Digital Citizenship for Northside ISD Employees

1. Digital Citizenship for Northside ISD Employees Addressing Acceptable and Appropriate Technology Use Administrator Institute July 27, 2005Kelly SmithAssistant Superintendent for Technology Services

2. Citizenship • The status of a citizen (member of society) with its attendant duties, rights, and privileges. • Conduct as a citizen; the quality of an individual's behavior as a citizen. We teach, model, and expect exemplary citizenship!

3. Digital Citizenship • Digital Age technologies are all around us – computers, handheld devices, cameras, telephones, Internet, e-mail, data systems, electronic media and more! • Digital Citizenship = The expected standard of behavior with regard to technology use We should teach, model, and expect exemplary digital citizenship!

4. Digital Citizenship:Three Principles for the Workplace

5. Digital Citizenship at Work: Principle #1 Access to District technology is made available to employees primarily for instructional and administrative purposes in accordance with Board Policies and District Administrative Regulations.

6. Digital Citizenship at Work: Principle #2 Employees are responsible at all times for their use of the District’s electronic communications system and must assume personal responsibility to behave ethically and responsibly, even when technology provides them the freedom to do otherwise.

7. Digital Citizenship at Work: Principle #3 There are consequences for NOT being a good digital citizen (i.e. violating acceptable use policies) • Access to technology denied • Reprimand • Termination • Legal action System use is electronically monitored

8. NISD 2004-2005 Case Files

9. Case File #1 • NISD elementary teacher was using sexually oriented language in e-mail and telephone communications with a school parent, due to an inappropriate relationship • The relationship was interfering with the teacher’s job responsibilities • Activity was reported by the media • Teacher was fired

10. Case File #2 • Secondary teacher shared personal student information with a newspaper reporter, in an attempt to embarrass a fellow teacher • Used NISD e-mail to send the information • Teacher resigned, in lieu of termination

11. Case File #3 • Department supervisor requested an investigation of staff member suspected of excessive Internet and phone use, as employee was not able to get job tasks completed • An investigation proved the suspicion to be true • Internet abuse related to excessive online banking, filing taxes online, job searching, Internet surfing, etc. • Employee was reprimanded and later resigned

12. Focus for 2005-2006 • Confidentiality of data • Appropriate use of e-mail and other electronically written messages • Online Acceptable Use class required of all employees with access to technology • Acceptable use training for all students under your supervision AND management of Student and Parent Acceptable Use Agreement Forms

13. Confidentiality of Data • The number of employees with access to student and employee data is increasing, due in large part to the increase in the number of electronic information systems and sub-systems • iTCCS/Region 20, CMS, Winocular, eSped, eChild, Grade2, etc.

14. Confidentiality of Data • Confidentiality of data is addressed in FL (Legal) Student Records and DH (Exhibit) Employee Standards of Conduct • An employee shall not reveal confidential information concerning students or colleagues unless disclosure serves lawful professional purposes or is required by law.

15. Confidentiality of Data • District-designed screensaver is being pushed to all Windows XP users in accordance with TEC 02, User/Workstation Security Measures • Will automatically activate after 30 minutes of inactivity and lock the computer workstation • Once locked, the user will be prompted to log back in to the network using his/her Novell User ID and Password to "unlock" the workstation • Implementation began in June with Central Office departments and concludes in October with campuses • E-mail message was sent to all users from the Help Desk explaining the screensaver initiative and schedule

16. Appropriate Use of E-mail • Sending e-mail is like sending a postcard through the U.S. mail (i.e. not private) • E-mail is like a cat with nine lives (i.e. multiple electronic copies, rarely completely deleted) • Four-year-old e-mail messages have played key roles as evidence in several high profile court cases (e.g. sexual harassment)

17. Appropriate Use of E-mail • The courts have ruled that e-mail is an educational record. • Educational records can be legally requested and/or subpoenaed by parents, the courts, hearing officers, etc. • Avoid sending e-mail to colleagues or parents that contain personally identifiable information about students.

18. Real E-mail from NISD Educators • <Student> is LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH!!!!!!!! He is too irresponsible for taking care of his things!!!!!! I REFUSE TO PLAY THIS GAME WITH THIS KID. He needs to take responsibility for his own actions - blind or not. • This parent is nuts! I spent almost two hours with her and heard her whole story four times over. Can we send <Student> to Holmgreen?

19. Real E-mail from NISD Educators • The team and dad agree - <Student> needs to be tested as soon as possible. What do we need to do to get you to get the ball rolling on this?  I find it hard to believe that he has never had any testing before and he is a transfer (this year). He is clearly special ed. • Student’s IEP inadvertently shared with wrong recipients when it was e-mailed to a group of teachers

20. Other Electronically Written Messages • Teacher comments in gradebook, Curriculum Management System, etc. • Websites (CMS and other) • Chat rooms • Blogging Inappropriate use, unless for specific instructional or administrative purposes

21. Acceptable Use Class • Required of all employees with access to technology • Online, takes 45 minutes to complete • All users will receive an e-mail with specific instructions • Finish before October 1, 2005 • Completion will be tracked and reported by Technology Services

22. Acceptable Use Training for Your Students • Enlist the help of your campus technologists, technology teachers, and librarian • Lots of great NISD-developed resources are available online • Collect and manage student AU agreement forms in a timely manner (Region 20 data entry → CMS) • Administer consequences for students’ inappropriate use • Promote and model Digital Citizenship!

23. Digital Citizenship for Northside ISD Employees Addressing Acceptable and Appropriate Technology Use Administrator Institute July 27, 2005Kelly SmithAssistant Superintendent for Technology Services