Final Project 2 – Acceptable Use Policy

I decided to take a look at my school’s “Acceptable Use Policy” for ICT. Before I opened the document that is currently being used, I didn’t think I could make many changes or additions. On the contrary, I felt like there are some needed categories to address the every present issue of damage to equipment. Apparently, our students break their netbooks at a feverish rate. They are not mac books, yet a cheaper version of a small laptop. They look a little “cheesey” and I believe this is being addressed through ordering a new set of netbooks that check out as more sturdy as well as higher performance. I do not know what expectations are being used with students since I am not an advisory teacher but I fel like there needs to be clearer expectations set for the student community as far as how they handle their netbooks properly as well as what consequences will occur when infractions happen. I did not change anything currently in the document. I simply added a section  for equipment use and care and clarified steps for disciplinary action. Since the netbooks are being used in all curricular areas, it may behoove the school to place placards in each classroom that point out specific use expections. Somehow, these expections could be related back to the SSIS core values.

The following is the acceptable use policy for Saigon South International School. I have formatted my additions using italics and highlights.

Acceptable Use Policy

Information and Communication Technologies

Saigon South International School

Saigon South International School believes that all students should have access to technology when they act in a responsible, efficient, courteous and legal manner.

Furthermore, Internet access and other online services, available to students and teachers, offer a multitude of global resources. Our goal in providing these services is to enhance the educational development of our students.

Acceptable use of technology applies to all technology-based devices maintained by the school and/or personal technology-based devices used during school hours on school property.

Using the ICT equipment correctly and responsibly is very important.

1. Respect and protect the privacy of others.

   • Use only assigned authorized SSIS accounts.

   • Only view and use authorized passwords, data, networks and websites. Data, networks and websites may only be used for educational purposes.

   • Post no private information about self or others (e.g. identifying name, home address, phone numbers, etc.)

   • Cyber bullying will not be tolerated – SSIS reserves the right to take action against any individual who posts or sends material, on or off campus, that adversely affects the safety or well-being of another SSIS community member.

1. Respect and protect the integrity, availability, and security of all technology resources.

   • Observe all network security practices. Only log on to your own account and keep your login passwords private.

   • Report security risks or violations to a teacher or administrator.

   • Conserve, protect, and appropriately share these resources with other students and network users.

   • Do not tamper with data, networks, or any other resources.

   • Printing may only take place with authorization.

1. Respect and protect the intellectual property of others.

   • Comply with applicable copyright and intellectual property laws (do not make or use illegal copies of music, games, movies, written material, or software).

   • Cite Internet sources used in research applying the appropriate formats (such as MLA or APA) .

   • Do not plagiarize.

1. Respect and practice the principles of community.

   • Communicate and use technology only in ways that are kind and respectful.

   • Report threatening or discomforting material to a teacher.

   • Comply with the school’s code of conduct and the law when accessing, transmitting, copying or creating electronic material. Messages that are rude, threatening, discriminatory, abusive, harassing, or harmful are unacceptable, and are viewed as cyber bulling.

   • Spam, chain letters, or other mass unsolicited mailings must not be sent or shared.

   • Business activities, including buying, selling, and advertising, may only be conducted with prior approval in the context of a school project.

   • Non-authorized electronic games are not to be played in school.

Equipment Use and Care

1. All hardware will be treated with respect and care to a high standard using the following specific guidelines:

• Students must always carry netbooks in school issued carry bag.

  • When netbook is carried outside the carry bag, the netbook must be in closed position and be held with 2 hands.

  • Netbook must never be carried or re-positioned by only holding the monitor screen.

• Students may never place netbook (in or out of carry bag) on the floor of hallway, classroom or gymnasium.

  • When in PE, students must lock netbook in assigned gym locker. Netbooks are not to be brought into the gym unless otherwise directed by PE teacher or coach.

  • Students must not run when netbook is being held or carried in bag.

• Students must not attempt to “fix” anything related to his/her netbook.

  • If damage occurs to hardware or software, student must immediately report the issue to his/her advisory teacher and report to the ICT dept. to resolve the problem.

• Students must report to school each day with a fully charged netbook.

  • If lack of power disrupts a student’s opportunity to learn in the classroom, student must attend homework club to make up for the lost learning time.

• Food or beverages must never sit adjacent to netbook when in operation.

 Consequences for Infringement. Breaking these rules will result in disciplinary action.

• 1st infraction – Warning is given and after-school tech meeting* is required.

• 2nd – Parent is contacted and student must serve a detention.

• 3rd – Student may not take netbook home and must attend homework club if any homework must be completed in netbook.

• 4th – Student will serve a 1 day in-school suspension.

*An after-school tech meeting consists of student assisting ICT department with any tasks deemed appropriate and necessary. Tasks completed by student should relate to the infraction made.

Supervision and Monitoring. The school reserves the right to examine, use and disclose any data found on the school’s networks in order to assure the health, safety, or security of any student, employee 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 officials.

By accepting the present Acceptable Use Policy, students and/or their parents/legal guardians consent to the supervision and monitoring of student use of information technology resources as described above.

Saigon South International School reserves the right to change this policy at any time without prior notice.