Responsible Technology Use Policy for Students
The Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District Technology Network, which includes access to the World Wide Web and electronic mail capability, exists solely for educational purposes, which are defined as classroom activities, career and professional development and high quality self-discovery activities of an educational nature. The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District intends to utilize information and communication technology (ICT), along with all of its other educational resources, to fulfill its ultimate goal of preparing students for success in life and career.
Purpose
The Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District encourages the use of ICT to promote academic success, preparation for the workplace, and life-long learning. The Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District provides access to a wide range of ICT tools and structured data to support learning and communicating with others. ICT is used to enhance student engagement by increasing communication, assist with processing and organization and support students in the acquisition of new skills.
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
Congress enacted the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. §6501, et seq. (COPPA) in 1998. COPPA required the Federal Trade Commission to issue and enforce regulations concerning children’s online privacy. The Commission’s original COPPA Rule became effective on April 21, 2000. The Commission issued an amended Rule on December 19, 2012 that became effective on July 1, 2013. Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District works diligently to comply with COPPA requirements. Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District does not collect student personal information or transmit such information directly to online entities for the purpose of creating web based accounts. In cases of web based account creation, Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District will use an internal school district identification number to represent each student user.
What is G Suite for Education?
Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District provides staff and students with a G Suite for Education account. G Suite is a free web based suite of programs provided by Google for schools to use. All employees and students in the Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District have access to G Suite for Education apps.
Google Apps includes such programs as Google Drive, Google Calendar, and Google Gmail. All of the Google Apps services can be accessed from anywhere you have an Internet connection (school, home, smart phone, etc.) This reduces and replaces the need for flash drives and/or external data drives. Since Google Apps is all online, it is the same everywhere you use it. There is no issue with having one version of a program at home and a different version at school. Google Apps allows you to easily share documents and files with teachers and other students, so you can turn in assignments electronically and collaborate on projects with classmates.
Responsible Digital Citizens
Digital citizens in HWRSD use information and communication technologies responsibly, ensuring that they take physical care of our devices, as well as promote a positive online community where they “engage in positive, safe, legal and ethical behavior when using technology, including social interactions online or when using networked devices” (ISTE Standards for Students, 2016)
We want our students to become Empowered Learners. According to the ISTE Standards for Students, as Empowered Learners, students leverage technology to take an active role in choosing, achieving and demonstrating competency in their learning goals, informed by the learning sciences.
Students will:
- Articulate and set personal learning goals, develop strategies leveraging technology to achieve them and reflect on the learning process itself to improve learning outcomes.
- Build networks and customize their learning environments in ways that support the learning process.
- Use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.
- Understand the fundamental concepts of technology operations, demonstrate the ability to choose, use and troubleshoot current technologies, and are able to transfer their knowledge to explore emerging technologies.
Unacceptable Uses of Technology Resources
A violation of the terms of this Acceptable Use Policy may result in suspension or termination of network access privileges and may also result in other disciplinary action consistent with the disciplinary policies of the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District and the applicable provisions of any governing collective bargaining agreement.
1. Users should also be aware that violation for these rules that constitutes a crime may also result in criminal prosecution.
a. Placing unlawful and/or inappropriate information on a system.
b. Using profane, vulgar, threatening, defamatory, abusive, discriminatory, harassing, bullying or otherwise objectionable or criminal language in a public or private message.
c. Sending messages or posting information that would likely result in the loss of a recipient’s work or system.
d. Sending “chain letters” or “broadcast” messages to lists or individuals, subscribing to “list-serves” or “newsgroups” without prior permission, or using the Internet for access for any other personal use, without prior permission.
e. Participating in other types of use which would cause congestion of the network to interfere with the work of others.
f. Using the network in a manner that would violate any U.S. or state law. This includes, but it is not limited to, copyrighted material, threatening material and spreading of computer viruses.
g. Accessing or transmitting materials that are obscene, sexually explicit, or pornographic and accessing any prohibited sites on the Internet.
h. Revealing one’s own personal address or telephone number.
i. Revealing one’s password to anyone else, using anyone else’s password, or pretending to be someone else when sending information over the computer network.
j. Attempting to gain unauthorized access to system programs or computer equipment, including attempts to override, or to encourage others to override, any firewalls established on the network.
k. Attempting to harm, modify or destroy data of another user.
l. Exhibiting any other action whatsoever, which would in any way subject the user of the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District to any civil or criminal action.
m. Discussing highly sensitive or confidential school department information in e-mail communications.
n. Using the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District technology network to buy, sell or advertise anything.
o. Accessing discussion groups or “chat rooms”, or engaging in any other form of online conversation or communication whose purpose is not primarily educational.
p. Using the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District technology network for gambling.
q. Using the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District technology network for political campaigning purposes, including attempts to influence ballot questions or to promote or oppose a candidate for public office.
r. Failing to log off the computer network at the conclusion of a work session or at the request of system administrators.
s. Using the computer network for recreational purposes or activities relating to personal hobbies.
t. Installing software or data on the computer network without first having the information scanned by the computer technology coordinator for viruses or other incompatibility.
2. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable collective bargaining agreement, the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District assumes no responsibility for:
a. Any unauthorized charges or fees, including telephone charges, long distance charges, per minute surcharges and/or equipment or line costs.
b. Any financial obligations arising out of unauthorized use of the system for the purchase of products or services.
c. Any cost, liability or damages caused by a user’s violation of these guidelines.
d. Any information or materials that are transferred through the network.
e. Any other inappropriate use of electronic resources of Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District.
3. The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District makes no guarantee, implied or otherwise, 27 regarding the reliability of the data connection. The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District shall not be liable for any loss or corruption of data resulting while using the network.
4. All messages and information created, sent or retrieved on the network are the property of Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District. Electronic mail messages and other use of electronic resources by students and staff, including accessing web pages, should not be considered confidential. Copies of all information created, sent or retrieved are stored on the computer network’s back-up files. While the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District does not plan to review cache files or backup files on a regular basis, it reserves the right to access and monitor all messages and files on the computer system, including web pages accessed, as it deems necessary and appropriate in the ordinary course of its business for purposes including, but not limited to, ensuring proper use of resources and conducting routine network maintenance. By participating in the school district’s computer network, users are indicating their consent to such 24 monitoring and access. Where appropriate, communications including text and images may be disclosed to law enforcement in response to proper requests, or to other third parties in the context of proper requests in the course of litigation without prior consent of the sender or receiver.
5. The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District strongly condemns the illegal distribution (otherwise known as pirating) of software. Any users caught transferring such files through the network, and any whose accounts are found to contain such illegal files, shall immediately have their accounts permanently revoked. In addition, all users should be aware that software piracy is a federal offense and is punishable by a fine or imprisonment.
6. The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District reserves its right to seek restitution from any user for costs incurred by the district, including legal fees, due to such user’s inappropriate use of electronic resources.
7. All system users are responsible to notify their teacher, or a system or building administrator, upon discovery of a security breach, information or messages that are dangerous, inappropriate or make them feel uncomfortable.
Mobile Device Policy Purpose
Rules must be followed regarding student and staff responsibilities in the use of laptops. The “Laptop Policy” is to be used in addition to the “Responsible Use Policy”.
Laptop Lab/Chromebook Cart Usage
The Laptop lab is a mobile computer lab available for classroom usage. Laptops are not to be distributed individually unless a teacher wants to use one as an interactive tool with the projectors, and the cart must maintain at least 25 units at all times. The mobile lab will be checked out to a classroom teacher as a unit. The teacher will have the responsibility for the pick-up and safe return of the mobile lab to the designated space in the school by the close of each day. The IT department and classroom teachers are responsible for the students understanding and following the rules for laptop use in the classroom. The keys to the lock cart will be held by the Library Department.
Teacher Roles
1. Teachers are required to sign-up on the Online Calendar.
2. Teachers are responsible for the cart – moving the cart, locking/unlocking the cart, recharging, and making sure that all laptops are returned to the designated location and are locked safely in the cart at the end of usage.
3. Each classroom will have a protocol in place for the distribution and collection of the laptops/Chromebooks to students.
4. Teachers will monitor student use. Downloading of games or music is not allowed. Non-educational games are not allowed on any laptop.
5. Teachers will prepare backup lesson plans to use if the computer network is down.
6. Teachers will report any misuse/abuse to the principal’s office.
7. NOTE: Substitute teachers are not allowed to use the mobile laptop cart.
Student Roles (following an orientation)
1. Students will be assigned a laptop and will continue to use the same unit throughout the year.
2. Students will not swap a computer with another student.
3. Students are to keep their passwords private.
4. The laptop is for use as a tool for learning and must be handled with care.
5. Student use of a laptop is a privilege, not a right. The privilege can be revoked.
6. Infractions for improper use of a laptop computer will be recorded to the principal’s office.
7. Laptops “history” will be checked for unapproved files. When inappropriate material is found the computer privilege will be taken away. The time frame will be determined by the principal’s office.
Rules: Respectful, Responsible, and Ethical Use and Care of Laptops
1. Follow normal school rules and exercise care around any laptop.
2. Food or drinks are not allowed near the laptops. Hands must be clean.
3. Always carry a laptop using two hands.
4. Set the laptops flat on the desk (not on papers or other materials).
5. Pencils, pens, or fingers should not touch the screen.
6. Open and close the laptop carefully.
7. Type gently on the keyboard.
8. Students are encouraged to create and access documents via their Google Drive. If a local software is used for document creation, then files should be saved to the H Drive.
9. Do not change any settings on the laptop and use only the applications/programs assigned by your teacher.
10. Downloading is only allowed with your teacher’s permission.
11. Ask permission before printing.
12. When storing laptops on a cart make sure the laptop number matches the number on the cart’s slot and the electrical port is on the bottom and facing out.
13. Staff only will move the cart of multiple laptops. Students do not move the cart to or from the classroom.
14. Students do not connect or disconnect the hub or power sources.
15. Do not insert things into openings of a laptop.
Excerpted from the MRHS Student Handbook 2018-2019 (p. 25-28)