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May 11 2009, 5:10 AM EDT (current) PatienceS
May 11 2009, 5:09 AM EDT PatienceS 11 words deleted

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ISB Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy

Philosophy of Information Technology Use
ISB recognizes that Information Technology (IT) is integral to learning and educating today’s children for success in the world community. As passionate, reflective learners and informed, caring global citizens1 ISB students use information technology to:

  • demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes;
  • communicate and work collaboratively to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others;
  • gather, evaluate, and use information; and
  • plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions. 2
In providing and empowering students with the knowledge, skills, understandings and tools to participate as digital citizens in local and global learning communities, ISB recognizes the need to guide students in the acceptable use of information technology.

General Guidelines
ISB provides widespread student access to computers (desktop and laptop), the Internet, and the internal network to support learning. With the privilege of access comes the expectation of responsible use. Responsible use includes using IT resources in a way that does not harm equipment, the student, or others.

ISB’s guidelines on appropriate use of information technology follow these basic principles:

Respect Yourself
  • Use all IT resources responsibly, with honesty and integrity.
  • Protect and limit the content and accessibility of digital information about yourself.
  • Maintain appropriate standards of language and behavior in your use of IT resources.
Respect Others
  • Use IT equipment responsibly, respecting the needs of other users and the work of network managers.
  • Protect and limit the content and accessibility of digital information about others.
  • Maintain a safe, non-threatening environment for others in your use of IT resources.
  • Support copyright laws and uphold rights to intellectual property.
How these principles guide all use of IT resources, both school and personal, is explained below.

Use IT Resources Responsibly
School Computer Use
Students will use school-owned computers regularly at ISB. Students may not make alterations to the computer, either to the machine itself, or to the software on it, as this directly impacts its availability and usability for other users.

Personal Computer Use
All non-ISB laptops must be registered with the Ed. Tech office in order to get access to the school network. This helps protect the school network from viruses and unauthorized access.

Malicious Software Protection
ISB goes to great lengths to keep its network free of viruses, spyware and adware. Students are part of this network and must assume responsibility in helping to ensure that it continues to run efficiently and effectively for everyone. Students may not boot ISB computers with their own disks, nor copy system or executable files onto the computers. Additionally, we strongly recommend and ask that students’ home computers be kept up to date in anti-virus protection. Viruses from home are quickly transferred to school through USB drives and corrupted files. It is the users’ responsibility to ensure that their USB drives do not bring harmful files into the school network.

Protect and Limit Digital Information
Privacy
Students are provided with personal network space in which to save their work. This space is treated by ISB administration like a school locker. It is respected as belonging to an individual, but it is open to inspection by ISB administrators should there be due cause (e.g. virus, spam, inappropriate content, exceeding storage limits, etc.).

A student must respect his or her own work and privacy. To that end, students must keep their own password secure and secret. Students are expected to change their password regularly. Passwords can be changed by using CTRL ALT DEL on a PC computer after logging in.

Students must respect other people’s work and privacy. To that end, students must never use someone else’s password and/or access their account without permission. Any attempts to “hack” into accounts or determine others’ passwords will be treated as vandalism.

Students may not transmit or post messages, images, or other information that was sent to them privately without permission from the sender and the individuals mentioned, shown, or otherwise concerned.

Safety
Online safety is a personal responsibility. It is important that students are aware of the implications of their actions online, both for themselves and for others. The actions students take in public forums such as social networks, blogs and podcasts can impact their safety, reputation, university applications, and future job searches. Students are expected to keep themselves and the people they know safe by carefully screening who their online “friends” are and any personal information they share such as pictures, full names, or email addresses. Digital information can be used to hurt you.

Maintain Appropriate Standards of Language and Behavior
Inappropriate Content, Language, or Use
No profane, abusive or impolite language may be used to communicate using IT resources. Content may not be accessed which is inconsistent with appropriate school behavior. A good rule to follow is never to access, view, or send materials which you would not want teachers or parents to view while sitting next to you. Should students encounter such material by accident, they should immediately exit the site and report it to their teacher.

If websites or online activities such as gaming, virtual worlds, social networks, downloads, or streaming media become a distraction from learning or limit others’ use of IT resources, they will be disallowed. As necessary, these websites or activities will be blocked by ISB network administration.

Maintain a Safe, Non-threatening Environment
Digital Harassment and Bullying
Students’ digital activities may impact others. If such actions inside or outside of school cause members of the ISB community to feel unsafe or uncomfortable, then ISB administration becomes involved. ISB reserves the right to monitor any such actions and apply appropriate disciplinary consequences. Bullying is not tolerated by ISB in any form, inside or outside of school.

Support Copyright and Intellectual Property Laws
Software
ISB is committed to the legal use of software. We support international copyright laws. Users may not download or install any commercial software, shareware, or freeware onto network drives or disks, unless they have network administrator permission.

Respect for intellectual property
Students may not copy or transmit document, software, music and/or video files without license. Plagiarism, copying and presenting the work of others as one’s own, is unacceptable. Academic honesty is addressed in detail in the student handbook.

Consequences of Unacceptable Use
ISB’s guidelines for acceptable IT use are non-negotiable expectations and violation of these will lead to consequences that may include, but are not limited to, being charged for repairs, having network access revoked, temporary confiscation of personal IT devices, and disciplinary action such as suspension or expulsion.

Students must exercise sound judgement in determining for themselves the appropriate use of IT. Any use of IT that violates the spirit of the philosophy or guidelines is not allowed, even if not specifically addressed above.
1 ISB Vision and Mission Statement 2 The ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (NETS•S) and Performance Indicators for Students