In the 21st century schools and districts are integrating technology into all aspects of learning. Educators are committed to helping students become critical thinkers who can communicate and work well with others. In order to accomplish this task it is imperative that while we provide students with digital age skills and prepare them for life after graduation, we also create safeguards to protect them.
According to Education World “With the current push for computer technology in the classroom, many educators and parents fear dangers that the uncensored Internet might hold for children: inappropriate or obscene words and images; violence; and people who pose an online threat. One strategy that many schools use to defuse such dangers is a student Acceptable Use Policy, or AUP, for the Internet.” (Education World, pg 1).
The AUP is a document to protect people from violation of rights, exposure to unsuitable material, and abuse. This document states a set of rules for good behavior and respectful conduct online that all school employees and students must sign before having network access.
WHAT IS AN AUP?
The National Education Association suggests that an effective AUP contain the following six key elements:
- a preamble explains why the policy is needed, its goals, and the process of developing the policy.
- a definition section defines key words used in the policy.
- a policy statement must tell what computer services are covered by the AUP and the circumstances under which students can use computer services.
- an acceptable uses section must define appropriate student use of the computer network.
- an unacceptable uses section should give clear, specific examples of what constitutes unacceptable student use.
- a violations/sanctions section should tell students how to report violations of the policy or whom to question about its application.
Below are examples of Acceptable Use Policies from a variety of educational institutions:
Department of Education Hawaii
Resources:
EducationWorld. (2011). Getting Started on the Internet: Developing an acceptable use policy (AUP). Retrieved from http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr093.shtml
Jodene DeVan: EDTECH Portfolio 
Hi Jodene,
Great points about providing a safe environment and bringing up a major topic in today’s educational world. I am wondering if in your research, or at the schools you taught at, if you came across any issues with a difference in school acceptable use and parental acceptable use? Have there been any cases or lawsuits where a student violated an AUP outside of school and was punished but parents claim they were okay with their student’s actions and weren’t violating any laws?
Stephen
Hi Jodene,
I appreciated the way you bulleted your AUP elements. This made it clear and easy to understand the major components. I find it ironic that many acceptable use policies actually work against teachers’ attempts to “provide students with digital age skills and prepare them for life after graduation.”
You mention the need to create safeguards. It’s my belief that too many of the “safeguards” we put in place are really just content filters. I think the instructional, ethical, and educational component of web use, searching, and research is either absent or insufficient at most public schools. I’m not sure our students are really getting the skills they need to think critically and mindfully when using the Internet.
I am optimistic that school leaders will begin to place more of a value on teaching information literacy and social media skills.
Peter