Module 2: Acceptable Use Policies, Child Protection and E-mail
Readings
Netiquette and Responsible Computing

Netiquette is simply the unwritten rules of etiquette in use on the Internet. Take a look at the links in Chapter 5 to learn more about netiquette.

Besides being polite online, it is also important to use computing resources responsibly. The University of Delaware requires all full-time students to read the Responsible Computing: A Student Manual and then take ECCE (Electronic Community Citizenship Examination). If you are using an ISP other than the University of Delaware, you will not be able to actually take the test. Most of you probably took the ECCE quiz when you activated your UD e-mail address.

Think about what other ways you could institute to get these same ideas across to your target populations.

Spam, E-mail hoaxes and viruses

Once you get your email account (and your students' accounts) you'll need to deal with the issue of spam (unwanted email). Take a look at the links in Chapter 5.

Just as big a problem, and one that pervades Internet use, is being able to tell what is true and what is not. The most common problem in this regard in e-mail are the numerous hoaxes. The Computer Incident Advisory Capability of the Department of Energy keeps track of these to inform the public. Take a look at the CIAC HoaxBusters Page; you may see e-mail you have already been scared by! Snopes.Com is a highly-respected chronicler of Urban Legends, including the ones that appear regularly on the Internet.

Of course, the biggest problem is viruses transmitted via e-mail. A good source for information on protecting yourself from viruses is Viruses 101: How to practice safe computing from Cnet.com. You'll also want to be able to tell the real viruses from the virus hoaxes. The Computer Virus Myths site has proved reliable for this over the years. Previously, you could be pretty sure to avoid viruses if you only opened attachments from people you knew and trusted. Lately, viruses have circulated that implant themselves on a host computer and mail themselves out using the address book of that person's computer. Of course, your address will be in your friend's address book and you'll end up with a message that looks like it comes from him or her. Also, some viruses can be launched simply by viewing them in the preview pane of a mail client. It's absolutely essential these days to have virus software installed and to keep the definitions up-to-date. The leading products these days are from McAfee and Norton, but there is also free software available from Grisoft.

As you apply what you learn here to your work in the schools, you'll find yourself called on to advise on this type of thing all the time. Keeping these pages handy will make your life easier and provide lots of help to your colleagues.
Acceptable Use Policies

When the Internet is brought into the schools, it is important for all involved to take responsibility for their own actions: administrators, teachers, students, and parents. In order to get this commitment, many schools have adopted Acceptable Use Policies.

Take a look at this sampling or search others on the web to review a good cross-section of policies.

Then read Nancy Willard's Legal and Ethical Issues Related to the Use of the Internet in K-12 Schools to find out some of the underlying issues.

Although AUPs have proved useful, they may now be showing their age. (Notice that most of the examples above are from the 1990's. If anyone finds a recent offering, please send it along.) We are rapidly moving toward classroom situtations where use of the Internet is so tightly woven into the overall curricular goals that it would be difficult to treat Internet use as a special privilege. To deal with this, some districts are spending much more care on their Board Policy using a model such as Nancy Willard's. This document carries the legalisms and ties student actions to an existing student code of conduct. Take a look at the way Milford and Smyrna School Districts have adapted this.

To get teachers, students and parents on board, a handbook is sent at the beginning of the school year and ongoing discussions throughout the year focus on the responsibilities of students. Like any other activity, parents can opt to have their student not participate in the particular activity by following standard procedures. In other words, we don't let a student not read any books, but we do let them not read a particular book. The same is true of the way the Internet is handled. Take a look at Milford's handbook for an example.

CIPA: Children's Internet Protection Act

In 2001, Congress enacted legislation with specific requirements for schools and libraries which receive funding under the E-rate. This is still being played out as it gets enacted but it has direct requirements for filtering and AUPs. Read the ALA's Children's Internet Protection Act: A Summary to understand the new requirements.

One of the requirements is to have filtering in place. Internet Filters: A Public Policy Report by the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) reports on their research about products and software used to filter Internet content. You don't need to read all of this, but the conclusions are interesting and it's a good resource for comparing products.
Related Assignments
  1. Reflections on Acceptable Use Policies

    At this point, Acceptable Use Policies are required for most schools. However, the Internet is becoming a more and more integral part of instruction. In many cases, the curriculum is built around online activities or particular Internet resources. This week, you are to comment on how you feel it's appropriate to deal with students who do not have signed AUPs. How should a teacher manage the classroom? How should classwork be structured? Should lack of a signed AUP deprive a student of access to online materials? How will you infer the intent of parents? That is, did they forget to sign or did they intentionally not sign? Under CIPA, it is acceptable to have a district AUP and make it part of the published code of conduct without getting signatures. Is that a solution?

    There are lots of ways you can approach this but give it some thought before you jump in. You may want to try it out on your colleagues at lunch one day or on your family at dinner. Then g    o to the WebCT Discussion Forum under the appropriate topic to examine other responses to this question. Remember, this is a discussion. Make sure your response references the submissions that come before you. There is no need to restate what others have said but to move the conversation forward.

Copyright © 2002 by Pat Sine.
Send comments to sine@udel.edu