CyberSmart! : Lesson Plans : Understand Your Acceptable Use Policy

Understand Your Acceptable Use Policy

Download Student Activity Sheet(s) for printout in PDF Format

Overview
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) contracts encourage responsible behavior by students and staff and give administrators enforceable rules for acceptable use of school computers. Students will interpret and make inferences about their school's AUP.

Objectives

		Describe school district's Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
		Describe consequences of misusing school computers/network
		Identify need for Acceptable Use Policies

ISTE^® National Technology Standards

Performance Indicator # 3

Site Preview

No Internet site is used in this lesson.

Online Resources

Visit sites providing background information on Cyber Citizenship

Materials

		Activity sheets (3)
		Your school district's Acceptable Use Policy and/or student contract
		School computer network E-mail (optional)

Introduce

		Invite students to imagine themselves as parents. Discuss how a busy street is a dangerous place for children.
		Ask: How do you know that your child is ready to cross the street by herself? Is it when she reaches a certain age? Or, will she have to show you that she is ready?
		Discuss with students the need for children to follow safety rules. Have them list rules they, as parents, would teach their children.
		Ask: What will you do if your child breaks the rules? (impose punishments, lose privilege of crossing street alone)
		Explain that parents, teachers, and principals think about similar issues when students go into cyberspace.

Teach 1

		Distribute the activity sheets.
		Have students read "Think About This." Help them understand that going into cyberspace connects their computer to other people's computers around the world.

Teach 2

		Depending on the length and reading level of your district's Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) or contract, either distribute copies or paraphrase the rules for the class.
		Then have students complete "Read the Fine Print." Have them write the question numbers beside the AUP sections that support their answers.

Teach 3

		Have students complete "Tell It Your Way." They should not send an E-mail message until you have approved it. If students will each send an E-mail, you should alert the principal beforehand.
		If students do not have access to E-mail, they may compose and print letters using word processing software, then give them to the principal.

		Explain to students that getting permission to use school computers is like getting a driver's license.
		Ask: What might happen if a new driver had never learned the rules of the road? (Drivers could break a law, get a ticket, or even get hurt.)
		Ask: What might happen if students used school computers without knowing the rules of school computing? (They might break a rule and be punished or they might get into trouble in cyberspace.)

Extend
The following activities can be added for students who completed this lesson in a previous grade.

		Ask students to choose one of your district's AUP rules, and describe new insights/perspectives they gained about the rule during the past year.
		Have students make posters depicting acceptable use rules in your school. Encourage them to represent rules graphically with icons and a few key words. Then place the posters near school computers.