NOTE: I know that we've had this conversation before, but I couldn't find the threads in the ISED-L Archives.
At Collegiate School, we're looking at what our school policy on social networking between students and faculty should be.
Our initial inclination was to create a restriction between students and faculty 'friending' each other on social networks. But then the exceptions happen:
1. I have used Flickr, a photo social network to collaborate with my students in photography.
2. Our student environmental club has used facebook groups and invitations to plan events between students, faculty and parents.
Given the positives that can come out of social networks, does anyone have a policy that rides the appropriateness of use tight rope?
Your thoughts/contributions are appreciated.
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Here are some general aup resources I have collected on the subject:
School Computing Wiki: http://schoolcomputing.wikia.com/wiki/Acceptable_Use_Policies
David Warlick has recently jumped into this conversation: http://landmark-project.com/aup20/pmwiki.php
Below is a message from NYSAIS encouraging us to have a policy on social networking, blogging, etc. and some support resources.
May 2008 Bulletin
Director's Report
As schools revise their policies for the coming school year, many of them are including more explicit language about Internet behavior either in their handbooks or in their technology acceptable use statements. NYSAIS encourages schools to take a clear
stance on social networking sites and blogging, understanding that such resources are in constant use by their students and faculty and should therefore become a part of the school's function.
Several of our schools have included some elegant and inclusive language making it clear that all communications, no matter what the venue or the network of origin, are subject to the school's expectations about ethical interpersonal behavior: "Any
communications to or about any other member of the school community will be considered to be subject to the school's published regulations and code of conduct."
Any statement of expectations should be accompanied by developmentally appropriate discussion of those expectations and by instruction on how to best use such sites or functions. Our students will do much of their writing on the web: they need to know
how to do so productively and intelligently. Ironically, their pages and blogs are a significant if utterly unregulated part of the school's marketing to prospective students. Help them to make the best of their opportunities and to avoid common pitfalls.
Resources
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics
[ http://www.nysais.org/cf_enotify/linkforward.cfm?n=178&u=185&m=su&dest=http://cpsr.org/issues/ethics/ce ]http://cpsr.org/issues/ethics/ce
Netsmartz
Information for parents and presentations to be used with students of all ages.
[ http://www.nysais.org/cf_enotify/linkforward.cfm?n=178&u=185&m=su&dest=http://www.netsmartz.org/educators.htm ]http://www.netsmartz.org/ed ucators.htm
Some suggestions for writing a blogging policy for faculty, staff and students
[ http://www.nysais.org/cf_enotify/linkforward.cfm?n=178&u=185&m=su&dest=http://www.edtechmag.com/k12/issues/november-december-2006/blog-rules.html ]http://www.edtechmag.com/k12/issues/november-december-2006/blog-rules.html
[ http://www.nysais.org/cf_enotify/linkforward.cfm?n=178&u=185&m=su&dest=http://www.edtechmag.com/k12/issues/november-december-2006/blog-rules.html
]http://www.nysais.org/cf_enotify/linkforward.cfm?n=178&u=185&m=su&dest=http://www.edtechmag.com/k12/issues/november-december-2006/blog-rules.html[
http://www.nysais.org/cf_enotify/linkforward.cfm?n=178&u=185&m=su&dest=http://bloggingatschool.blogspot.com/ ]http://bloggingatschool.blogspot.com/
[ http://www.nysais.org/cf_enotify/linkforward.cfm?n=178&u=185&m=su&dest=http://bloggingatschool.blogspot.com/
]http://www.nysais.org/cf_enotify/linkforward.cfm?n=178&u=185&m=su&dest=http://bloggingatschool.blogspot.com/http://budtheteacher.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
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Alex Ragone
Director of Technology
Collegiate School
New York, NY
212-812-8695
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