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The Internet allows you and your students to embark on new adventures by reaching beyond the walls of your classroom. This opportunity also brings potential risks, and therefore it is important that you take precautions to ensure your students' safety and protect their privacy.
There are a variety of issues to consider and many specific steps that can be taken to address safety and privacy concerns. An introduction to three key topics is offered below, in addition to a number of informative related links.
Acceptable Use Policy
Protecting Students from Inappropriate Web Sites
Privacy Awareness
Before you begin using the Internet in your classroom, you should check with your district or school to see if they have developed a school board-approved Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). The purpose of an AUP is to inform the public of the district's use of the Internet and to help manage students' use. It should define the district and students' responsibilities. Acceptable and unacceptable uses of the Internet and consequences for any violations are generally outlined within the policy. Many districts require teachers, students and parents to sign an Acceptable Use Policy before they can access the Internet at school. See below for more information.
The first step in protecting students from inappropriate material is to manage computer use effectively. For suggestions see Managing Computer Use.
Filtering software is another common technique for protecting students. Sometimes called "censorware," these software programs block users from accessing unacceptable Web sites. Supporters find this level of protection reassuring. Others feel it provides a false sense of security since new sites are posted daily and it is a challenge for filtering programs to keep pace. Furthermore, imperfections in the filtering mechanisms occasionally screen out acceptable sites or allow in unacceptable sites. There is also concern that this type of tool infringes on free speech as protected in the first amendment. Check with your district to understand guidelines and responsibilities. If your school's Internet connection uses a Web filtering program, learn more about it.
A note on chat rooms or Internet Relay Chat (IRC): The ability to have real-time, online discussions offers exciting possibilities for student learning, e.g., interaction with experts or community leaders. Sometimes a moderator carefully monitors the discussion; however, many chat rooms are not supervised. Carefully consider the sponsor, policies, and processes of a given provider before taking advantage of this capability.
The Internet has created many challenges related to privacy. Be sure to understand your district's guidelines regarding Internet usage.
For example: Can you post pictures of your students? Often only group photos and first names are allowed. Parental permission is also likely to be required. Remember, too, that student work is protected by copyright law and you need permission before posting it to the Web. See Copyright Laws.
In general, before providing any personal information online, users need to understand how the data is used. A good practice is to review a site's privacy policy to ensure you are comfortable with the implications. Note that the Children's Online Privacy Act (COPA) specifically requires written parental permission before Web sites may collect personal information from children under the age of 13.
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