Acceptable Usage Policies (AUP)

While there are many ways objectionable material can be blocked from student access, all can be bypassed. Hence, many schools are focusing on moral strategies for teaching students to become responsible Internet users. They need guidance on how to become good electronic citizens.

A second common strategy is to provide constant adult supervision. School computers are placed in locations, such as libraries, where someone is always on hand to help with and monitor student use. The simple positioning of computers can make a difference. If all the screens are easily seen by the adult supervisor, there is less likelihood on students surfing for objectionable materials.

Student use of the network should also be focused. Students should use the network to support their school work and thus should be prepared to tell an adult what they are doing online. Having a school or district or content based web page as the computer's home page also focuses students' initial attention on school based use.

A third strategy is to develop an acceptable user policy which has broad community support. It lays out the rights and responsibilities of all parties concerned. It is becoming standard practice to have parents sign a legal waiver agreeing to the school's acceptable usage policy. Students, too, are often required to sign the AUP, or some version of it, agreeing to abide by the policy.

. Examples of acceptable user policies are given below.

Read AUPCal.htm and AUPKings.htm in the files area of the RFTS webpage.

Other good sources of AUP information are:
http://www.tenet.edu/tenet-info/accept.html
http://www.erehwon.com/k12aup
http://bvsd.k12.co.us/aup/aup.html

Activity
Download an AUP for possible use in your district.