As schools continue to rely on technology for communication, resource, and data management needs, they will need to define the acceptable use behaviors expected of staff and students. An Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is a document detailing the expectations of proper use of technology within a school. The policy also addresses the concerns of educators and parents regarding Internet safety. Typically there is a statement to the effect that student use of technology is a privilege and the privilege may be revoked if students do not meet the expectations of the technology policy. For the most part, AUPs are a discussion on netiquette.
According to the Educationworld.com article (2011), “Getting Started on the Internet: Developing Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)”, an AUP should include 6 key elements:
The manner in which a school presents the information to the students, parents and staff vary greatly. The AUP for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District is a five page document with a lot of legal rhetoric. Although the detail of the AUP is commendable for being thorough, it remains a question if parents and students read the document in its entirety and if students understand what is expected of them. In order for the expectations of the AUP to be clear, then the AUP should be written in a positive tone that reflects the culture of the school. According to Nielsen (2012), when writing the AUP schools should have the flexibility to “customize policies”. A site based document guided by district policy can be more meaningful to students when describing expectations.
My current position is at a brand new elementary school of approximately 480 students. For grades 3 and up, there is a 1:1 iPad initiative in place. Grades K-2 have a 2:1 initiative. As a the library media tech, I do assist with technical issues with the iPads. I am not in a teaching position, so the task of teaching and enforcing netiquette falls upon the classroom teachers. I was asked by my principal to help draft the Fireside Elementary School’s AUP for Technology and iPad use. After some discussion with the principal, I developed a chart based on our PBIS word SPARK – Safe, Positive, Appropriate, Responsible, Kind. It would not make sense to develop an AUP without incorporating the school’s PBIS culture. It was very important to draft a document that uses as positive a message as possible while still imparting that there are consequences if the students do not meet the SPARK expectations outlined in the AUP. This is the first document of this nature in the district and the expectations of revisions for subsequent school years is a given. But I do believe that the language is clear, positive, and approachable for elementary students, particularly the grades 3-6 set.
Venturing away from the standardized district AUP such as the Charlotte-Mecklenburg one, a simple Google search yields other AUPs specifically for elementary schools. The Woodbury City Public Schools district created the Woodbury City Elementary AUP. Although the six key elements are absent, the AUP is written in clear language that an elementary age student can read on his or her own. By phrasing each expected behavior with “I will...” grants the students ownership of their responsibilities. To compare Fireside Elementary School’s and Woodbury City Elementary’s AUPs, the Thornhill Elementary School AUP appears to be site based, but heavy with words and legal rhetoric. It is not very user friendly for the intended audience of elementary school students.
AUPs vary widely and there is no set format to follow. Once the stakeholders of the school develop an AUP, it is important to review the policy frequently to incorporate any new changes in technology.(Nielsen, 2012). Flexibility is key to technology integration as change is inevitable. It is important to keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to impart upon our students the proper use of technology. A user-friendly, evolving AUP can build trust and rapport in the classroom as students use the technology and teachers, parents, and school officials recognize their efforts in being responsible digital citizens.
References
Acceptable use policy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.thornhillschool.org/about-our-school/acceptable-use-policy/
Elementary student acceptable use policy (aup) for technology. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.woodburysch.com/technology/elemtech/AUP.php
Getting started on the internet: Developing an acceptable use policy (aup). (2011). Retrieved from http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr093.shtml
Student internet use. (2005, June 08). Retrieved from http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/cmsdepartments/CIO/Documents/Internet Acceptable Use Policy.pdf
Nielsen, L. (2012, June 03). Looking to create a social media or byod policy? Look no further. Tech & Learning, Retrieved from http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&EntryId=4355
Watts, C. (2012, August). Fireside elementary school student/parent ipad and technology agreement. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/document/d/11Z0assOXuNkv9DPO1hlJ6m8aGWR-50ZBwaB7z5gB2o0/edit
According to the Educationworld.com article (2011), “Getting Started on the Internet: Developing Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)”, an AUP should include 6 key elements:
- a preamble
- a definition section
- a policy statement
- an acceptable uses section
- a violations/sanctions section
The manner in which a school presents the information to the students, parents and staff vary greatly. The AUP for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District is a five page document with a lot of legal rhetoric. Although the detail of the AUP is commendable for being thorough, it remains a question if parents and students read the document in its entirety and if students understand what is expected of them. In order for the expectations of the AUP to be clear, then the AUP should be written in a positive tone that reflects the culture of the school. According to Nielsen (2012), when writing the AUP schools should have the flexibility to “customize policies”. A site based document guided by district policy can be more meaningful to students when describing expectations.
My current position is at a brand new elementary school of approximately 480 students. For grades 3 and up, there is a 1:1 iPad initiative in place. Grades K-2 have a 2:1 initiative. As a the library media tech, I do assist with technical issues with the iPads. I am not in a teaching position, so the task of teaching and enforcing netiquette falls upon the classroom teachers. I was asked by my principal to help draft the Fireside Elementary School’s AUP for Technology and iPad use. After some discussion with the principal, I developed a chart based on our PBIS word SPARK – Safe, Positive, Appropriate, Responsible, Kind. It would not make sense to develop an AUP without incorporating the school’s PBIS culture. It was very important to draft a document that uses as positive a message as possible while still imparting that there are consequences if the students do not meet the SPARK expectations outlined in the AUP. This is the first document of this nature in the district and the expectations of revisions for subsequent school years is a given. But I do believe that the language is clear, positive, and approachable for elementary students, particularly the grades 3-6 set.
Venturing away from the standardized district AUP such as the Charlotte-Mecklenburg one, a simple Google search yields other AUPs specifically for elementary schools. The Woodbury City Public Schools district created the Woodbury City Elementary AUP. Although the six key elements are absent, the AUP is written in clear language that an elementary age student can read on his or her own. By phrasing each expected behavior with “I will...” grants the students ownership of their responsibilities. To compare Fireside Elementary School’s and Woodbury City Elementary’s AUPs, the Thornhill Elementary School AUP appears to be site based, but heavy with words and legal rhetoric. It is not very user friendly for the intended audience of elementary school students.
AUPs vary widely and there is no set format to follow. Once the stakeholders of the school develop an AUP, it is important to review the policy frequently to incorporate any new changes in technology.(Nielsen, 2012). Flexibility is key to technology integration as change is inevitable. It is important to keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to impart upon our students the proper use of technology. A user-friendly, evolving AUP can build trust and rapport in the classroom as students use the technology and teachers, parents, and school officials recognize their efforts in being responsible digital citizens.
References
Acceptable use policy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.thornhillschool.org/about-our-school/acceptable-use-policy/
Elementary student acceptable use policy (aup) for technology. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.woodburysch.com/technology/elemtech/AUP.php
Getting started on the internet: Developing an acceptable use policy (aup). (2011). Retrieved from http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr093.shtml
Student internet use. (2005, June 08). Retrieved from http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/cmsdepartments/CIO/Documents/Internet Acceptable Use Policy.pdf
Nielsen, L. (2012, June 03). Looking to create a social media or byod policy? Look no further. Tech & Learning, Retrieved from http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&EntryId=4355
Watts, C. (2012, August). Fireside elementary school student/parent ipad and technology agreement. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/document/d/11Z0assOXuNkv9DPO1hlJ6m8aGWR-50ZBwaB7z5gB2o0/edit