Introduction

The Internet is a worldwide network of connected computers through which people and systems communicate and exchange data. It's similar to the phone system but instead of using telephones, we "talk" to each other through our computers with text, images, and sound.

For the teacher in the classroom, the Internet can be an unbelievable resource and tool to help teach and help students learn. Consider some of the possible roles that the Internet can play in a classroom.

> As a seemingly endless and constantly expanding source of information, the Internet can provide access to up-to-the-minute content to use in your lessons.

> As a relationship-builder, the Internet can connect you and your students to other students, scientists, and experts from all over the world.

> As a collaboration supporter, the Internet makes it possible for a classroom in New Jersey and a classroom in Iceland to use the same satellite weather maps to study the patterns of the Gulf Stream, and to exchange electronic messages about their studies.

With these benefits comes risk. The Internet is a breeding ground for millions of sites with content which is inappropriate for education. Additionally, the Internet houses millions of sites which, with managed access are appropriate sites for educational/research purposes but if access is unmanaged, then they become inappropriate (e.g. hate sites, various civil liberties, religion, politics, etc.).

This document will help the Staff of Petoskey Schools successfully navigate and oversee student use of the Internet. It includes Policies, Guidelines, and suggestions.

Policies

Student

Public Schools of Petoskey

STUDENT ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY AND AGREEMENT

1.0 introduction

We are excited about offering access to technologies such as the Internet. We feel that these tools will be a critical component of life long learning. Additionally, we look forward to working with parents and students to direct technology usage in a positive and productive manner. We request your help in the management of technology usage in our program.

2.0 Parental information

In order for a student to gain access to our technology equipment, he/she must have parental permission. Parents will be given the option of denying Internet access and requesting alternative assignments not requiring direct Internet access

While the school district cannot guarantee that students will be denied access to all undesirable Internet sites, it is our intent to reduce the likelihood of such access when feasible. This will be attempted via technology, student oversight, and teaming with parents/guardians.

3.0 Conditions defining acceptable use

Students are expected to use PSP’s technology resources for learning. Other uses are prohibited. All students must adhere to the following conditions:

¨ Parents/guardians requesting that a student not participate in accessing the Internet, must advise the PSP in writing.

¨ Students shall not erase, rename, or make unusable anyone else’s computer files, programs, or disks.

¨ Accessing another person’s materials, information, or files must be done with the permission of that person.

¨ Students will receive a user identification (userid) and a password from the designated teacher(s) and/or staff. The userid and password are to be treated as personal and confidential information.

¨ Attempts to discover or use another student or staff member’s password are strictly prohibited.

¨ Students shall not modify or attempt to modify any settings, appearance, or configuration of any PSP computer equipment.

¨ Students shall use school technology equipment for school related work only.

¨ Students shall not use a computer for unlawful purposes, such as illegally copying or installing software, or violating any software copyright laws.

¨ Students shall not copy, change, or transfer any software or documentation provided by the school district, teachers, or another student without permission from the superintendent or his/her designee.

¨ Students shall not write, produce, generate, copy, propagate, or attempt to introduce any computer code designed to self-replicate, damage, or otherwise hinder the performance of any computer’s memory, file system, or software (e.g. a computer virus or worm).

¨ Students shall not deliberately use the computer to annoy or harass others with inappropriate language, images, or threats. Users shall not deliberately access or create any obscene or objectionable information, language, or images.

¨ Students shall remove PSP technology equipment from school premises only with written permission of the superintendent or his/her designee.

¨ Students shall not download or post any material considered being objectionable. (e.g. including but not limited to pornography, The Anarchist’s Cookbook or similar materials designed to give instruction on violating the law and the rights of others).

¨ Students shall use technology equipment in a fashion consistent with the directions from teachers and staff.

¨ Students shall subscribe to or use fee based on-line services only with the prior written approval of the superintendent or his/her designee.

Students shall report illegal or unauthorized use of the technology resources to the supervising teacher or the most immediately available staff member.

4.0 Discipline

Violation of any of the above conditions will be cause for immediate disciplinary action. Disciplinary action may include denial of further technology resource access, suspension, expulsion, and/or involvement of external law enforcement agencies.

