Acceptable Use Policies
These references contain sample guidelines for schools and classrooms in the process of adopting an acceptable use policy...
Links
http://web.archive.org/web/20050205191105/www.grossmont.k12.ca.us/ethics/ethics.html
These references contain sample guidelines for schools and classrooms in the process of adopting an acceptable use policy. Occasionally discussion feedback or pending legal action is included.
Standards, under the title Platform for Internet Content Selection, established by the World Wide Web consortium, are shown at the w3 site.
The Association of School Administrators (aasa) has weighed in with its perspective on this topic.
The Web4Lib tackles another dimension by focusing on policies which apply to library management.
At Grossmont (click on GHUSD and then Ethical Use Policy) an explanation of the workings of the Internet precedes sections on electronic libraries and field trips. The sections on Legal Issues and Consent and Waivers are good, even though this document was prepared in 1995. This particular guide is written very clearly and would be a nice handout for a presentation to parents or policymakers.
Criteria for good digital citizenship has been suggested by many prominent groups such as ISTE and the W3 consortium as emerging technologies have been abused.
Kansas State talks about Digital Citizenship as more that just a teaching tool, it is a way to prepare students for a society full of technology, and looks at what is considered appropriate technology usage.
To help your staff understand and deal with spam look at SpamSoap.
Annotation
The two extreme positions towards acceptable use in schools are soundly debated online and in the traditional media: No restrictions, regardless of age, versus strong restrictions for all until age 18 or exit from public jurisdictions. Most sponsors of telecommunications recommend that a clear expectation, such as above sampling of guidelines, should be conveyed to parents and students, irrespective of an extreme or moderate position adopted by your school. Further, telecommunications is no different from other media; a student can send a letter with inappropriate contents via the US Postal Service or electronic mail. Incoming electronic mail can be regulated, if desired. Finally, many educators suggest that this issue be discussed directly with students, beginning in, say, about grades 3 or 4, as one would discuss other sensitive issues. Finally, some technology/media specialists and policy-makers have been counseled by their attorneys, while putting an acceptable use policy in place. While the proper groundwork should be completed in your local context, experienced networkers advise that the issue should not be blown out of proportion to its import.
