Acceptable Use Policy

What is an Acceptable Use Policy?

An Acceptable Use Policy, or AUP, is a document outlining rules and expectations one must follow in order to access or use a corporate network or internet. Many businesses and school require empolyees and students to sign an AUP before they are able to use the internet. When you sign an AUP you are agreeing to follow all rules previously set. These rules are set in place to protect both the business and individual using the internet. 

Acceptable Use Policies in Schools

When creating an AUP in a school it is important to write with your students in mind. A kindergarten- second grade AUP will look very different compared to a high school's AUP. They might have the same goals just written with the audience in mind. At the beginning of each year it is critical that teachers review the AUP, answer any questions and have students sign in agreement. With the rise of technology in every classroom it is extrememly important to teach students how an why they need to be safe on the internet. 

In 2007, Boston Public Schools began working on revising their Acceptable Use Policy and discussed what they would need to create a safe and effective school culture. They gathered a team and created an AUP that would be appropariate for their schools, roughly 57,000 students. Here is their page to learn more about how they created their AUP. Boston Public Schools AUP

Attached are the three videos Boston Public Schools used in grades K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. They stressed the importance of providing policies that are age appropriate for all of their students. All three videos are engaging, with age appropriate language. 

Grades K-2   Grades 3-5    Grades 6-8

      Here are two videos that help explain the AUPs and the importance of being smart on the internet. 

      Computer Use and AUPs and Acceptable Use Policy

Photo by: Soaring by Sandy http://www.soaringsandy.com/2012/11/editable-ipad-rule-posters-are-here.html

Here is an example Acceptable Use Policy from a school in Westport, CT. After reviewing the AUP, both the student and the guardian must sign the form stating they have read and agree witht the AUP. Westport Public School's AUP grade 3-5

References 

Rouse, M. (2014, July 02). What is acceptable use policy (AUP)? - Definition from WhatIs.com. Retrieved June 02, 2020, from https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/acceptable-use-policy-AUP

Kajeet. (2018, March 26). Why Acceptable Use Policies are Critical for Education. Retrieved June 02, 2020, from https://www.kajeet.net/extracurricular/why-acceptable-use-policies-are-critical-for-education

Getting Started on the Internet: Acceptable Use Policies: Education World. (n.d.). Retrieved June 02, 2020, from https://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr093.shtml

Student-Centered Acceptable Use Policy. (n.d.). Retrieved June 02, 2020, from https://tech.ed.gov/stories/student-centered-acceptable-use-policy/

Acceptable Use Policy. (n.d.). Retrieved June 02, 2020, from http://ses.westportps.org/general/acceptable-use-policy