Securing the Digital Playground :The Role of Acceptable Use Policies in Online School Safety .....
So what is an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)?
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It is a set of rules, guidelines, and expectations for students, teachers, and staff that outline the proper use of technology resources, such as computers, networks, and the internet, within an organization or educational institution. An AUP educates users about potential risks and best practices for maintaining their personal and organizational security online. It additionally can help protect against cyberbullying, unauthorized access, and misuse of technology and promotes a positive and secure digital environment. It also ensures compliance with legal requirements and helps educate users about digital citizenship and ethical behavior online. A well-crafted AUP promotes a culture of responsible technology use and enhances the overall learning experience for everyone involved.
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So that got me thinking…. what is my district's AUP (Acceptable Use Policy)? It took some searching, but I finally found it located in our Parent/Student handbook. (pg 28-33 and updated for the 23/24 school yr) The AUP emphasizes the importance of electronic networks in education, highlighting their role in resource sharing and communication. It also stresses the need for education on appropriate online behavior, alignment with the curriculum, and responsible use of technology. The document also addresses how the district uses secure electronic access to student information for authorized teachers/staff, parents/guardians, and students as well as emphasizing that all parties comply with the internet use regulations and all technology regulations/procedures. It does not explicitly mention AI (artificial intelligence) in the context of student use or interaction with technology. However, some aspects of the AUP, such as guidelines for responsible and ethical use of technology, could indirectly relate to AI if it's part of the technology resources provided by the district.
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One thing that I found that was unique and I thought was a great resource was a folder on the school’s Schoology page of AUP Lessons for each grade to help teach our district's AUP guidelines to our students at the start of the year.
Image Source: D300 Technology Department | AUP Lesson’s Purpose
They call the program Chromebook Academy. These lessons outline the school’s AUP, what information can be made public and what should stay private, how to navigate online safely, and how to be a respectful digital citizen as well as a basic introduction to AI (artificial intelligence)
Overall, I feel the district has a pretty good AUP developed for the students, families, and staff. However, it wasn’t as easy to find as I would like; it took some searching. Including it in the handbook is a good place, but it would also be nice to have a link or a separate AUP document that outlines just the expectations/guidelines of the district, making it easier to find that information. I also think it is great that my district sets aside time at the start of the year for students to be given Chromebook Academy to learn these AUP expectations/ online skills as well as providing lesson outlines with links to help teachers facilitate this teaching at the beginning of the school year. More often than not I bet most parents/guardians sign the handbook at the start of the year without reading or looking it over. I think if they took this same concept for Chromebook Academy with students and created an online program for parents/guardians to compete at home, it would help them become truly aware of the district's AUP guidelines.
Online Security/Safety …. How do we learn to navigate the digital world?
Technology can be a great asset in education and learning, and plays a vital role in today's technological world. This is why it is important we teach our students how to navigate and interact online safely both during their years in school but also into adulthood. So this brought me this week to searching for resources to help learn and teach online safety/security.
The first article was the Google Guidebook "Get to Know Online Security" . It provides a comprehensive overview of key concepts and practices for staying safe online. It covers topics such as creating strong passwords, recognizing phishing attempts, securing devices, and managing privacy settings. The guidebook offers practical tips and step-by-step instructions to help users protect themselves against cyber threats and safeguard their personal information. It is a valuable resource for individuals looking to enhance their online security knowledge and practices.
The second article was "Securing your digital life, part one: The basics" from arstechnica.com. It provides a comprehensive overview of fundamental security practices for individuals looking to protect their digital information. It covers topics such as password management, two-factor authentication, software updates, and data encryption. The article emphasizes the importance of adopting these practices to safeguard personal and sensitive information from cyber threats. It serves as a practical guide for readers seeking to improve their digital security.
The third set of resources are from the website Common Sense Educator Website . The Common Sense website provides free activities and lessons that allow students to build and learn digital habits and skills that are essential for interacting with digital media. The two resources I found on there that I think would be helpful for teaching students online safety in a fun interactive way would be Digital Citizens lessons/videos and the Digital Compass interactive game. Both of these tools are web-based and used to help teach students about digital citizenship through fun videos, songs and games.
Digital Citizens: has lessons that focus on the 6 core topics. Media Balance/wellbeing, privacy/security, digital footprint/identity, relationships and communication, cyberbullying/digital drama and news/media literacy. What is nice about this site is that it has a whole plan/lesson laid out for teachers to use easily. They provide slides, videos, worksheets/handouts and activities to use with your students so they master/learn a variety of digital literacy skills. They even provide activities and resources that can be used and sent home for family use.
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Digital Compass: This is an interactive game that is geared for grades 6-8. Players choose-your-own- path choices; students learn about digital citizenship and what those choices mean. It can be accessed in both English and Spanish. The player’s choices in the game help them learn about the areas of cyberbullying/digital drama, self-image/identity, internet safety/privacy, creative credit/copyright, relationship/communication, news/media literacy. They provide an educational guide for teachers to understand the purpose of the game, to know how to implement the game and create and account.
Image Source: Common Sense Educator Website
Overall Thoughts….
Teaching online safety and security and implementing Acceptable Use Policies (AUP) within districts and organizations are paramount in today's digital age. These practices not only help protect sensitive information and prevent cyber threats but also empower individuals with the knowledge and skills to navigate the internet safely. AUPs set clear guidelines for the appropriate use of technology, ensuring that users understand their responsibilities and the potential consequences of misuse. By incorporating these practices into educational curricula and organizational policies, we can foster a culture of digital citizenship and promote a safer online environment for all.
Resources:
AUP. ISAFE Enterprises. (2020, November 25). https://isafeventures.com/direct/aup
DIGCIT curriculum. Common Sense Education. (n.d.-a). https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship/curriculum?grades=K%2C1%2C2%2C3%2C4%2C5%2C6%2C7%2C8%2C9%2C10%2C11%2C12
Educator guide | common sense. (n.d.). https://www.commonsense.org/system/files?file=pdf/2022-03/2020-digitalcompass-educatorguide-final-release-1.pdf
Free terms and conditions generator for website (TOS). for Website (ToS). (n.d.). https://termshub.io/terms-of-service
Google. (n.d.). Parent handbook_2023-2024.PDF. Google Drive. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1orIYaqz53ByB_YGWOBwO_IuV7I9tE4io/view
Log in to schoology. (n.d.). https://app.schoology.com/login?destination=home
Ready to play digital compassTM?. Common Sense Digital CompassTM | Educational games for kids to help teach digital citizenship and digital literacy skills. (n.d.). https://www.digitalcompass.org/
Sean Gallagher - Oct 25, 2021 1:00 pm UTC. (2021, October 25). Securing your digital life, part one: The basics. Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/features/2021/10/securing-your-digital-life-part-1/
Search results for common sense education. Common Sense Education. (n.d.-b). https://www.commonsense.org/education/search?contentType=reviews
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