It seems that everywhere I turn lately, I find educators struggling over how to responsibly move forward with the use of Web 2.0 tools in an educational setting. Ed-tech leader, Ed Barry, recently asked Vermont colleagues to share what PROCESS they use in deciding which tools to allow in their schools? Most of the answers offered referred to the school’s Acceptable Use Policies, with many of us agreeing that our AUP’s need updating. I walked away from this meeting eager to research AUP’s that supported a School 2.0 environment and the process used to design them. The insightful post and comments I collected on the topic, left me with more questions than answers. So instead of a summary, I offer you a list of questions that these writers touch on, and invite you to peruse their insight and share your own thoughts.
- How do we teach kids to cross a busy street?
- How can we support an institution with desires to seek innovation in teaching, learning and research; willingness to innovate & a growing culture of sharing?
- How can schools ensure that they are fulfilling their duty of care to ensure safe environments for their students?
- How do we promote a culture of social responsibility?
- Must we reach beyond Acceptable Use Policies?
- How do schools make and enforce rules when students are not on school ground or acting as part of a school function?
- Should our AUP’s reflect understanding of changes in our culture?
Should AUP support us to change our culture? - How do your AUP's integrate IT policies with Institutional policies?
- What key principles are your AUP’s based on?
- What is the best approach to deploying risk assessment and risk management ? What legal risk do schools face?
- Is your AUP used as a control mechanism to prevent usage which IT staff may frown upon?
- Does your AUP work on behalf of your organization in helping to ensure the effective use of IT by its users?
- Why do we hide behind AUP’s?Where did our policy come from? Is it infallible?
- What mechanism do you have for changing your AUP and engaging your users in that change?
- How does it take into account the facts that technologies change, usage changes, and culture changes?
- Is your AUP simple or sophisticated enough to accommodate for technical and organizational complexities we face in the 21st century?
- Should we wait to evaluate and master immature technologies before permitting them?
- How can we provide safe environments, minimize risk, allow learning and encourage enthusiast?
- How can we develop policies around technologies that are a massive productivity enhancer and also a great time sink?
- How can schools fulfill their duty of care to ensure safe environments for their students?
- Can AUP’s guide us towards an agreed role and agreed manner of operation for that role?
- Can AUP’s keep up with the fast pace of emerging tools and uses of these technologies (i.e. recording capabilities of cell phones and other economically accessible tools)
- Should time tested principles such as ETHICS be at the center of our acceptable use policies?
- How do we involve students in the process of updating AUP’s?
- How do we promote a culture of social responsibility? Must we reach beyond Acceptable Use Policies? (repeated for emphasis)
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