ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

 

KRYSIA BIVILLE

USING THE INTERNET IN EDUCATION

NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY

DECEMBER 7, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

As the library media specialist for the Lincoln Elementary school in Pompton Lakes New Jersey, I have examined the Pompton Lakes Acceptable Use Policy.  This Policy was most recently updated on February 4, 2003.  The policy is available in two forms; one for teaching staff members, and the other for Students and their Parent/Guardians.  Both versions of this policy appear to be straight forward.  Through my research on Acceptable Use Policies, it also appears to meet many of the criteria for a good Acceptable Use Policy.  I was surprised and pleased with just how many of Kinnaman’s (1995) suggestions were in place in these documents.

            The language of the policy for that Students and Parent/Guardians is drafted in a simpler language than that of the one for Teaching Staff Members.  The reader is directed to read the document carefully before signing it.  The Philosophy of the school district on computer equipment and services including the internet forms an introduction and rationale for the policy.  An Introduction to the Internet follows with a list of terms and materials that are available within the district.    The reader is reminded that “the Pompton Lakes School District does take precautions to restrict access to sites that may be appropriate for more mature audiences by issuing guidelines and having staff supervise students.  However, on a global network, it is impossible to control all materials, and that a curious user may discover questionable information.” 

            Acceptable use and the responsibilities of the users are defined.  The reader is reminded that “The use of the internet is a privilege not a right.  Inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of that privilege.”  The Network, Internet and Online Use Guidelines are then detailed for the students.  Security and Vandalism are explained and the Consequences of Policy Violation(s) are then described.   None of the potential problems that are commonly found in Acceptable Use Policies that Kinnaman mentions in his article were evident in the policy.  The policy neither contradicts itself, nor is written in confusing technical language.

The Teaching Staff Members version of this policy is considerably longer and written in the formal language of Board Regulation.  It was nice to see that “The school district may modify these regulations at any time by publishing modified regulations on the network(s) and elsewhere.”  This is in line with the comment Kinnaman makes in his essay:  “If the ground rules are open to change, shouldn't it also say that any proposed changes will be announced before they are implemented so that users can always know the rules they are expected to follow?”   The policy lists broad principles, while spelling out in detail how to translate them into the different aspects of school reality.  It left this reader with no question of the rules or determination of consequences for violations. 

            One criticism could be that although Pompton Lakes has revised this policy two years ago, it may be time to go back and do another revision to add some current aspects of internet use in the classroom, such as teacher or student created web pages.   As a media specialist I am glad to have such a clear policy in place to support and protect the faculty, staff and students I serve.

 

 

 

REFERENCES

 

Carthage Central School District, Carthage, NY

http://www.carthagecsd.org/do/technology.html

 

Kinnaman, Dave.  6/1995.  Critiquing Acceptable Use Policies

http://www.io.com/~kinnaman/aupessay.html

 

Los Angeles Unified School District

http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/lausdnet/aup.html.120604

 

Monmouth County Vocational School District

http://www.mcvsd.org/aup/

 

Plano Independent School District (K-5), Plano, Texas

http://k-12.pisd.edu/guide/elemen/index.htm