One of the most understated issues in educational technology is teacher safety. How do educators protect themselves, and their jobs, while working online? This portion of the Website is meant to provide information on basic personal safety issues for teachers.
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP):
1. Read your school’s Acceptable Use Policy for technology (for both students and teachers). Know your responsibilities regarding use of technology in your school district.
Student Communication:
1. Document all electronic communication with your students.
2. If you see inappropriate information on a website about a student, you may be required by state law to report this information. Discuss how to process this information about the student with your school psychologist, administrators and, if necessary, your union.
3. If a student sends you inappropriate information or media, discuss this information with your school psychologist and administrators as soon as possible.
4. If a student is being harassed, it is your job to report the incident to your administrators.
Web 2.0 Applications – Safety Online.
Schools are actively using the Internet, allowing students to surf the Net and utilize a variety of Web 2.0 products. Not all Web 2.0 applications are safe or appropriate for every student, so here are some basic questions that should be considered before using Web 2.0 applications:
1. Does your school have an Acceptable Use Policy which clearly informs students and parents about the use of
Web 2.0 products?
2. Does your school have both your parents and students sign your acceptable use policy?
3. Do educators at your school examine each Web 2.0 application for student safety issues?
4. Does your school have a vetting system in place for web 2.0 products?
5. Does this Web 2.0 application or third party affiliates collect personal information about your students?
6. Does the web 2.0 application use advertisements in it’s product?
7. Have you read the privacy policy for each Web 2.0 product that you use?
8. The web 2.0 application is appropriate for which grades?
9. Does this Web 2.0 application request personal information from your students?
Login/Log Out, Passwords
1. Do not leave your computer on and unattended while you are logged in. To help with this, you can set your display to log off your screen if left unattended for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 20 minutes (this is true for all operating systems).
2. Do not write down your password on or near the computer. It is too easy to find.
3. Do not share your password with others.
4. Change passwords every two to three months, and use a complex password consisting of both letters and numbers.
Separate the Personal and the Professional
1. Remember, a school laptop is the school’s property, even if you bring it home every evening. The information on the laptop is not private and not personal. It is owned by the school and community. Do not let your children or your spouse use the school-owned computer (they may access an inappropriate website, etc.).
2. Avoid putting your personal software on a school computer, unless you plan on donating the software to the school. Avoid putting the school’s software on your personal computer, as that will allow the school rightful and legal access to your personal computer.
3. Always keep social networking sites separate from professional Websites. This helps you to avoid having to explain to your students why your friend(s) always post interesting comments and pictures on your social networking Website.
4. Filter your information. For example, it’s OK to post a resume when looking for a job, but do not make it available for public viewing. Use a special service like schoolspring.com to post your important information. Someone could steal your resume or identity. And whenever possible, post such information in .pdf format, which is much less easy to edit than .doc files.
Use Anti-Virus Software:
1. Scan all e-mail attachments before opening. Unscanned e-mail attachments can allow viruses, trojans, or worms to enter your computer. Although they are far less susceptible to these problems, Macs are not immune.
2. New malicious code is created daily, so update your computer’s anti-virus software weekly.
3. Do not allow unfamiliar discs, USB/thumb drives or other media transfer devices into your computer.
4. Not all Websites are safe; some may try to download software onto your computer. Anti-virus software is not always able to stop this download. If this happens to your computer, immediately turn off your computer, disconnect your computer from the Internet and seek advice from a technical professional.
Legal:
1. Avoid posting negative information about others in public forums. This is called libel and may be actionable in a court of law.
2. Avoid copyright issues: Do not copy text, images, video, music or other digital media and post it online. It is permissible to use another’s work (see Fair Use), but it is generally not acceptable to publish their work online without permission.
3. If you see or hear about a student or individual being harassed online, take steps to stop it immediately. Report this information to your school administrators.
4. Do not copy software without permission, or load personal software on school computers. Your school may become financially libel. You may donate software to your school.
5. If you feel you have visited an inappropriate website by mistake, report this information to your administrators
If you would like to post information to this webpage please contact bbehrendt@msjvermont.org
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