 By
occasionally walking around the lab to monitor what students are doing
online, you can keep project activities in the educational domain and help
avoid potential misuse. Remember, the Internet is not a toy or a babysitter,
and using it as an educational tool requires that there is structure as
to how it is used in the classroom.
All students must realize that their Internet
access at school is a privilege – not a right! In addition to the Board’s
Information Technology Acceptable Use Agreement, some teachers may wish
to send home a special Internet project permission form. Parents will have
concerns about their son’s or daughter’s work, names, photos or other personal
information appearing on the Internet. They also want assurance that email,
pen pals, etc. will be monitored for safety.
Use discretion. A group or class photo
may be acceptable to publish, provided that names do not identify individual
students. Older students may be afforded more responsibility. When in doubt
as to whether to use a permission form or not, it’s best to play it safe.
Check out SchoolNet's
permission form as an example of an additional form that your may choose
to use. As you will see from this form, a number of issues concerning safety,
privacy, ethical use and personal copyright are addressed.
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| Safety
Checklist
 Instruct
students to never publish or offer any personal information such as their
complete name, home address, school address, email address, telephone number
or even photographs of themselves online.
Under
no circumstances should a student arrange to contact or meet with an individual
outside of the school. Make it clear to students that plans to contact
outside individuals should be handled by the teacher. Your (teacher) email
address or a group address under your direction would be one way to safely
correspond with others over the Internet. Some older secondary school students
may choose to use their own discretion. This may be acceptable providing
that their decisions are informed ones.
Students
should be encouraged to notify you immediately if they come across any
material or information online that makes them feel uncomfortable.
It
should be made very clear that the School Board will not tolerate students
deliberately trying to access material or information of an inappropriate
nature.
Use
common sense and discretion at all times!
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