Acceptable Use Guidelines for BRING I.T. at MSB
At Mckenzie - Smith Bennett Public School, we will be adopting a Bring IT program. Bring IT refers to bringing informational technology from home into the school. Children in grades 6 - 8 will have permission to bring their personal electronic devices (e.g., phones, iPods, netbooks, laptops) to school. We are aware that this is not completely new as students have been bringing these types of devices into the school for years. The difference now is that the devices are becoming tools in the classroom that support and enhance the learning of curriculum under teacher direction. Also, these devices will now be more prevalent during our nutrition break times. In the past, students have been asked to keep the devices in their lockers during these times. In order for this to be successful, we have to support our grade 6 - 8 students in becoming responsible digital citizens. To do this, parents, MSB staff and students will all need to play a role. Below is the policy we would like to put in place. This policy was developed by staff and students at MSB. The responsibilities that we will follow in order to have a successful transition to becoming a Bring IT school within Halton District School Board are also outlined. To be clear, Bring IT does not mean that a child must have an electronic device. The school will always have the tools necessary for learning (e.g., iPads, laptops, netbooks, computers). However, bringing their own devices into the structured learning environment will now be more readily accepted if grade 6 - 8 teachers wish to explore the use of these technologies.
Bring IT! Policy MSB
To be a responsible Digital Citizen at MSB, students will:
To support Digital Citizenship at MSB, staff will:
To support Digital Citizenship at MSB, parents will:
At Mckenzie - Smith Bennett Public School, we will be adopting a Bring IT program. Bring IT refers to bringing informational technology from home into the school. Children in grades 6 - 8 will have permission to bring their personal electronic devices (e.g., phones, iPods, netbooks, laptops) to school. We are aware that this is not completely new as students have been bringing these types of devices into the school for years. The difference now is that the devices are becoming tools in the classroom that support and enhance the learning of curriculum under teacher direction. Also, these devices will now be more prevalent during our nutrition break times. In the past, students have been asked to keep the devices in their lockers during these times. In order for this to be successful, we have to support our grade 6 - 8 students in becoming responsible digital citizens. To do this, parents, MSB staff and students will all need to play a role. Below is the policy we would like to put in place. This policy was developed by staff and students at MSB. The responsibilities that we will follow in order to have a successful transition to becoming a Bring IT school within Halton District School Board are also outlined. To be clear, Bring IT does not mean that a child must have an electronic device. The school will always have the tools necessary for learning (e.g., iPads, laptops, netbooks, computers). However, bringing their own devices into the structured learning environment will now be more readily accepted if grade 6 - 8 teachers wish to explore the use of these technologies.
Bring IT! Policy MSB
- Grade 6 - 8 students will use personal devices (e.g.; iPods, phones, tablets) within the classroom when the device directly enhances the learning of the curriculum and under the direction of the classroom teacher
- When devices are not in use, Grade 6 - 8 students will be responsible for keeping their device secure (staff would recommend that devices be kept in their locked lockers)
- Grade 6 - 8 students may use personal devices during nutrition breaks but must adhere to acceptable use guidelines described below and will only use them outside within the designated area (area D)
To be a responsible Digital Citizen at MSB, students will:
- not post, publish or knowingly download any inappropriate content (e.g., illegal, dishonest, offensive, swearing, racially offensive, sexual, threatening material or content that promotes hatred or harm against any group or person) in the form of text, video, images or music
- adhere to all copyright laws (e.g. no plagiarism or downloading illegal content)
- not use their personal devices to record audio, take images or video of staff, students or any person during school hours (including nutrition breaks), during field trips or before / after school activities to post online (students do not know which families have requested no photos of their child)
- represent their online identity truthfully and only access account(s), information and systems for which they are authorized
- safeguard passwords, account information, personal equipment and personal information (i.e. home address, telephone number, work address/telephone number of parents/guardians, or other identifying information such as video, images or the school’s name or address) from unauthorized users
- not engage in social texting or use of social media apps / websites during the school day to interact with peers / family (- social interactions will continue during appropriate times within the school day and will be face to face - contacting family will continue to be done with adult supervision and usually from the school office so parents and school staff can also make contact)
- not be excluded from a learning experience if he / she does not have a personal electronic device
- understand that the use of personal devices at MSB is a privilege and not a right. Users who violate these procedures risk losing personal device privileges and other consequences consistent with Progressive Discipline and Safe Schools Legislation. Violations of a serious nature may be referred to police.
- when approached by a staff member about their use of their personal device, willingly share the current use of the device with the adult and give the device to the adult if it is not being used appropriately (e.g., not following the agreed upon use as a responsible digital citizen at MSB)
- when using the device for academic purposes in the classroom setting or if child has a personal device with them in the class, leave the device on the teacher’s desk when leaving the classroom to use the washroom
- follow guidelines outlined when permission, as a result of teacher and parent discussion, has been granted to allow a student to listen to music during a specified time within the classroom setting (e.g., students should not be seen with headphones in ears or around their necks when in the hallways, during instructional times or in the classroom, if communication has not taken place between staff and parents)
To support Digital Citizenship at MSB, staff will:
- review student responsibilities regarding their personal devices with their class prior to introducing “Bring it IT” and are expected to review policies regularly throughout the school year
- ensure students are using their personal devices responsibly as outlined above and embed the skills needed for digital citizenship into their daily program as it relates to the use of personal devices within the school / classroom
- check in with a student or group of students, both in the classroom setting and during nutrition breaks, to ensure the device is being responsibly and ask for the device if there is a concern around misuse
- use student images/videos and audio with parental permission for professional purposes (slide-shows, graduations, student assessment, assemblies, front school monitor) and may store or use this content off-site. This content will be safeguarded and deleted when no longer required.
- ensure all students have access to learning content whether child has or does not have a personal electronic device (e.g., provide school equipment for children that do not have a personal device)
- will not have students record or take digital photos of peers, staff or other people at school using a personal device and use a school device instead
- provide a safe spot on teacher’s desk for students to leave their devices when leaving the classroom to use the washroom
- report inappropriate use of personal devices to school administration and parents / guardians so that steps are put in place to better support a student or students that do not follow the acceptable use guidelines (- collaborative problems solving and consequence for misuse will follow)
- speak directly to parents when they see the possibility of student success through the use of a personal device that would be specific to a child’s needs as a learner (e.g., the use of music during work time to block distractions and assist with focus, the use of text - voice features to assist with reading comprehension)
To support Digital Citizenship at MSB, parents will:
- review student expectations, as outlined under “Student Responsibilities for Acceptable Use”, with their son or daughter
- avoid contacting or responding to students (e.g., texting, email, facebook) during instructional periods as it disrupts student learning (continue to follow procedures of contacting the office so child can come down and speak with parent in a private / secure location)
- contact the school if receiving a text during the school day so the staff can meet and support student
- report, to the classroom teacher or office, any misuse of personal devices of which they become aware
- ensure the acceptable use guideline is signed in order for child to use personal devices within the school
- ensure permission forms are signed around the use of photos / videos and that they understand that this excludes the use of personal devices for photos / videos
- discuss with teachers the possibility of using devices in a manner that would support their child’s learning needs