Welfare Policy Acceptable Use of Technology Resources Assessment and Reporting Policy

 ACCEPTABLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES POLICY AT CAMPBELL HIGH SCHOOL

 

Preamble 

Campbell High School provides for the educational needs of students through a range of Learning Technology resources. These include, but are not limited to the following specialised hardware:

  • Networked desktop PCs in computer labs, the Learning Support Unit, Resource Room, Library
  • 2 sets of  wireless networked laptop computers on a trolley for classroom use
  • Interactive whiteboards in designated classrooms
  • Specialised multi-media PCs for digital photography and video
  • Online catalogue machines to search library resources
  • Data projectors for presentation purposes
  • Digital photo and video cameras
  • Graphic calculators for use in Mathematics
  • Data loggers for data collection and analysis in Science.

 

Students have access to the student Local Area Network (LAN) on which much of the hardware is linked using a secure username and password.  This account allows the student to access the network for a range of purposes.  These may include working with applications such as Adobe Photoshop Elements and programs within Microsoft Office. 

 

Students have access to the Internet via their SINA (Schoolsnet Internet Network Administration) username and password.  This also allows them to access Myclasses pages (online class content and administration) from home and via the Internet.

 

Students and parents/guardians are required to read this policy, sign and return to the school, the attached ACCEPTABLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES AT CAMPBELL HIGH SCHOOL before an individual account will be activated.

 

These resources are seen as vitally important to the learning environment of Campbell High students.  However, access is a privilege and not a right.  All rights entail responsibilities and these are listed below for the school, the parents and the student body of Campbell High School.

 

School Responsibilities

 

Staff will be given professional development to ensure that the most effective use of technology and technology resources is made at Campbell High School. 

 

Staff will be encouraged to make effective use of the Internet to maximise student learning.  Whilst teachers will make every effort to ensure that students do not access material which may be deemed inappropriate or offensive, it is not possible to screen out all such content.  However, the ACT Department of Education does employ some filters on its Internet access.

 

The school will provide each student (who has signed an agreement contract) with an individual network account which is a private workspace.  However, the school reserves the right to check all student accounts to ascertain if fileserver space is being used appropriately or to review any material stored there.  The network administrator may cancel or suspend a student’s account for a period of time, if the student has not acted responsibly according to the signed agreement.

 

The school and the ACT Department of Education accept no liability for any information obtained by students from the Internet.  As life-long learners our students need to develop appropriate skills to analyse the data obtained and determine its usefulness, considering bias and validity of information.  Staff will be encouraged to work with students to practise the 6 step Information Literacy Process (Define, Select, Organise, Present and Assess Information) as a means of improving students’ skills in information and communication technology.

 

The school will not provide any identifying material that describes the personal situation of school families.  Signed permission will be sought to allow photos or names of students to be placed onto the school’s website.

 

Parent and Guardian Responsibilities

 

Campbell High School encourages parents and guardians to discuss responsible use of technology with their children.  Shared responsibility with the School in establishing and maintaining guidelines for appropriate use of the Internet and Technology Resources should mean consistent practices occur at home as well as at school.

 

Parents are urged to support the school when it considers it necessary to apply consequences for inappropriate use as established in this document.

 

Student Responsibilities

 

Students are responsible for good behaviour when using the school’s learning technology equipment and Internet.  They are to assist the staff in maintaining the quality of technology resources by taking due care of the following items:  

 

Vandalism

Vandalism of the school’s Learning Technology resources is a serious offence and will result in disciplinary action including the loss of network privileges. Vandalism includes, but is not limited to;

  • the damaging of hardware (e.g. disconnecting cables, the mouse)
  • swapping keyboards, mice or other equipment from one computer to another
  • altering computer settings
  • attempting to gain unauthorised access to the network
  • the deliberate attempt to interfere with another user’s data
  • the creation or uploading of computer viruses
  • the attempt to harm or modify the settings of the Internet or LAN
  • eating or drinking near computers or other technology resources.

