Acceptable Use Policies and Permission Forms
An Acceptable Use Policy is a contract or document in which a school or institution can outline what the school feels is appropriate content and use for the internet within classroom and learning activities. Your school or school district should have an acceptable use policy in place.
This document should also clearly define what is inappropriate and should outline what should be done if violations occur. Teachers should find out if their district or even school has an AUP in place and then become familiar with the rules and regulations surrounding this policy.
One acceptable structure for an AUP is suggested by the National Education Association. This structure includes the following elements:
- A preamble - communicates the need for the policy as well as its goals. This should describe how the policy was put together
- A definition - provides clear definitions of the key terms used in the policy
- A policy statement - details which computer services are covered by the AUP. This section should also define the rules and conditions under which students can use the internet within the school
- An acceptable uses section -Details what according to the school or institution constitutes appropriate use of the computer equipment and the Internet.
- A violations/sanctions section - Defines in detail specific examples of unacceptable use of computers and the Internet. Can include what types of network sites considered 'off limits.' What types of behavior of internet activity students SHOULD NOT engage in (posting, sending, forwarding information). Any behavior or actions that are deemed destructive to the "computer network services."(Cromwell, 1998)
Before students can use the Internet for learning activities under the guidance of their teachers, parents and students must review and affirm that they understand and will abide by the conditions stated in the Acceptable Use Policy. Parents and teachers should be strongly encouraged to review the policy with students before signing the permission forms.
Additional Reading:
- Example of AUP: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/deptpolicies/acceptableuse.htm
- Permission forms examples:
http://projectinterconnect.org/filters/aupform.htm - CyberSmart Curriculum on Internet Safety: http://www.cybersmartcurriculum.org/
- Cromwell, S. (1998). Getting Started on the Internet: Developing an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) Retrieved January 3, 2008 from http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr093.shtml