Digital Citizenship Plan

Digital citizenship is having the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to demonstrate responsible and respectful behavior when using technology or participating in digital environments. This includes protecting private information, staying safe online, and knowing how to deal with bullying in the digital world, whether you are a target or a bystander. Technology is an important part of our world and our learning. It is important that both children and adults alike use technology appropriately.

This plan is one component of the CBE Digital Citizenship Process. Schools must complete this plan:

·       to be compliant with Administrative Regulation 1062 - Responsible Use of Electronic Information Resources

·       to allow students to connect to the school’s wireless network with their own devices.

The plan is meant to guide the school’s work in these areas.

We encourage all parents/guardians to be aware of our system policies and procedures regarding digital citizenship.  These include:

·       AR1061: Responsible Care and Security of Information

·       AR1062: Responsible Use of Electronic Information Resources

·       AR1063: Calgary Board of Education Internet Web Presence

·       AR1064: Public Sharing of Student Information

·       AR1067: Use of Social Media

·       AR6005: Student Code of Conduct

·       AR6006: Progressive Discipline

Visit the CBE website to learn more on how we support students develop online safety skills and learn to be good digital citizens.

Student Learning

Students are provided with access to computers, other technology and the Internet to assist them in their learning.  Student learning outcomes relating to digital citizenship include:

• ICT outcomes from the Alberta Program of Studies relating to digital citizenship have been embedded in appropriate curricula.
• Students are aware of reliable online resources (such as www.LearnAlberta.ca) that are currently available for all CBE students, parents/guardians and staff.
• Students will learn how to assess and evaluate both online and print information sources.

Describe how the school will meet outcomes relating to student-owned devices:

Students will be able to use a wide variety of technologies as a means to represent and guide them in their learning. This includes the following:

·       The use of educational technology:

• as part of the research process
• as part of a larger citizenship (local, national, global) strategy 
• to remove learning barriers for students (assistive technologies)
• to support the Individual Program Plan planning and implementation process (through the School Learning Team process)
• to provide anywhere, anytime learning such as the use of digital media capture devices such as cameras or video cameras, digital Educating students regarding the identification of appropriate technologies for specific learning tasks or for specific adaptive purposes

·       Ensuring that students:

• have the opportunity to explore applications that best suit their individual learning styles
• are educated regarding the appropriateness of educational technologies (i.e. When is a particular educational technology the right tool? When is better not to use educational technology?)
• (and staff) are aware of and closely follow Canadian copyright laws
• dictionaries/thesauri, laptops, iPads and other networkable technologies.

Staff Professional Learning

 Staff professional development outcomes include ensuring that teachers are aware of:

• Issues relating to student online safety
• The potential impact and integration of educational technologies on student learning 
• Professional development resources/sessions relating to digital citizenship and enhancing learning through educational and adaptive technologies
• The Calgary Board of Education’s Education Plan
• How the use of educational technology supports the outcomes identified in the School Development Plan
• Resources offered through the CBE Professional Resource Centre to support the professional learning of all staff
  

The Annie Gale School Staff will both be teachers and learners of educational technology. Staff will:

• Be encouraged to look for ways to incorporate the use of educational technology into their Teacher Professional Growth Plans and to look for resources to support their goals in and out of the school
• Be provided with additional ways to become users of educational technology (i.e. utilizing teacher laptops consistently, utilizing iPads, utilizing online tools for professional learning, and using digital cameras and additional technologies for personal use in order to be comfortable with the technologies)
• Share their knowledge with their students while also learning from the students the many ways and supports these various technologies provide

Student Safety

Students may bring their own digital devices to school and may use these devices in the classroom (see “Digital Device Use Policy” for details).    

Students who bring their own devices to school will not have access to school servers or printers through the network.  As such, they will need to utilize google drive to transfer files to the school network.  School classes may utilize software applications that the student does not have on their device.  No software will be provided to students. 

The following activities are prohibited and will be addressed on an individual basis as needed: 

• Use of someone else’s CBE account;  
• Sharing of usernames and passwords for other people to use; 
• Sending, posting, displaying or using obscene language/messages, pictures or information about oneself or others; 
• Harassing, insulting or attacking another person or their reputation; 
• Viewing websites through a proxy server; 
• Plagiarism of online content; 
• Tampering with any computer accessories, hardware or software; 
• Use of technology or accessing sites not approved by staff; 
• Trespassing in other’s folders, work areas or files; and 
• Utilizing another student’s device without permission. 

 Sites with the following are prohibited from use: 

• Vulgar or lewd depictions of the human body; 
• Any adult content; 
• Violent acts; 
• Online gambling; 
• Social networking sites (such as Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, etc.); 
• Sites that encourage the use of illicit or illegal substances; 
• Sites that advocate hatred or violence against an identifiable group; 
• Sites promoting criminal activity; and 
• Non-educational games. 

Our expectation is that our students will become educated and responsible Digital Citizens.  If students breach any of the above, each situation will be dealt with on an individual basis and may result in: 

• Restriction or loss of technology privileges; 
• Restriction of use or confiscation of personal device; 
• School based disciplinary consequences; and/or 
• Police intervention and/or legal action. 

 It is important that parents/guardians and students remember the following: 

• The school is not responsible for the loss, damage, or theft of student electronic devices; 
• The school is not able to provide technical support for student devices; 
• Devices can only be utilized when students are under the direct supervision of a teacher in an approved area of the school; 
• Devices can only be utilized for educational purposes; and 
• Misuse will be determined by the staff and administration. 

We view digital citizenship as a shared responsibility between students, parents and guardians and the school.  We appreciate families taking the time to discuss this with their children and supporting the work of the school. 

Student-Owned Devices

This policy is in place to clarify when and how digital devices can be used within the school setting.  It is an understanding as part of the Grizzly Code that all students will follow these expectations. Students are invited to bring their own personal device to school and may use it, so long as they follow the stipulations below. 

1. Before School Use 

Students are allowed to use their digital devices until the warning bell sounds.  At that time, students are required to turn their devices off and place them in their pocket or locker.  This includes ear buds and headsets.  

2. Classroom Time  

During class time, it is up to the teacher to determine when digital devices can be used to support learning.  This includes listening to music while working on individual assignments, or using the device as a calculator, agenda, research tool, etc. The student must first get teacher permission before using the digital device.   

3. Hallways, Locker Break 

Students are not to be using digital devices during class changes, washroom breaks or during locker break.   

4. Lunch Break 

Students are allowed to use their digital devices during the lunch hour. 

5. After School 

Students are allowed to use their digital devices at this time, in all areas of the school. 

6. Cameras/Video 

Camera and video recording are not allowed within the school unless part of a learning project and only with teacher permission. 

7. Ear buds/headphones

Students are not to use or have earbuds or headphones on while moving about in the halls.

8. Consequences of Inappropriate Use 

If a student chooses not to follow the above expectations, then the student may have the digital device taken away until the end of the school day.  The device will be kept in the main office where the incident will be recorded.  If a student has a device confiscated on an ongoing basis, then parents/guardians will be informed, and the student may be asked to leave the device at home or check it in at the office.  Alternatively, the parent/guardian may be asked to come to the school to retrieve the device.