Week 1- Blog Posting #2 - Web 2.0

What is going to be difficult to work with is the fact that almost every social site and many other sites that could be helpful with researching for my students are blocked. The following is the explanation by my school district to why certain sites are block and the safety features that the computers have:

Computing and Internet Acceptable Use Policy

Purpose

1. The School District of Philadelphia is providing its employees and students (“users”) with access to computing equipment, systems and local network functions such as School District e-mail and the Internet.

2. This access has a limited education purpose for students and is to facilitate employees’ work productivity.

Access rights and privileges.

3. The School District has the right to place reasonable restrictions on the use of equipment, resources and material students and employees access or post through the system. Students and employees are also expected to follow the rules set forth in the District’s rules and regulations governing conduct, disciplinary code, and the law in their use of The District’s equipment and network. This access has not been established as a public access service or a public forum. All access and rights are privileges granted by the District, and users should expect no privacy rights.

4. All District employees and students will have access to the Internet through The District’s private network. Parents may specifically request that their children not be provided such access by notifying the District in writing.

5. No student will be given or have access to District-provided Internet e-mail.

6. Students may be permitted to access an external Internet e-mail service or their personal e-mail account for the purpose of legitimate instructional or school-based needs. This is a local decision.

7. Guests/contractors are not automatically eligible for a District e-mail account. E-mail or network access accounts may be granted if directly sponsored by a District administrator.

Unacceptable Uses

8. Users may not use the District’s private network to access material that is profane or obscene (pornography of any kind), that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people (hate literature).

9. Users may not post personal information on the Internet about themselves or other people. Personal contact information includes address, telephone, school address, work address, pictures or video bites, clips, etc.

10. Students may not agree to meet with someone they have met on the Internet without their parent's approval and participation.

11. Users may not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any other computer system. This includes attempting to log in through another person's account or access another person's files. These actions are illegal, even if only for the purposes of "browsing”, “snooping”, or “electronic discovery”.

12. Users may not deliberately disrupt or harm hardware or systems, interfere with computer or network performance, interfere with another’s ability to use equipment and systems, or destroy data.

13. Users may not use the District’s private network to engage in illegal acts, such as arranging for a drug sale or the purchase of alcohol, engaging in criminal gang activity, threatening the safety of person, accessing or sharing unauthorized copyrighted music, movies, and other intellectual property, etc.

14. Users may not utilize peer-to-peer file-sharing applications or execute programs to facilitate the downloading or exchange of copyrighted or unauthorized music, movies, and other materials.

15. Users may not use the District’s private network to solicit information with the intent of using such information to cause personal harm or bodily injury to another or others.

16. Users may not post information that could endanger an individual, cause personal damage or a danger of service disruption.

17. Users may not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a person or organization.

18. Users may not intentionally seek information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, other data, or passwords belonging to other users.

19. Users may not indirectly or directly make connections that create “backdoors” to the District, other organizations, community groups, etc. that allow unauthorized access to the District’s network.

20. Users may not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, hateful, threatening, or disrespectful language.

21. Users may not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.

22. Users may not harass another person. Harassment is persistently acting in a manner that distresses or annoys another person.

23.

24. Users may not re-post a message that was sent to them privately without permission of the person who sent them the message.

25. Users may not forward or post chain letters or engage in "spamming". Spamming is sending an annoying or unnecessary message to a large number of people. Users will not install or reproduce unauthorized or unlicensed software on District resources.

26. Users may not plagiarize works that they find on the Internet or other resources.

27. Users may not use technology resources and Internet for private business activities or unreasonable personal use.

28. Users may not use the District’s private network for political lobbying.

29. Students will not download files unless approved by their teacher.

System Security Obligations

30. Users are responsible for the use of their individual access account(s) and should take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to use their account(s), including coworkers, friends, or family. Under no conditions should a user provide his/her password to another person.

31. Attempts to log on to the District’s private network or any other network as a system administrator is prohibited.

32. Any user identified as a security risk or having a history of violating this or any other Acceptable Use Policy may be denied access to the District’s private network.

33. Users will avoid the inadvertent spread of computer viruses by following the School District virus protection procedures if they download software or share common file directory.

34. Users should immediately notify a teacher or system administrator of any possible security problem.

35. Students will promptly disclose to their teacher or other appropriate school employee any message received that is inappropriate.

Filtering

36. As required by law and in recognition of the need to establish a safe and appropriate computing environment, the District will use filtering technology to prohibit access, to the degree possible, to objectionable or unsuitable content that might otherwise be accessible via the Internet.

Due Process

37. The School District will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation concerning or relating to any illegal activities conducted through The District’s private network.

38. In the event there is an allegation that a student has violated the District Acceptable Use Policy, the student will be provided with a written notice of the alleged violation and will be provided with notice and opportunity to be heard in the manner set forth in the Student Hearing Process Policy. Disciplinary actions may be taken.

39. Employee violations of the District Acceptable Use Policy will be handled in accord with law, School Board Policy or collective bargaining agreement(s), as applicable.

Administration

40. The Chief Information Officer has the responsibility and authority for the development, publication, implementation and ongoing administration and enforcement of the processes and techniques required to protect the Philadelphia School District’s technology systems and services from unauthorized access, loss or misuse.

41. School principals have the responsibility to establish a plan to ensure adequate supervision of students. They are also responsible for interpreting and enforcing this policy at the local level.Local management has the responsibility to interpret and enforce this policy.

Don't get me wrong I completely agree with blocking sites that could be detrimental to any student Or any site that is just inappropriate. The only thing that I disagree with is the fact that we as teachers have our hands tied when it comes to using technology that could be an unbelievable tool to enhance learning. If a teacher wanted to use second life they would not be able to do so unless it was after school time, but then that can cause my unethical issues and possible legal infringements. It will be a number of years I feel until schools completely trust the internet in the classroom. Another aspect of this security was the plan by President Barack Obama to address students nationwide via the internet September 8^th energized opposition, with some districts refusing to allow students to view the speech. Others, however, say they welcome the opportunity to let students hear from the president directly, and they don't see what all the fuss is about this issue. I personal found a way around the blockers to show this clip, because I thought it was important enough to show to my ninth grade class. In an article found on eschoolnews.com an interesting comment was made after explaining "It's hard to understand how a speech by the president of the United States that is expected to encourage students to work hard and stay in school could be so controversial. The anger this has generated among some individuals feels misplaced," said Nora Carr, chief of staff at Guilford County Schools in North Carolina (Prabhu 2009). It’s a shame that not even the President of the United States is safe to address our schools.

References:

Prabhu, Maya (2009). Obama’s Speech to Students Sparks Controversy. Found September 12, 2009 on www.eschoolnews.com

http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/. Found September 9, 2009.