Acceptable Use Guideline, Essay Example

Online technology tools are endless and can consume hours of an educator’s precious time exploring what is available. Advantages arise out of the use social sites. This enhances the student-teacher relationships (Pasfield-Neofitou, 2008; Price, 2007). The increased use of computer and internet technology in the classroom has made many educators and parents fear hazards that the unrestricted internet might pose for children. One strategy that various schools use to defuse such dangers is a student is the formulation of Acceptable Use Guidelines for the new technologies. The rules and procedures established in the acceptable use guideline must defuse such fears.

There must be a comprehensive guideline for the use of the new Web 2.0 tools. Educators should focus on one or two new technologies that align with existing syllabus. This must come with a careful re-examination of the syllabus to consider inclusion these new tools. Therefore, educators must ensure conformity to the acceptable use guideline. They should become familiar with the tool before introducing it to the children. This gives them the opportunity to understand possible threats that may arise if inclusion and use of the tools when accepted (Price, 2007).

While researching and learning the new tool, educators should develop acceptable use policies and procedures to protect the students and educator from potential misuses of the tool. The best way to keep the internet safe is through teaching on the responsible use. This involves developing and implementing an Acceptable Use Guidelines document. The rules and procedures should educate students about the risks peculiar to internet communication (Getting Started on the Internet: Developing an Acceptable Use Policy).

The rules established ensure safe and appropriate use of computers and the math tools. This will go further to help in the preservation of digital materials generated during studies. The rules must discourage the children from submitting confidential information that relate to them to online strangers.

The rules developed enhance the integrity and honest among the students. They allow the enforcement of accepted social norms and enhance respect to property and privacy of individuals. These rules go further to discourage criminal behaviour. This enhances the development of ethical behaviour of the children (ISafe: Acceptable Use Policies).

Protection of school internet and technology resources is of paramount importance. The designed rules must ensure efficient use of the online tools. This ensures the use of resources falls within the purview of the classroom.

Another important reason as to why the rules were establish is to ensure copyright protection, limit piracy of software and reduce plagiarism. This will limit the risk of possible lawsuits against the administrators (ISafe: Acceptable Use Policies).

Potential problems can arise. This include inappropriate or obscene words and images; violence; people who pose an online threat via cyber-stalking. Other likely challenges include copyright infringement, plagiarism and software piracy. The acceptable use guideline will limit the misuse of school resources and network equipment (Model Acceptable Use policy).

Strict adherence and observation of the rules and procedures outlined in the Acceptable Use Guideline is critical. Violation of the guidelines must come with a penalty. Some of the ways used to address the violation of these guidelines include limiting access to sites through filtering or use of blocking software. This will reduce access to sites outside the program.

Another approach is the use of proactive education. This method involves teaching students on responsible behavior. The students must sign an agreement that binds them to the specified rules. The provisions written guidelines of the consequences for wrongful action enable the students develop a sense of responsibility.

Conclusion

The formulation of appropriate and acceptable use guideline document is of paramount importance. The educators and stakeholders must design policies that aim at protecting the children. The use the unique features of each technology effectively enhance implementation of the strategies. They must aim at developing appropriate policies that minimize the dangers that the use of web tools and the internet resources pose.

References

Pasfield-Neofitou, S. (2008, April). Creative Applications of Social Networking for the Language Learning Class. International Journal of Learning, 14(12), 235-239. Retrieved August 7, 2009, from Education Research Complete database. http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=35789258&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Price, A. (2007, April). New Media Technologies: Proposing An Integrated Approach. Astronomy Education Review, pp. 171,176. Retrieved August 7, 2009, from Education Research Complete database. http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=26938585&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live

Websites

Model Acceptable Use policy. Retrieved from http://www.cybercrime.gov/rules/acceptableUsePolicy.htm

Getting Started on the Internet: Developing an Acceptable Use Policy. Retrieved from http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr093.shtml

ISafe: Acceptable Use Policies. Retrieved from http://www.isafe.org/imgs/pdf/education/AUPs.pdf