Bring Your Own Technology Policies (BYOT) (Download Printable Copy)

Rationale

Our students use technology to learn. Technology is essential to facilitate the creative problem solving, information fluency, and collaboration that we see in today’s democratic societies. While we want our students to be active contributors in our connected world, we also want them to be safe, legal, and responsible. This acceptable use policy (AUP) supports our vision of technology use and upholds in our students a strong sense of digital citizenship.

 How We Use Technology

The integrated information technology program at Arp ISD develops in our students the literacy and spatial skills they need to contribute in a connected world. We use technology to facilitate creativity and innovation. We use technology to support communication and collaboration. We use technology to extend research and information fluency, to collect and analyze data and to solve problems. We develop in our students a sound understanding of technology operations and concepts. We believe technology can be transformative and we encourage students to use technology to do what they could not otherwise do. We create a safe online environment for everyone. Filtering software keeps unwanted sites off our computers, and adults supervise our students’ computer activities at school.

 Our Hardware and Software

Our students can access the Internet via both wired and wireless connections that cover the entire school campus. We are a PC and Mac school with more than nine hundred computers distributed throughout our campuses. Digital projectors and interactive whiteboards facilitate group viewing and discussions. All students have access to a standard suite of software to support their learning needs. Students are also allowed to bring their own laptops provided they have current anti-virus and their machines have been issued a Conditional TAG from the technology department. The school is not responsible technology devices that are brought to school from home by students or faculty members.

Personal 3G/4G devices, air-cards, or personal routers are NOT permitted on school campus.

 Being a Digital Citizen

We use information and technology in safe, legal, and responsible ways. We embrace the following conditions or facets of being a digital citizen.

Respect Yourself: I will select online names that are appropriate, and I will adhere to District Guidelines when posting information and images online. I will not share inappropriate information or graphics with others.

Protect Yourself: I will not publish my personal details, contact details or a schedule of my activities.

Respect Others: I will not use technologies to bully or tease other people.

Protect Others: I will protect others by reporting abuse and not forwarding inappropriate materials or communications.

Respect Intellectual Property: I will suitably cite any and all use of websites, books, media, etc.

Protect Intellectual Property: I will request to use the software and media others produce.

 CONTRACT FOR BYOT

I understand and will follow Arp ISD's Acceptable Use Policy while using my personal technology tools in the district. If I break this agreement, the consequences could include suspension of computer privileges and/or disciplinary action.

I also understand that my school network resources and e-mail accounts are owned by Arp ISD and are not private. Arp ISD has the right to access my information at any time.

I understand that the Arp Independent School District is in no way responsible for the loss or damage of any personal equipment. The District recommends that you purchase personal insurance to cover your equipment.

Student’s Name (please print) _______________________________

Student’s Signature _______________________________

Date _______________

 As the parent or guardian of this student, I have read the Acceptable Use Policy. I understand that technology is provided for educational purposes in keeping with the academic goals of Arp Schools, and that student use for any other purpose is inappropriate. I recognize it is impossible for the school to restrict access to all controversial materials, and I will not hold the school responsible for materials acquired on the school network. I understand that children’s computer activities at home should be supervised as they can affect the academic environment at school.

 I hereby give permission for my child to bring the following device to school for educational purposes:

_______________________Make   ____________________Model

_______________________Serial Number   ________________Approximate Value

 Parent or Guardian’s Name (please print) ________________________________

 Parent or Guardian’s Signature _______________________________

Date _______________    Phone Number: _________________________________

Sharing Policy for Students and Parents

The spirit of technology education is one of sharing. We create blogs, podcasts, videos, wikis, and other social media, but we don’t create them for one person. We create them to share with the class, the school, and the school community and, perhaps, the world, because we understand that a global audience drives achievement. We might share our work on websites like http://podcast.arpisd.org/users , class blogs, and wikis. These are teacher moderated sites, where students can collaborate online with teacher supervision. Student full names and personal information are always kept confidential and are not shared online. Other materials may be uploaded to public sites such as YouTube, iTunes or etc.

Will you allow your student's created content like videos, writing blogs, audio and video podcasts, which may include their images, to be shared on public sites when appropriate? (see Posting Policies).

Initial next to the appropriate box:

Yes, it’s okay to share my child’s media on public sites such as YouTube __________

It’s only okay to share my child’s media with the Arp school community and teacher moderated sites __________

No, please do not share my child’s media outside of class __________

Arp Home Page