Staff

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF PETOSKEY

ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY FOR STAFF

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Computers are used to support learning and to enhance instruction. Computer networks allow people to interact, to share resources, and to communicate with others. The Internet carries these capabilities to people and resources around the world. With this freedom and flexibility come responsibility. To that end, the Public Schools of Petoskey (PSP) has developed this Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for the staff members of the Public Schools of Petoskey. The purpose of this policy is to guide and encourage staff members to use technology in the most beneficial and appropriate way.

2.0 TECHNOLOGY AND INTERNET ACCESS

Each staff member will be assigned their own user identification (userid) and a password.

While the school district cannot guarantee that staff will be denied access to undesirable Internet sites, it is our intent to reduce the likelihood of such access when feasible. This will be attempted via technology and periodic reminders about responsible computing.

3.0 CONDITIONS DEFINING ACCEPTABLE USE

Staff is expected to use PSP’s technology resources for teaching, learning, research, and peer networking. Some activities are not acceptable use. All staff must adhere to the following:

· Staff shall not access, rename, delete, or render useless any computer, files, programs, or disks without authorization from the file owner.

· Staff shall not attempt to discover or use another staff member’s password.

· Staff will treat their userid and password as personal and confidential information.

· Staff shall not use school technology equipment for commercial-for-profit purposes or other unauthorized purposes.

· Staff members shall log off their computer whenever they are not using it, or whenever they leave the area where the computer is running.

· Staff shall not use a computer for unlawful purposes such as copying, installing or transmitting software, or violating software copyright laws. If the staff member is unsure about unlawful purposes, they are to contact the Technology Department or other authorized personnel.

· Staff shall make a good faith effort to monitor student Internet use. It is recognized that such monitoring is difficult and staff shall not be responsible for inappropriate student Internet use.

· Staff shall not intentionally write, produce, generate, copy, propagate, or attempt to introduce any computer code designed to self-replicate, damage, or otherwise intentionally hinder the performance of any computer’s memory, file system, or software (e.g., a computer virus or worm).

· Staff shall not deliberately use technology to annoy others with inappropriate language, images, or threats. Staff shall not deliberately access, download, or create any obscene or objectionable information, language, or images.

· Staff shall not remove PSP technology equipment from school premises without written permission of the Technology Director or the building principal or his/her designee.

· Staff shall not obligate the district financially or legally by subscribing to or using fee based on-line services without the prior written approval of the superintendent or his/her designee.

· Staff do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their use of the district’s network or any part of it. The district reserves the right to monitor the network, including but not limited to Internet use and electronic mail. Electronic mail and Internet usage shall not be referenced in employee evaluations unless usage is in non-compliance with this acceptable use policy.

4.0 DISCIPLINE

Violation of any of the above conditions may result in disciplinary action including revocation of Internet use privileges and further disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment consistent with applicable collective bargaining agreements.

4/12/01

Guidelines

While these guidelines are not currently policy, they are to be followed. Your Media Center personnel or Technology Staff can help you operate within the following guidelines.

Safe Search for Research on the Internet

Safe Searching reduces the likelihood of a student being offered an inappropriate site in a search result. This can be accomplished 2 ways:

- Some Internet Search Engines are automatically “safe” in that they filter or screen search results (www.yahooligans.com).

- Some search engines must be configured by each user in order to be “safe” (e.g. Google). This means that each student or staff who logs onto a Petoskey computer, must change the configuration of the search engine (www.google.com is recommended). This is a one time per user change. To perform or oversee a student making this change:

Select preferences here.

Select Safe Search first

Select safe search first

Site preview

Unlike the previous guideline, Site Previewing is necessary when you have a student or students who you would like to go to specific locations on the Internet to do/see specific things. This approach to using the Internet is frequently used when the teacher is targeting specific Internet content to achieve a specific curricular purpose. It is necessary to preview the site for curricular relevance AND to protect against cybersquatting. Cybersquatting occurs when a legitimate website address “owner” gives up/loses their address (www.planets4kids.com) and the new “owner” of that address places unrelated and/or inappropriate content in place of what was seen before.

Hotlist

A Hotlist is a Microsoft Word document with various topics/titles on it. Each of these has a hyperlink to a specific web page. This work document is given to each student when Internet use is to begin. Assuming the sites have been previewed, the student should never be off task. Additional advantages include: safety and user friendly names.

Please refer to the following to set up a hot list:

Definitions:

· Hot List- a document that can be viewed on the computer screen that contains hyperlinks, that when clicked on, take the student to a website that has been chosen by the teacher.

