS On-Line Vertical Files-Full Text Articles, Proquest-Magazine & Journal Index, ERIC-Abstracts of Education Articles, SIRS-Magazine, Newspaper, & Gov't Articles, Infotrac-Magazine Index, Horizons Counseling Program, MS Windows for Workgroups, MS Works for Windows, WordPerfect 6.0, BASIC, Borland dBase 4.0, MICRO-Error Checker, Word Processing Supervisor, Keyboarding Skill Builder, Auto Accounting, First Choice, Borland PASCAL 6.0, Procite-Works Cited Program, Genetics, Data Monitor, Exploring Chemistry, Inorganic Qualitative Analysis, Introductory Dynamics System Timer, IR Simulator, Graphical Analysis, Minigraph Chart Recording Software, Physics Demonstrations, Storyboard Live 2.0, The Great Biology Knowledge Race 1 & 2, The Great Chemistry Knowledge Race 1 & 2, The Great Earth Science Knowledge Race 1 & 2, Grade Book, Micro Test III, Tuco Present (German), Somos Asi I and II, Express Publisher, and Interactive Physics
The district has 3 site licenses to run Novell, SDS and FollettVS1.50.
Students are the intended users of all but 2 or 3 of the above software programs. Teachers use Micro Test III and Grade Book to generate tests and do grades. The administrators, guidance department, and secretaries district wide use SDS.