There are many rules for the misuse of technology at school and outside it. In many cases, these rules can be stipulated in the employment contract or are just internal school rules which should be followed. Furthermore, the school may have its own rules for addressing internet misuses that take place within school premises and during the time when students and teachers are in class.
Social networking sites
Nowadays, many teachers are active in social networking sites and use other means of online communication. In many schools, social networking sites and chat rooms are blocked and may not be accessible due to the filters set by the school’s network. If these pages are blocked, but you need to use them for educational purposes, then consult the relevant school staff to make sure that you are on the right track.
It is not recommended to add students or their parents as friends in your personal social network accounts. By accepting friend requests from your students, you can become vulnerable in terms of the accessibility of your personal information or having access to your students’ personal information. Think about who you become friends with and which friends you can share certain information. It is a good idea to check your account’s privacy settings in order to make sure that the information you share on social networks is not visible to people who are not in your friends list.
Nowadays, email has become one of the simplest ways of communicating with students. Many schools have their own intranets that enable teachers and students to communicate easily with each other, such as for assigning or submitting homework or any other necessary correspondence. Nonetheless, it is important that teachers use official emails.
Dissemination of information
Educators need to be careful when it comes to disseminating information to their students. For example, a very good way of recording and commemorating school eventsis through various pictures and videos. Parents and children will want to see them as a demonstration of achievement and progress. But lest forget that there are rules as to when these photos or recordings should be made public. Consult with school management before you publish any pictures or videos of students.
Internet use in the classroom
The internet offers a wealth of information and materials that educators can use to educate children. It is a very good way for publishing information and cooperation between educators and children. Always check the contents of the material you want to share with children before you make it public. For example, if you want to show children a video clip, make sure that it doesn’t contain any inappropriate content. Even if the school has set filters for information that is child inappropriate, they are not 100% fail safe, so always check the content of materials you want to distributein advance.
Online rules
Today, the internet offers wide-ranging information about online safety. Educators, children, or new teachers, can find many good sources of information that will support them in safe data distribution.