 

Language

Students will ensure that appropriate language is used at all times when using the network or when sending or receiving emails.  Racist, sexist, inflammatory, vulgar, obscene, threatening or disrespectful language is never acceptable. 

 

Harassment

Harassment is treated seriously by Campbell High and will not be tolerated. Harassment is defined as persistent behaviour which annoys or distresses another person.  If a student is asked to stop sending messages which are making another student feel uncomfortable, that student must do so or face the consequences as set down in Campbell High Student Welfare Policy.  Sending false, harassing or defamatory information is illegal and legal proceedings may be instituted if the case warrants. 

 

Internet Usage

The Internet is a powerful resource and an effective learning tool when used appropriately.  Students will use the Internet in class time for school based research.  Because of the wide range of information available, it is expected that students will be selective and careful in their searches.  Unacceptable searches may include items of racist, abusive or extremist nature or ones where violent material is sought.  If a student accidentally accesses any material which is illegal, obscene, dangerous or offensive, he or she should immediately minimise the screen and quietly inform a staff member.  If this is done without alerting other users, then the student should be protected from any claims of misuse of the Internet.

 

Recreational use of the Internet is made available at before and after school and at lunchtime in the Library.  Students need to discuss their search requests with a Teacher Librarian before going on-line.  The Internet is not to be used to play games unless students are given specific authorization by an appropriate teacher.  The games should be of an educational and not recreational nature.

 

The Internet cannot be used at school for commercial or profit making ventures, or for advertising or political lobbying.

 

Students should not waste class time by checking or sending personal emails.  Myclasses has an email option which is to be used at home and not during class time unless directed by a teacher.  Private emails (e.g. Yahool, Hotmail etc.) can be checked in the Library before and after school. 

 

Privacy

Students should be aware of the danger in providing personal information about themselves or others via the Internet through school or home connections.  This includes your home address, telephone number, school address, credit card details or anything else likely to identify you.

 

Students should not make arrangements to meet anyone met online without parent’s written approval.  If a student receives a threatening or abusive message which makes them feel uncomfortable, a staff member should be notified immediately.  Students should respect other user’s privacy by not forwarding private information onto another person and not sending false and hurtful information about another person.

 

Security

Students should understand that files stored on the school’s network (either on their personal drive or the shared data drive) are not necessarily private.  Irresponsible use can be detected by the student network administrator who may need to check files and email communications to ensure that the integrity of the system is not being compromised.

 

Students are responsible for their school network account and will be held accountable for any communications or infringements.  They should take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to use their account.  Students should NEVER reveal their user name and passwords to another person.  As a responsible network user, students will not allow anyone else to use their account.  If a student thinks that someone is doing so, a staff member should be notified immediately. 

 

Copyright and Plagiarism

Students are expected to act in an ethical manner by observing the laws regarding copyright and other people’s intellectual property. Plagiarism occurs when someone copies words directly from a source and presents them as their own.  Changing a few words or deleting some sentences, does not make the work your own.  Campbell High School expects that students will read the information presented in an electronic resource and take notes in dot points in their own words.  Students using a “cutting and pasting” technique from electronic resources are committing plagiarism and will be dealt with severely.

 

Electronic resources (CD-ROMs, the Internet) as well as book resources must be referenced in a bibliography for assignments. If you are unsure how to write a bibliography, go the Library page on the school’s website and check out How to write a bibliography.

 

If you want to reproduce a piece of work, an image or a file which is protected by copyright, you must seek written permission from that user before copying the files.  Downloading copyrighted games is illegal and could result in legal proceedings.

 

Wasting resources

Access to the Internet is provided free of charge to students, but at a cost to the school, therefore it is requested that students use the Internet for educational and career-orientated purposes only.  Permission can be obtained from a staff member or teacher librarian if students wish to use the Internet for any searches outside these guidelines.

