Digital Citizenship at Roland Michener School

Digital Citizenship/Electronics/Cell Phones

Roland Michener School policy on Digital Citizenship, electronics and cell phones.
Some key points relating to Digital Citizenship at RMS are:

• All technology used during class time is entirely at the teacher’s discretion and is to be used solely for the purpose of learning.
• Students may access cell phones for appropriate purposes before and after school. Use is prohibited within the school in general unless at the teacher’s discretion. Use is prohibited bathrooms, change rooms, etc.
• Students must exercise responsible digital citizenship when using technology.
• Students who fail to exercise responsible digital citizenship may face:
• Restriction/loss of privileges
• Restriction of use/confiscation of personal device for the day or until
• picked up by the parent
• School-based disciplinary consequences and/or
• Police intervention and/or legal action
• In some cases students may face such consequences even if the issue occurs outside of the school grounds and school hours, if their actions impact the safe and orderly operation of the school.
• The school is not responsible for the loss, damage, or theft of student electronic devices. Students are not required to bring these devices (including cell phones) to school, and those who do bring them at their own risk.

Computer and Technology Use

Throughout the Calgary Board of Education, under a teacher’s discretion, students now have the ability to utilize the LAWN (Learner Accessible Wireless Network) in our school. This new access point means that students are able to bring in their own personal devices (laptops, iPhones, Blackberry, iPod Touch, PSP, DS, etc) to connect to the Internet for their school work. There is no expectation that students must bring in or have their own device, and those students who do not have a personal device to utilize in our school will continue to have access to other learning technologies.

With this ability comes a new level of responsibility and understanding which we will ensure all students have prior to accessing the LAWN. Our students’ safety in an online environment is of utmost importance to us and learning how to be a good Digital Citizen will increase your child’s awareness and understanding of the power and perils of the Internet but will undoubtedly enhance their learning opportunities. 

All students will be completing several Digital Citizenship activities and learning tasks in all classes which we believe will better equip them to make the best use of this new opportunity in a safe and respectful manner. This learning will be ongoing. Sites that are currently blocked in our school will remain blocked on a student's own device. “Digital free” zones will be the washrooms and locker rooms. 

The use of personal devices in our school will be at the absolute discretion of our staff members at all times and our students will be asked to respect this expectation. It is our intention to have all students have access to their own devices or school
technology resources regularly. 

The use of the Learner Accessible Wireless Network (LAWN) in our school will be to leverage our students’ abilities to:

• Access, critically assess and communicate information and understanding
• Seek alternative viewpoints
• Collaborate during inquiry
• Personalize their learning
• Construct personal knowledge and meaning
•  Personalize their understanding
• Organize and manipulate data
• Interact with other learners

Students will not have access to school servers or printers through the LAWN. As such they will need to utilize their CBemail or D2L storage lockers and/or purchase and use a USB device to transfer files to the school network. No software will be provided to students. School classes may utilize software applications that the student does not have on their device.

Prohibited Activities

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

• Use of someone else’s CBE account or access to the LAWN
• Sharing of usernames and passwords for other people to use
• Sending, posting, displaying or using obscene language/messages, videos or 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
• Texting or gaming
• Tampering with any computer accessories, hardware or software
• Trespassing in other’s folders, work areas or files
• Utilizing another student’s device without permission

The following sites are prohibited from use:

• Vulgar or lewd depictions of the human body
•  Any adult content
• Violent acts
• On-line gambling
• Social networking sites (such as FaceBook, Nexopia, 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
• Non-educational games
• Sites designed to bypass CBE content filters
• See the link below for the complete list 

This is the specific CBE filter level 2:

Our expectation is that our students will become educated and responsible Digital Citizens. If, however 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 of or confiscation of personal device
• School based disciplinary consequences: and/ or
• Police intervention and/or legal action

Lastly, it is important that parents/guardians and students remember the following as we begin this new educational opportunity:

• 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
• Misuse will be determined by the staff and administration and may result indisciplinary action

We view Digital Citizenship as a shared responsibility between students, their families and the school. We appreciate families taking time to discuss this new opportunity with their children and supporting the work of the school in moving it forward.

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact the school at: 403-777-8240.