Digital citizenship is about using technology and participating in digital environments. It is key to helping our students learn to use available technology responsibly in the classroom and beyond. Our school has a Digital Citizenship Plan that is updated annually, addressing how we work to build a community where we live and work together as digital citizens.
At Children’s Village School, teachers and staff integrate Digital Citizenship (web awareness) into all learning activities that require the use of digital technology. They teach students about the benefits and the challenges that result from use of the internet.
At Children’s Village School students use digital tools throughout the learning process; from the gathering and organizing of information, to the synthesis of that information, to the presentation of their learning to an audience. Our teachers are also making use of digital tools in a variety of ways; for the purposes of assessment; data collection; and to open up avenues to learning conversations.
Admirable Use Policy 2019-2020 School Year
At Children’s Village School School, we ensure the safety of all students and staff by using digital information and technology resources in a responsible way. Student learning about digital citizenship is guided by classroom teams; this includes explicit instruction, targeted intervention for lagging skills, staff modeling, and the development of classroom-specific and student-specific expectations. Staff members are expected to:
- understand the polices and regulations that guide our work,
- uphold high standards for personal privacy,
- model and lead a culture of mutual respect,
- maintain a learning focus,
- care for tools and resources, and
- follow through by taking action to address issues that arise.
1. Understanding Expectations
2. Personal Privacy
- Login ID/Passwords
- CBE usernames and account passwords (student and staff) are private and may not be shared with others. It is critical that staff do not share usernames and passwords with one another (i.e. for a sub; for someone other than the teacher to do attendance, etc.), that students not share passwords with one another, and that staff not provide student passwords to parents.
- Nobody should use computers that are logged in as another user.
- Student information
- Student information must be kept secure. Security protocols for information storage, access, disposal, distribution, third party use and appropriate security measures outlined in AR 1061 must be clearly understood and followed.
- Teachers will use AR 1064 and the wishes of parents/guardians as indicated on consent forms to guide decisions about consent, notification and public sharing of student information.
- If student images/videos/information are captured on a staff-owned device, they will be transferred to a secure CBE device as soon as possible and then deleted from the personal device.
- Students may not take recordings of one another or staff on the bus or at school on their personal devices.
- Apps
- Software or apps that require any sort of student data (names, images, tracking progress, etc.), need to be approved by SAM (software asset management).
3. Dignity and Respect
- We hold the same expectations for online interactions as for face to face interactions (i.e. kind language, respectful communication and thoughtful interactions), and we actively teach these skills to students. AR 6005 (Student Code of Conduct) can be used to set guidelines. For example:
- We show respect for ourselves and others by:
- maintaining a learning focus,
- using appropriate language, images and content in online interactions,
- keeping our personal information private,
- reporting concerning online behaviour or breaches of privacy, and
- asking permission before recording or posting information about another person.
- Staff will honour copyright regulations/fair use of content.
4. Learning Focus
- Tools provided by the Calgary Board of Education (electronic devices, software/apps, wifi, etc.) are to be used for teaching and learning purposes.
- Teachers decide what constitutes acceptable student use within broader considerations of pedagogy and practice and with consideration of AR 1062.
- Staff ensures that personal use does not breach standards of appropriateness, and does not interfere with professional duties, roles and responsibilities.
- Postings to public facing websites for Children’s Village School will adhere to AR 1063.
- Social media posts will adhere to AR 1067.
5. Care for Tools and Resources
- • Staff teaches and models appropriate care of digital tools and resources. For example:
- CVS equipment is cared for by:
- using gentle hands and a safe body, and
- leaving devices clean, charged and properly shut down so that others may use them.
- • Personal devices are cared for by:
- working together to develop a personal device plan for any technology used during school hours or on the bus (parameters for use, plans for safe storage, cautions and limitations, appropriateness of content, etc.)
- students advising staff if they have brought a personal device from home (outside of the personal device plan)
6. Follow Through
- Staff at Children’s Village School will follow through with students, families and administrators regarding concerns that arise from professional or student use.
- All users should take responsibility for reporting problems with school-owned devices by providing specific, detailed information to the technology committee as soon as possible.
- Staff will bring forward concerns to admin about:
- inappropriate technology use, cyberbullying, etc., and
- privacy breaches (misdirected emails, unauthorized access, compromises to system security, theft of or other compromises to electronic devices, etc.).
- • Staff will follow through with students who have not shown appropriate digital citizenship. This may include:
- communication with parents/guardians
- restrictions on use of tools and technology, and
- restorative actions.