 

Printing for educational purposes is provided free of charge, therefore it is essential that students edit work carefully before gaining permission from a teacher to print.  Printing pages from the Internet is likened to photocopying and incurs charges.

 

Check your workspace regularly and delete any unwanted files.  This responsible use will assist the network administrator in maintaining adequate space on the file server.  Students will not download onto their personal drive any files that are not related to school work. 

 

CONSEQUENCES OF INAPPROPRIATE USE

 

A breach of the Acceptable Use of Learning Technology Resources Agreement may result in student accounts being disabled and removal of access to Information Technology resources at Campbell High School.  Depending on the nature of the breach, further consequences may be applied in accordance with the school’s Behaviour Management Policy.

 


ACCEPTABLE USE OF LEARNING TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES AGREEMENT AT CAMPBELL HIGH SCHOOL

The school asks that parents/guardians and students become familiar with the ACCEPTABLE USE OF LEARNING TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES AT CAMPBELL HIGH POLICY by obtaining a copy from the school or the school’s website (www.campbellhs.act.edu.au).  Your child will have a student network account activated once the following agreement has been signed by a parent/guardian and the student and returned to the school via your child’s contact group.  This signed document will be filed at school.  Please return this signed agreement as soon as possible so that your child’s learning is not disadvantaged.

 

STUDENT

I understand that using Campbell High School’s technology resources is a privilege and not a right. I agree to follow the rules as stated in our school’s Acceptable Use of Learning Technology Resources Policy.  If the school decides I have violated this agreement, I understand that my account may be disabled and I may lose access to Information Technology resources provided by the school.

 

ACCEPTABLE USE

  • I will use the computers and other technology resources only as directed by staff.
  • I will respect the rights and privacy of other users.
  • I will not disrupt others’ enjoyment of learning whilst I am using the schools’ technology resources.
  • I will alert staff to any security lapses.
  • If I accidentally access any material which is illegal, obscene, dangerous or offensive, I will:
    • minimise my screen
    • immediately and quietly inform a staff member.
  • I will notify a staff member if I receive a harassing or threatening message or one which makes me feel uncomfortable.
  • I will respect the intellectual rights of copyright owners through correct referencing and bibliographies of material gained from electronic sources.
  • I will be responsible for all activity on my network account.
  • I will only access my private email before and after school, unless given permission by my teacher or teacher librarian.

 

UNACCEPTABLE USE

  • I will not view, send or retrieve any form of communication which contains offensive, abusive, racist, pornographic or sexist material.
  • I will not allow anyone else to use my account or give my password to others.
  • I will not use another person’s account or attempt to tamper with another student’s account in any way.
  • I will not disclose any personal details of myself or any other person in any form of communication.
  • I will not access Chat channels or games sites.
  • I will not bring food or drink into the computer labs or anywhere near technology resources.
  • I will not remove or damage hardware or computer furniture.
  • I will not tamper with the computer network or computer settings.
  • I will not disclose a security problem to other users.
  • I will not download and print without the permission a staff member.
  • I will not intentionally waste resources.
  • I will not use the Internet for advertising or commercial or political gains.

                                                                                    _____________ __________________

(Student Name – in BLOCK LETTERS)                            (Contact Group)           ID number

 

____________________________                                   _____________

(Student Signature)                                                        (Date)

 

 

PARENT OR GUARDIANS

I understand that the technology resources provided by Campbell High School offer valuable learning experiences for students.  I also understand that the school has made every effort to minimise students’ exposure to harmful material and that staff will exercise their duty of care diligently.  However, I understand that it is up to the students to use the resources responsibly.  I give my permission for ________________________ to use the school’s technology resources.  If this agreement is broken, I agree to support the consequences as set out in the school’s ACCEPTABLE USE OF LEARNING TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES AT CAMPBELL HIGH POLICY.

 

_______________________________                  _________________________                _______________

(Parent/Guardian Name – in BLOCK LETTERS)    (Parent/Guardian Signature)                    (Date)