Ms. McCormack 3-8 Computer

Classroom Procedures for
Information Technology Resources, St. Gerard Majella School

Based on SGM School Board Acceptable Use Policy for Electronic Media and SGM School Board Internet and Electronic Communications Conduct Policy

The school’s information technology resources, including Internet access, are provided for educational purposes. The Internet, computers, and other electronic devices give students access to information, virtual field trips, and allow them to engage in dialog with people of their own and other cultures. The educational advantages of using 21^st Century tools far outweigh the risks. Nevertheless, St. Gerard Majella School is aware of the hazards of websites with objectionable material, and the potential for online harassment of students. With the privilege of using these comes the responsibility to use them ethically. In order to protect students, we have established these acceptable use procedures. The student and the school share responsibility for safe, ethical, and productive use of the Internet, electronic media, and devices.

St. Gerard Majella School will

• Provide access to the Internet, computers, and other electronic devices.
• Ensure that filtering is in place to block inappropriate material, including websites that are offensive, obscene or pose a security risk.
• Ensure that no recognizable photos with full names of students appear on websites operated by the school.
• Teachers will provide guidelines for use of the Internet and monitor their use.
• Teachers will inform students of their rights and responsibilities toward electronic media.

Adherence to the following procedures is necessary for continued access to the school’s technological resources:

Students must

1. Respect and protect the privacy of others.
• Use only assigned accounts.
• Not view, use, or copy passwords, data, or networks to which they are not authorized.
• Not distribute private information about others or themselves.
• Not send anonymous messages of any kind.
• No personal addresses, personal phone numbers, or last names of students may be published on the Internet.
2. Respect and protect the integrity, availability, and security of all electronic resources.
• Observe all network security practices, as posted.
• Report security risks or violations to a teacher or network administrator.
• Not destroy or damage data, networks, or other resources that do not belong to them, without clear permission of the owner.
• Not alter the operating system, preferences or network settings of computers.
• Not make use of software or devices that bypass the school’s Internet filter or network security.
• Conserve, protect, and share these resources with other students and Internet users.
3. Respect and protect the intellectual property of others.
• Not infringe copyrights (no making illegal copies of music, games, or movies!).
• Not plagiarize, that is, use the words or work of another without giving proper credit.
• Files created with school equipment are the property of the school and may not be removed or altered without expressed permission of the school.
4. Respect and practice the principles of community.
• Communicate online in ways that are kind and respectful.
• Report threatening or discomforting materials to a teacher.
• Not intentionally access, transmit, copy, or create material that violates the school’s code of conduct (such as messages that are pornographic, threatening, rude, discriminatory, or meant to harass).
• Not intentionally access, transmit, copy, or create material that is illegal (such as obscenity, stolen materials, or illegal copies of copyrighted works).
• Not use the resources to do things that are criminal or violate the school’s code of conduct.
• Not buy, sell, advertise, or otherwise conduct business, unless approved as a school project.

Students may, if in accord with the above

1.     Design and post web pages and other material from school resources.

2.     Use direct communications such as online chat, or instant messaging for educational purposes, with a teacher’s permission.

3.     Use the resources for any educational purpose.

Use of Blogs, wikis, podcasting and other new web tools

Online communication is critical to our students’ learning of 21st Century Skills. Tools such as blogging and podcasting offer an authentic, real-world vehicle for student expression.

·       Interactive uses of the Internet, including classroom blog, student protected e-mail, podcast projects, photo posting or editing, or other Web use must follow the Internet safety guidelines outlined above.

·       No personal addresses, personal phone numbers, or last names of students may be given out on the Internet.

·       Students agree not to share their user name or password with anyone except their teachers and parents and treat blog spaces/wiki spaces as classroom spaces. Speech that is inappropriate for class is also inappropriate for online communication.

Use of cell phones or other wireless devices

·       Cell phones may not be used during the school day without teacher permission. This includes voice and text communication and camera capabilities.

Consequences for Violation: Violations of these rules may result in disciplinary action, including the loss of a student’s privileges to use the school’s information technology resources, or suspension from school. In severe cases, disciplinary action as stated in the SGM School Board Internet and Electronic Communications Conduct Policy will apply.

Supervision and Monitoring: School and network administrators and their authorized employees monitor the use of information technology resources to help ensure that uses are secure and in conformity with these procedures. Administrators reserve the right to examine, use, and disclose any data found on the school’s information networks in order to further the health, safety, discipline, or security of any student or other person, or to protect property. They may also use this information in disciplinary actions, and will furnish evidence of crime to law enforcement.

I ACKNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTAND MY OBLIGATIONS:

______________ As a parent or legal guardian or the student named above, I grant permission for my son or daughter’s school work to be published without identifying name or caption, to appear on any school or teacher website connected with St. Gerard Majella School.

Parents, please discuss these procedures with your son or daughter to ensure he or she understands them. These procedures also provide a good framework for your son or daughter’s use of computers at home, at libraries, or anywhere.

For more information, see www.cybercrime.gov.

http://www.cybercrime.gov/rules/acceptableUseProcedures.htm

Franklin Parish School Board, “Acceptable Use Procedures and Internet Safety Agreement”