Royal Oak Digital Citizenship Plan

This plan is one component of the Calgary Board of Education and Royal Oak School Digital Citizenship Process. Royal Oak School needs to be compliant with CBE Administrative Regulation 1062 - Responsible Use of Electronic Information Sources. All students are allowed to connect to the school’s wireless network with their own devices for learning purposes. 

1. Student Safety

Outcomes for student online safety include:
The school has an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) modeled on A.R 1062 and A.R. 6005 and it has been communicated to students.

• Appropriate ICT outcomes relating to digital citizenship have been infused in core subjects that relate to student safety. 

• Consequences for inappropriate use have been communicated to students through our Acceptable Use Policy.

At Royal Oak School, the following provisions ensure student safety:

• Royal Oak School has developed and communicated that Acceptable Use Policy to all students.
• Teachers/staff will teach and periodically review, Royal Oak School’s AUP with students by presenting information in a school wide power point presentation shared in the community folder and other age appropriate digital citizenship information. Teachers will keep track of when and what types of resources have been shared with the students.
• Teachers will provide direct instruction on identifying appropriate and useful information when using the internet as well as what to do if a student should come across something deemed inappropriate.
• Classroom teachers will focus on on-line safety procedures by modeling effective practices for students.
• The use of the CBE Internet filter system (CBE Connect) to ensure that students access appropriate websites.
• Teacher’s/staff will supervise students while they are using any computer or device that accesses the internet. Students accessing the internet will know that laptop and computer screens must be in full view of the supervising staff member.

Consequences for inappropriate use are determined on a case by case basis. School Administration, IT and Parents will be in consultation regarding consequences of student inappropriate behavior. The consequences have been communicated to students and parents and are as follows:

• First Incident - The student will be reminded of the AUP and how his or her behaviour was not appropriate. Removal of digital technology privileges for the remainder of the day or the next day. Parents will be informed of the incident of inappropriate use by the classroom teacher and will notify administration. Teachers will keep a record of the incident.
• Second Incident - Removal of digital technology privileges for a week. Parents will be informed of the incident of inappropriate use by the classroom teacher and will notify administration. The AUP will be reviewed and the student will make an action plan on how they will attend to ensuring that he or she will follow the guidelines of the policy.
• Third Incident - Student will lose open access and will be fully monitored when using digital technology. Parents and the student will be involved in creating a plan for ensuring appropriate use at school. Students who engage in inappropriate use with a personal device will lose their student wireless access at Royal Oak School for the remainder of the school year.

2. Student Learning

Student learning outcomes relating to digital citizenship include:

• ICT outcomes relating to digital citizenship have been embedded inappropriate curricula. (ICT Program of Studies)
• Students are aware of information regarding the reliable and authoritative resources that are currently available for all CBE students, parents/guardians and staff.

At Royal Oak School, the following provisions ensure student learning:

• Inquiry-based learning that utilizes technology as an essential component of the learning and inquiry process.
• An integral part of the planning process at Royal Oak School includes the infusion of technology into the instruction and assessment design.
• Technology is being embedded in appropriate curricula in a variety of ways to enhance learning.
• Appropriate website links related to a variety of topics are available to students to direct younger students to information that they will find useful.
• Students will learn to evaluate the quality of material and information being accessed and used for learning purposes.
• Provision of various forms of technology, including but not limited to laptop computers, mobile devices, digital cameras, document cameras and SMART Boards are provided as a regular learning experience.
• Education for teachers and students on how to effectively use the available technology.

3. Staff Professional Development

Staff Professional Development Outcomes include:

• Teachers are aware of issues relating to student online safety
• Teachers are aware of the potential impact of digital technologies on student learning
• Teachers are aware of professional development resources relating to digital citizenship. Teachers are aware of the Three Year Education Plan.

At Royal Oak School, the following provisions ensure staff professional development outcomes include:

• Establishment of a collaborative learning environment where all participants, teachers and students have the opportunity to act as learners and teachers.
• Ongoing formal and informal sessions that educate staff on the use of specified technology in the classroom through new teacher meetings and grade group meetings to support teachers in planning and designing assessment tasks. There is a common team planning time for teachers to collaborate and plan. 
• Teachers will work closely to build their capacity around infusing technology in a way that enhances an understanding of digital citizenship for students.
• Participation in external professional development opportunities.
• Participation in internal professional development opportunities, such as lunch and learn sessions about variety of technology topics. Subject coordinators will send out emails and provide updates regarding new professional development opportunities.
• Teachers will be a part of the process for assessing the potential impact of digital technologies on student learning.
• Teachers will work collaboratively to build their capacity around infusing technology in a way that enhances an understanding of digital citizenship for students.

4. Student Owned Devices

Outcomes relating to student-owned devices include:

• Students and staff are aware of their rights and responsibilities with regard to the use of student-owned devices in schools
• Students and staff are aware of how student-owned devices may enhance student learning
• Technical support. Teachers are aware of professional development resources that support the use of student-owned devices in classrooms.

At Royal Oak School, the following provisions are made regarding the use of student owned devices:

• Staff and students will be informed on the effective use of student-owned devices in school. Students will access the internet through CBE-connect wireless system.
• Students will keep their personal devices in the classroom in their backpacks and will only be used under the direct supervision of the classroom teacher. Staff will ensure that classroom doors are locked when no one is in the classroom to ensure student owned and school owned devices are secure. Students will be asked to leave their personal devices at home during field trip days.
• Camera functions may only be used under teacher supervision as per privacy legislation. (FOIPP)
• To ensure digital access for all students, Royal Oak School has purchased a growing variety of digital tools; e.g., SMART boards, laptop computers, and iPads will continue to do so through the school’s long-range purchasing plan.

5. Parent Communication

Outcomes relating to Parent Communication include:

• The school has communicated information about the school’s digital citizenship plan to parents through a formal letters explaining the Digital Citizenship Admirable Usage and Student-Owned Devices.
• The school has informed parents of issues relating to use of student-owned devices in school including:
• Staff and student rights and responsibilities
• Student readiness criteria
• Liability in case of theft, damage, or loss
• Impact on student learning

At Royal Oak School, the following provisions ensure effective parent communication:

• Parents have been sent a letter outlining the regulations around students using their own devices in the school, including that the school is not responsible for any damage or loss.
• Parent information will be provided on the Royal Oak website listing useful websites regarding digital citizenship. 
• Ongoing communication with teachers regarding learning opportunities will be sent via teacher agenda notifications, email and parent letters.
• The digital citizenship plan is available online via the Royal Oak School Website under publications.