What are the rules for using school ICT equipment or my own personal equipment at school?
Most UK schools have computer networks and other technologies for the use of the whole school community. You might also want to take your own devices, such as your mobile or laptop, to work.
It is therefore crucial that your school provides clear guidelines about the acceptable use of school equipment (such as PCs, webcams, digital cameras and mobiles) and devices owned by students and employees (such as mobiles, personal laptops, PDAs and MP3 players) that might be brought into school.
“The first challenge in creating a safe ICT learning environment is to ensure that everyone is aware of the issues and how they impact upon the particular school environment and the pupils within that school...an infrastructure of effective policies and procedures is the backbone to effective practice.” (Source: Becta)
This should be done through an
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), developed in collaboration with key stakeholders such as governors and the Local Education Authority (LEA).
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
As recommended by Becta, your school’s AUP must cover areas including:
- The types of activities to be conducted on the school computers, by staff and students, including the use of personal and school email addresses and certain websites
- How email and Web content will be filtered and monitored on school computers
- How to deal with incidents of technology misuse, like cyberbullying or accessing inappropriate content
- The security of school equipment, including passwords and data storage
- Considerations when taking digital photos of students and publishing them online
The AUP should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis, communicated to all employees and students (including new joiners), and might even be used as the basis of a contract that students, parents and employees sign.
It’s as much about protecting school employees as for providing guidance on disciplinary sanctions against students.
Where can I find out more?