There are many benefits to using the Internet in elementary and intermediate education, but it is important for you to harness this powerful tool so that it is effective and safe for student use. For every great educational site, there are several more that feature unacceptable content for children. One of the best ways to keep the internet safe is to teach responsible use, which is why developing and implementing your Appropriate Use Policy (AUP) is so imperative. Make sure that students understand that agreeing to the terms of your AUP is their “ticket” or “pass” for going online in the library.

We recommend that you put your AUP in writing and print it out in the form of a contract. Have students, parents, and your principal commit to these rules by signing the contract. Be sure to post a copy of your AUP near each computer and remember that part of successful implementation of an AUP is making sure that someone in your school is appointed to enforce the AUP rules.

Your AUP should acknowledge that the school has attempted to limit access to inappropriate material, but should state that it is inevitable that some will fall through the cracks. The most important way to keep children safe while using technology is to monitor them and stress that parents do the same at home. Make sure to reiterate that the usefulness of the Internet and all the valuable information contained therein outweighs the possibility that children may be exposed to material that is not consistent with the educational goals of your school.

In addition to keeping your students safe, your AUP should also address issues of appropriate conduct online. Plagiarism has become all too easy for children to practice in the Internet age. Almost all K–12 students have used computers at school, but only 18 percent of students surveyed by Harris Interactive were taught the dos and don'ts of downloading copyrighted works. Make sure your students understand the why plagiarism is wrong, both ethically and legally.