· Hyperlink-a hyperlink is a “hot spot” that allows you to jump to another location. In this case, the other location will be a web site.

· URL-a Uniform Resource Locator is an address to a particular location on the Internet. (It could also represent a file on your computer or an e-mail address.)

· Hover-when you rest your mouse pointer over hyperlinked text

Use a Hot List of Websites to link students directly to a web site that you would like them to visit. When using a Hot List the student does not have to type in a URL (address) or do a search. By clicking on the hyperlink, they go directly to the location represented by the hyperlink.

How to Create a Hot List

1. Open a Word document. (Start-Programs-Office 2000-Word)

2. Click on the “insert hyperlink” icon on the toolbar. It looks like an earth symbol with two chain links in front of it.

3. A window will open. You will fill in three things:

· the text you want displayed or “what you want to call your link”

· the “screen tip” or what text appears when you hover over the hyperlink

· the URL of the location (web site) you want to link to

4. To find the URL of a web site you would like to include in your Hot List, you can choose it from the list of sites you have recently visited, or browse for it from this window.

· To choose it from the list, just click on it once. It will appear in the URL line and in the “Text to display:” line. Change the text to display to whatever you want to call your link. Also, fill in the screen tip!

· To browse for one, click on “Web Page…” in the right side of the window. Use whichever search engine you prefer to find a site you would like to include in your Hot List. Once you are on that site, tile your windows by clicking on the tile button (between the minimize and close icons in the top right corner of the window). When you can see your hyperlink window, click once in the shaded area at the top next to the words “Insert Hyperlink”. It will appear in the URL line and in the “Text to display:” line. Change the text to display to whatever you want to call your link. Also, fill in the screen tip!

· To edit a hyperlink that you have inserted, right click on the hyperlink, go down to Hyperlink then select Edit Hyperlink. The hyperlink window will open and you can make changes.

After you have put in all of the sites you would like to include, you can add instructions and questions for your students, or just use it with the links. Remember to DOUBLE CHECK YOUR HOTLIST’S HYPERLINKS BEFORE YOU GIVE IT TO YOUR STUDENTS! Beware of cyber squatters!!!!!!!!

Sample Hot List for Teachers (Created 3/21/02 by Lynne Kelso Lesky)

1. Visit the following site and enjoy some of Eric Carle’s illustrations. Feel free to sign the Guest Book after reading the Privacy Policy! Be sure to check your e-mail after you submit the guest book form.

The Official Eric Carle Web Site

· Copy down the sentence from the bottom of the first page of this website that tells you that you should not copy any of these illustrations into your own work.

2. Visit the following site to see an exciting project that Eric Carle and his wife Barbara have been working on!

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

· Hover over one of the illustrations and copy down the name of the book and its author/illustrator or illustrator.

· Are you allowed to copy any of these illustrations into your own work?

3. Visit the following site, click on the Athena icon, and select your school.

Elementary Search Page

· How many Eric Carle books does your library have? (Hint: Carle, Eric)

Supervision

Keeping the Internet safe for all comes from a combination of things. As mentioned above, these include policies, procedures, and technology. With or without these, the most effective means to keep the Internet safe is by supervision. Supervision sounds intimidating because it implies “significant effort” and “confrontation”. With technology, we can greatly reduce the effort. The following shows how to operate “VNC”. This monitoring software allows you to see what every computer in your classroom/lab is doing at any time.

To start VNC, go to “Start, Programs” and select VNC Viewer. You will be presented with:

Enter the classroom/lab computer number (contact your Media Center or the Technology Staff if you need help determining the number) and press enter. You will then be asked for a password (available from your Media Center or Technology Staff). After you press enter, you will see:

C

B

B

A

A

If you look carefully, you will see that ‘A’ is my computer window and ‘B’ is the student computer window. Both of these windows can be manipulated like a normal window. A good approach is to connect to each computer in the morning and shrink it down so you can pop it up and any point. To shrink it, press the minimize button as depicted by arrow ‘C’ above. When you do that you will see:

I can now click here any time I want throughout the day to “pop up” and see exactly what that computer is doing. When I am finished, I just shrink it down again as mentioned above. I can actually connect to as many computers as I need to. They all could be shrunken down so I can look at anyone I want, whenever I want. Now that is easy, cool, and very effective. When students realize that they are being supervised closely, most will tow the line.