Web+Design+and+Development

A. Using available resources, update and seek approval for the “Acceptable Use Policy” for your school/ or district. Include policy related to the web that addresses the security, legal, and ethical issues. ||
 * [|course based reflection wk 4 web design.doc]
 * **Self-Assessment**

Prior to starting EDLD 5365 Web Design, I can honestly say that I’ve never read the entire Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). “Most districts have acceptable use policies in place and have for years – ever since they gave students access to technology in general and to the Internet in particular” (Solomon & Schrum, 2007, p. 144). In the past, these policies simply seemed like one more document that I had to sign for my job, or another document that my son placed in front of me the first week of school which required my signature. In so doing, I placed a lot of faith in the school district in which I was working as well as the school district that my son attends. I learned from completing this assignment, however, that there are a multitude of components and factors which must be considered in creating a policy that will deliver effective guidelines to protect both the students and staff, but which also allows for the use of technology as a valuable learning tool during the school day.

The coursework allowed me to research and reflect on what comprises a good AUP. There are several areas to consider, such as Copyright rules, security and web publishing. However, I believe the spirit of the policy revolves around maintaining the legal requirements of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). That Act requires a district to install filtering or blocking technology on every Internet connected computer, whether used by students or adults (Solomon, & Schrum, 2007). It also, in my mind, helps protect our kids from harm.
 * Learn as a Learner**

Today, school district AUPs not only try to maintain the security of the students at school, but now they are need to maintain the security at home as well. “Affronted by cyberspace’s escalation of adolescent viciousness, many parents are looking to schools for justice, protection, even revenge” (Hoffman, 2010, n.p.). Cyber-bullying done at school with school equipment is easy to track and to deal with. The problem comes when it is done on a cell phone or posted on a Facebook page from home. I know that our school has a policy not take an active roll in handling any situation that takes place on such sites as Facebook or Myspace since it did not happen on school grounds or with school equipment. However, when discussing this issue with my colleagues and principals, they will also all tell you that if they discover cyber-bullying taking place, even with the non-involvement policy in place, they will take action based on well documented facts and abiding by procedures and disciplinary action recommendations as if the student had used school equipment. Our school takes such action because the principals feel we are part of a community and have a responsibility to protect our students to the best of our ability.
 * Life-long Learner**

This assignment made me aware of a wide range of issues and items related to a robust Web Policy. There are so many legal aspects that districts must consider in order to maintain a quality acceptable use policy. “Constant changes in technology will continue to push AUPs, forcing IT directors to consider pen-size scanners and computers or monitors in eyeglasses. Although it’s hard to predict the future, count on technologies becoming smaller, increasingly interconnected and broadly accessible” (Scrogan, 2007, p. 1). These problems, and many more, many we cannot even foresee at this time, will need to be addressed as we move forward into this ever-changing technologic age. Another question that arises: how do we address all the means available to students and teacher to access the web without even having to use the school’s internet? Can we control this? Should we even try? EDLD 5365 Web Design and Development sounded like a how to course, but in the end, it opened up a Pandora’s box of issues.

Resources

Hoffman, J. (2010, June 27). Online Bullies Pull Schools Into the Fray. //The New York Times.// Retrieved from [].

Scrogan, L. (2007, August). AUPs in a Web 2.0 World. //EdTech Focus on K-12.// Retrieved from [].

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). //Web 2.0: new tools, new schools//. Eugene, Or.: International Society for Technology in Education. ||