Educators must walk a fine line between providing students with access to the digital world and protecting them from harmful situations within that digital world. The first step to protecting our students comes with the development of an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). These policies outline how students should use the Internet in a safe manner. Digital rights and responsibilities should be delineated in the AUP.
The following topics must be addressed in the AUP and agreed upon by the parents and students:
- Plagiarism
- Piracy
- Safe conduct
- Visiting non-school related sites
- Netiquette
In my opinion, this AUP from Springfield Ball Charter School is a great example of an acceptable use policy. This AUP lays out important Do's and Don'ts for students using the Internet.
In addition to having students read and sign the Acceptable Use Policy, teachers of online courses must also TEACH students about the importance of protecting the work of others. Plagiarism is usually ignored until college, and, by then, it is often a costly mistake. Additionally, piracy, netiquette, and visiting sites should be addressed by the teacher.
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