This question couldn't be more relevent than it is now. Just last week we were given an updated technology agreement that we had to sign in order to continue working from home in the midst of COVID-19. Policies are changing rapidly because we were not prepared to banish students from school buildings and still teach them from home all while using school devices.
As we move forward from this crazy time and begin reveiwing and rewriting technology policy with will be key that we focus on promoting the responsible use of technology and create policies that encourage the enhancment of student learning (Clarity Innovations, 2016).
Districts should have a Responsible Use Policy (RUP) which "is a written agreement among parents, students, and school personnel that outlines the terms of responsible use and consequences for misuse. Effective RUPs create an opportunity to teach students, while in school, to become responsible digital citizens, which will help them thrive in a connected world"(US Dept. of Ed, 2017, p. 78).
Wrangell Public School District (WPSD) does have a RUP which is signed by all students, parents, and staff before any technology devices are distributed. However, this will probably need updating in the light of our current situation. Another policy we have explored in this course already is BYOD policies. I mentioned in that blog post that WPSD does not have a policy for this, but currently has a student network and allows students to connect their personal devices to be used at school.
So, I would argue that the most important policy updates needed at WPSD right now are in the realm of BYOD policies. I am an active member of the technology committee which will be important in getting a policy like this passed in our district. In addition to a BYOD policy, I would like to see our current policies be updated and delivered to all parties affected by the changes. This is an issue in our disctrict because we have had a large turnover in adminstration the past 6 years and each has created their own handbook with their own policies. According to the US Department of Educaiton (2017, p.79), "Policies and procedures for device management, teaching responsible use, and safeguarding student privacy should be in place and understood by all members of the community prior to providing internet access or devices."
In the next couple weeks our staff will be looking at putting together a new handbook for next school year and this will give us the perfect opportunity to update our technology policies!
Resources:
Clarity Innovations. (2016, September 13). Policy & Leadership. Retrieved April 12, 2020, from https://www.k12blueprint.com/toolkits/policy
US Department of Education. (2017, January). Reimagining the Role of Technology in Education: 2017 ... Retrieved April 12, 2020, from https://lincs.ed.gov/professional-development/resource-collections/profile-902
As we move forward from this crazy time and begin reveiwing and rewriting technology policy with will be key that we focus on promoting the responsible use of technology and create policies that encourage the enhancment of student learning (Clarity Innovations, 2016).
Districts should have a Responsible Use Policy (RUP) which "is a written agreement among parents, students, and school personnel that outlines the terms of responsible use and consequences for misuse. Effective RUPs create an opportunity to teach students, while in school, to become responsible digital citizens, which will help them thrive in a connected world"(US Dept. of Ed, 2017, p. 78).
Wrangell Public School District (WPSD) does have a RUP which is signed by all students, parents, and staff before any technology devices are distributed. However, this will probably need updating in the light of our current situation. Another policy we have explored in this course already is BYOD policies. I mentioned in that blog post that WPSD does not have a policy for this, but currently has a student network and allows students to connect their personal devices to be used at school.
So, I would argue that the most important policy updates needed at WPSD right now are in the realm of BYOD policies. I am an active member of the technology committee which will be important in getting a policy like this passed in our district. In addition to a BYOD policy, I would like to see our current policies be updated and delivered to all parties affected by the changes. This is an issue in our disctrict because we have had a large turnover in adminstration the past 6 years and each has created their own handbook with their own policies. According to the US Department of Educaiton (2017, p.79), "Policies and procedures for device management, teaching responsible use, and safeguarding student privacy should be in place and understood by all members of the community prior to providing internet access or devices."
In the next couple weeks our staff will be looking at putting together a new handbook for next school year and this will give us the perfect opportunity to update our technology policies!
Resources:
Clarity Innovations. (2016, September 13). Policy & Leadership. Retrieved April 12, 2020, from https://www.k12blueprint.com/toolkits/policy
US Department of Education. (2017, January). Reimagining the Role of Technology in Education: 2017 ... Retrieved April 12, 2020, from https://lincs.ed.gov/professional-development/resource-collections/profile-902
Nice work and great blog. Thanks for staying on top of this.
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