Students and the Internet
The Internet can be an incredible teaching tool.� Remember that it is a "wide open" communication link to many of the ideas of the world.� This, of course, has its downside.� It is important to keep this in mind as you provide a doorway into the Web for your students.� Some precautions can provide your students and children with a safe Internet experience and go a long way in cutting any possible professional or personal liability.
Saratoga Springs School District's "Unwritten" Policy
The school district does not at this time provide written guidelines for our use of webpages.� Through experience and discussion though there are clearly a few guidelines being followed.
1.� Do not show pictures of student on the Internet in which any student can be clearly identified.� Side and back shots, distance and "blurred" shots are OK.
2. Do not use a student's full name on the Internet.� Internet.� First name/class period, first name, first name/last initial, initials only are acceptable
Web Page Advisory/Disclaimer
Most of the web pages that I make for student use include a "disclaimer" or warning advisory.�� I don't know the real legal value of such a warning but feel more comfortable having such and advsisory clearly state on my pages.� My standard "disclaimer" is shown below.
Please Note: Students should browse internet sites ONLY with parental permission Most sites contain links to many other, widely varied sites. Though we view these sites regularly, we do not follow all links and view all updates immediately as they are available. Many sites use advertising to pay for their investment of time and resources. Use of this page is at the sole discretion of the viewer.
Students remember:
Never give
your name, address, phone number, or other personal information over the internet.
If
in doubt, get out! Do not stay at any site that you think your parents may
not approve of.
Using the Internet in the Classroom
If you are fortunate enough to have a computer in you classroom or a place where students can use the Internet in school, you bear� some responsibility for their browsing.� Some simple steps can alleviate potential trouble in such a situation.
� >� Be sure the computer is in a very public location with the monitor facing into the room where all can clearly see it.� Everyone will naturally glance once in a while and you will know if a student is somewhere they should not be.
� >� Be sure any student on the Internet has a signed permission on file to use the Internet in school.� Do not place yourself in a situation in which the district will not be able to support your position.
� >� Be sure to have a brief policy statement posted at the computer and go over it verbally with your students.
� >� Have a "take no prisoners" attitude about abuse of your policy.� Do not hesitate to suspend a student's computer� privileges when s/he has abused them.
� >� Be ready on the monitor on/off switch.� The easiest way to stop the viewing is to just turn the monitor off.� Don't worry about shutting the computer down properly and "all of that".�� You can come back to it later, turn the monitor back on, and then shut down properly.
Copyright Charles Kish
July 7,2000
All Right Reserved