MARIAN CATHOLIC COLLEGE, GRIFFITH

INTERNET POLICY

• RATIONALE

Marian Catholic College through our varied curriculum, provides students with access to up-to-date technology. Hence the establishment of the Internet at School. The Internet should be considered as an extension of the School Library.

The Internet is a global network of local, regional and national computer networks, which enables students to communicate and gain access to information from around the world.

Marian Catholic College believes that students should have the opportunity to access the Internet to:

• prepare our students for further education, employment and social awareness.
• provide access to a range of resources to obtain information.
• enable electronic communication, both on a local and global level.

Our aim is to develop independent learners who are able to:

• define the purpose for which information is required
• locate appropriate sources of information
• understand and appreciate information from several sources
• present work in an appropriate fashion
• acknowledge the work of others through quotations and citations, while being honest about what has been personally contributed
• evaluate their own learning.

The Internet is supervised in the Library and Computer Rooms by the Librarian / Teacher, and an Internet Filter program is installed to deny access to unsuitable material. However, students are responsible for their own actions and face disciplinary action if rules are broken, (See Appendix 1).

Uses of the Internet at the College.

• browsing and searching for information
• sending / receiving electronic mail
• web authoring

• ACCESS

Students sign the contract regarding Internet Usage (Appendix 2) each year.

• GENERAL RULES

Students may not use the Internet:

• For any illegal activity, including violation of copyright or other contacts.
• For financial or commercial gain.
• To degrade or disrupt equipment, software or system performances.
• To vandalise the data of another user.
• To gain unauthorised access to resources.
• To invade the privacy of individuals.
• To post anonymous messages.
• To down-load stored print files or messages that are profane, obscene of that use language that offends or degrades others.
  
• RULES FOR WEB AUTHORING

• No personal information about a student will be allowed. This included home telephone numbers and addresses as well as information regarding the specific location of any student at any given time.
• All students work must be signed with the student’s full name within the web document.
• Individuals in pictures, movies or sound recordings may be identified only by initials. No first or last names may appear in reference to any individuals in any image, movie or sound recording.
• No texts, images, movie or sound containing pornography, profanity, obscenity, or language that offends or tends to degrade others will be allowed.
• All graphics used need to be acknowledged regards ownership (copyright)

Why do we Need Guidelines about How to use IT?

While these uses of ICT make a positive contribution to your learning at Marian Catholic College, they must take place according to the College guidelines for appropriate use. These guidelines are based on the need for safety for each student, as well as courtesy and respect for others. However they are also based on laws’ that have been established to protect against such things as:

• invasion of privacy
• harassment or bullying of others
• breaking copyright

Student Guidelines for the Use of Information and Communication Technology Internet

There is a great amount of information available on the Internet. However, just because it has been published on the World Wide Web, doesn’t mean that it is necessarily accurate and reliable. You should always ask questions about the nature and quality of the information available. Your teachers and the library staff are available to help you evaluate the information that you find.

• All Internet searches are conducted at Marian Catholic College must be directly related to school studies.
• Your Internet searches and emails are not private and can be monitored.
• In the case of inappropriate Internet use, you may lose your rights to access the College intranet and the Internet.
• You are not to publish any works on the web that are school-related without permission from the appropriate teacher.
• When you log onto the Internet with User Name and password you are responsible for the sites visited. You must never log on with another’s username and password or give your password to others.
• You must keep your password confidential. You must not reveal it to other students. If a password becomes known by other students you must notify the office and complete a form to change your password.
• You must recognise that downloading of some materials, for example MP3, breach Copyright Legislation.
• Students, particularly in the Secondary school, must acknowledge all Internet sources. Failure to do so is plagiarism.
• You must obtain permission from individuals whose photographs you use in an assignment, e.g. designing a web page for an assignment in a course. The photograph should be removed from the database once the assignment in completed.

Chatrooms/Forums

• The College Network does not permit open access to chatrooms. If students’ incorrect or inappropriate use of chatrooms outside school impacts on school life there will be consequences.
• Castnet Forums are only to be used for educational purposes under teacher supervision.

• EMAIL

Students may access email only in relation to their courses of study. No personal email is permitted.

• Your email messages are both permanent and public. Each of your emails is a public document and may be subpoenaed by a court.
• The laws relating to written communication apply equally to email messages, including the laws relating to defamation, copyright, obscenity, fraudulent misrepresentation, freedom of information, and wrongful discrimination.
• Email is not to be used in an inappropriate manner, for example to bully, harass or threaten someone.

• SANCTIONS

The Internet user is held responsible for his/her actions. Violations may result in:

• Loss of access for a period of 20 school days,
• Additional disciplinary action in line with the Discipline Policy.
  (This may include detentions or suspension from school.)
  NB. If applicable, law enforcement agencies may be involved.

• NON-LIABILITY

Marian Catholic College makes no guarantees of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the service it is providing. The School is not responsible for any damages suffered. This includes loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by negligence, errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained via the School is at the user’s own risk. The College is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of information obtained.

• CEC GUIDELINES

This policy is to be read in conjunction with USING THE INTERNET-LEGALLY, Guidelines for Schools, TAFE’s and System Authorities in developing Internet policies (CEC NSW March 2001).

APPENDIX 1

RULES FOR COMPUTER ROOMS

• Use only the computer allocated to you by the teacher.

• Save your data only to your own folder on the server
  
• Follow copyright rules for downloading text and graphics.

• Use the network in any way that disrupts the network service for other users.

• Respect the hardware and software available to you. Vandalism of hardware,
  software or other people’s data will result in loss of access to the network.

• Leave the room tidy for the next class.

Violation of these rules will result in loss of access to the network, and may incur other consequences according to the school discipline policy.