Patty Chiles
Douglas School
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield School District 186 where I am employed as a teacher has an acceptable use policy covering the use of e-mail, the Internet, videos, and other telecommunication. The rules are very basic. They are brief and to the point, which I feel is beneficial.
The guidelines for e-mail are contained on a single sheet of paper. Basically the guidelines remind teachers to be aware of Administrative Rules & Regulations Section 645.06R. It reminds staff that users of e-mail are always "on the record", that using e-mail is not to be done to interrupt instruction time, that backup or hard copies should be kept of important information. Staff should think of e-mail much in the same way they would for a message that would be left in the office.
As an educator I am aware of the need for confidentiality. Records of students often contain very private information. The guidelines warn staff that the e-mail network may not be totally secure and to be mindful of this. I think many who are new to technology are too trusting even if warned. I would stress to educators to be very cautious of what information they share via e-mail.
In regards to videos and other telecommunication materials our acceptable use policy reminds staff that they must obtain parental/guardian approval in advance of showing non-District owned materials of a controversial nature. My only criticism of this is that a teacher may try to claim that he/she did not obtain approval because he/she did not see the material as being controversial. We all have different views on what is acceptable or objectionable.
In regards to the Internet the acceptable use policy for my district offers some basic guidelines. The four basic rules are:
1. Users shall not place copyrighted materials on any system without the author's prior approval, or access and use copyrighted materials in a manner that violates applicable law or Board policy.
2. Users shall not use any system for commercial benefit.
3. Users shall not submit, publish or display defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, obscene, threatening, or illegal information.
4. Users shall not commit acts of vandalism in any system.
The guidelines go on to stipulate that the Internet is to be restricted to use for assigned work in connection with instructional programs. Violations of the guidelines are to be reported to the Instructional Program Leader for Technology.
District 186 also has a handbook of rules that is explained and given to every child in the district. Should users violate the acceptable use policy, consequences as outlined in the handbook would be used. The only thing that I might like to see added at this point would be to include on the handout to staff what the consequences are that the Instructional Program Leader for Technology will use. I would assume that he/she would follow the District handbook, but possibly there are a series of consequences already in place that I am unaware of.
Part Two - Activity 2E - District software
This portion of the assignment asks for a list of District licensed sites. The majority owned by my district are for student use. The only two that I could imagine would be used exclusively by teachers would be the J & S Gradebook and At Ease. At Ease is a program that allows the teacher to select what software will be available for the class to use. It sort of "locks out" the student from the hardrive. This can be VERY helpful! I wouldn't suggest you keep your J & S Gradebook on the student use folder. This might be a little too tempting! For those wishing to see what district licensed software I have available click on the following message to take you back to activity 1c.
Click here to look at software list.
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