Online Safety Issues in Our School

Topics of Discussion All about Acceptable Use Policies Significance of Signatures on an AUP What is included in an AUP? Purpose of AUP’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act COPPA for Parents COPPA for Teachers Posting Student’s Work on the Internet Permission to Post Photos and Work Helpful Links Regarding Online Safety and Permission Forms Helpful Links Regarding Online Safety and Permission Forms More Information

What is an AUP? A document of determined policies that denotes the do’s and don’ts of internet use, online behavior, and access privileges. It is signed by students, parents and teachers. Home

What is the significance of the signatures? A student is bound to the contract’s policies for acceptable use. Parents accept partial responsibility in their child’s classroom internet usage, relinquishing the remaining authority to the teacher. Teachers are pledging to uphold the AUP guidelines. All parties’ understanding of the agreement is then assumed after the signing.

What does an AUP include? Responsibilities of the teachers, parents and students Consequences of violating the AUP Schools plan to ensure safety Advantages of internet use within the school Outline of acceptable and unacceptable uses

Why are there AUP’s? They are designed to protect the student and the teacher. The schools are less likely to be held accountable for incidences that may arise. They protect parents by providing them with the alternative to request activities not requiring internet access.

Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act For children’s safety, COPPA requires an adult, parent or teacher depending on setting, to give consent before commercial websites collect any personal information from a minor (under age 18) Students have to be to willing to comply with the desires and wishes of those who want to keep them safe Home

COPPA for Parents “The COPPA, requires commercial website operators to get parental consent before collecting any personal information from kids under 13” (Federal Trade Commission, 2000). Parents need to monitor their children and participate in giving (or not giving) consent to their child giving out their personal information online.

COPPA for Teachers “COPPA allows teachers to act on behalf of a parent during school activities online, but does not require them to do so” (Federal Trade Commission, 2000). Teachers are the student’s guardian while at school, and are expected to constantly monitor computer usage.

Dangers of Posting Students’ Personal Information “There are potential dangers associated with the posting of personally identifiable information on a website since global access to the internet does not allow us to control who may access such information” (Pleasantville Public Schools). Home

Permission to Post Photos and Work Parents have the opportunity to grant or deny permission to post personal information dealing with their child. By signing the permission form you, as the parent, understand the following: 1. Student’s picture may be posted with the understanding that no additional information will accompany the photo that may in any way expose the child’s identity. 2. Consent will never be assumed to post students’ work. 3. Benefits of posting the student’s work

Helpful Links Regarding Online Safety and Permission Forms For more information about AUPs please visit Parent/Student AUP ReferenceParent/Student AUP Reference For more information about how I will emphasize students’ safety and privacy on the internet, please visit How to Stay Safe and Private on the InternetHow to Stay Safe and Private on the Internet For more information about my rights and duties as a teacher while my students are on the internet, please visit How to Protect Kids' Privacy OnlineHow to Protect Kids' Privacy Online For more information on how to teach children privacy and safety online, please visit Teaching Students Web AwarenessTeaching Students Web Awareness Home

Work Cited Federal Trade Commission (2000). How to protect kids’ privacy online: a guide for teachers. Retrieved Sept. 22, 2004, from Facts for Consumers Web Site: tm Pleasantville Public Schools, (n.d.). Minor/Student Release Form. Retrieved Sept. 26, 2004, From nt.htm Home