What is acceptable use policy? What impact does it have on the use of the Web in the classroom?
Due to the nature of the Internet and the inquisitive nature of children, it is necessary for school and school districts to implement acceptable use policies (AUP). These policies lay out rules and regulations that guide student Internet use. Teachers and administrators try to ensure both students and parents are familiar with these policies and in some cases, require signatures from all the parties so that there can be no misunderstanding.
Individual districts usually set the policy, some are very strict while some are more liberal. Regardless of the amount of material a district allows student access to, the goal of AUP is to ensure students can not venture into improper sites, while allowing enough access so students can utilize the technology to its potential.
In my classroom, I am somewhat frustrated by the amount of web sites that have been blocked by our IT department. If I am able to review a blocked site prior to the lesson, then I can submit a form to have the site unblocked for a few days as long as I provide a valid reason for using the site. Our computer lab is a little more liberal. I can bring my entire class in there and do a web quest or even allow them to play "g-rated" games. I sometimes reward student behavior by allowing trips to the computer lab.
To me the big drawback comes in those spur of the moment when I want to show the class something that has come up unexpectedly during a lecture. If I can't have access to sites when I need them, it can be detrimental to the lesson.
This type of censuring may not be considered AUP as the students have no choice in which sites are blocked by the school. Still, you can't black everything and kids will be kids; they will definitely try to visit sites that are not appropriate. This is where appropriate use policies are useful.
My district allows students a few chances at violating our AUP. Punishments range from loss of computer time to expulsion. At least having the policy in place, students, teachers, parents, and administrators are familiar with which sites students should and should not be exploring. And even though some web capabilities may be limited, AUPs are ultimately used to protect the students.
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2 comments:
I think you have a good point, but if websites are not block people have the notion to involve every possible search on the web, if you know what I mean. Not saying it will happen all the time but it will get someone in trouble. Many educators feel that we should be teaching students to share in responsibility-taking during their own schooling so that they can be competent, self-regulated decision-makers and lifelong learners. But that is the big thing self-control. Those places that are strict probably had issues with no self-control.
It is important for us to talk about privacy that related with the internet. However, not all the people paid enough attention at this point? I think the primary reason is that internet is a virtual world. Fortunately, many educators found that it is necessary for school and school districts to implement acceptable use policies (AUP). And most schools did have their AUP. All the faculty and stuff and parents are supposed to know this policy. I think it will never be enough for the purpose of protecting children.
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