Artifact 7

This artifact includes handouts on the following: “Valle Crucis Elementary School Policy On Acceptable Use of Computers”, Connected Teacher website template for an acceptable use policy, “Netiquette (Internet Etiquette)”, and a printout from http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/. The handout from Valle Crucis Elementary School helps in providing a good example of an acceptable use policy adopted by a particular school. This policy includes actions that may be taken in the event of misuse or abuse of the computers. There is also space for signatures of both the parent and their student. If I were ever asked to create an acceptable use policy for my school I could use the Connected Teacher website template found at http://www.connectedteacher.com. The Netiquette handout provides some guidelines and basics when using the Internet that could be used in the classroom. The hoaxbusters website provides information on hoaxes and chain letters from the Internet. This information could be used in providing better awareness for the students in my classroom. I participated in a role playing activity where each group was given a situation to act out. I role played a situation in which a five year old child was looking on the internet for the Sesame Street page and ended up with illegal graphic material on the screen. After each group acted out the situation they were assigned, the class discussed solutions. One particular group role played a situation with illegal copying of software. As a class, we discussed this situation extensively.

Impact:

As a future teacher I feel prepared to talk to my students about the acceptable use of computers, Internet etiquette, and illegal operations that they might encounter on the Internet. I am now aware of the many illegalities on the Internet and the possible harm that they may cause. I feel prepared to inform my students about these and expand their awareness so that they can be protected in any case. Each year I will send letters home with my students to ensure that each student will not perform an illegal act by copying software.

Alignment:

I have met competency 14.3 by discussing network security and Acceptable Use Policy in class and by participating in a role play activity that brought about discussion of illegal acts such as copying software.