Coláiste Oiriall Acceptable Usage Policy

TÁ AN LEATHANACH SEO AR FÁIL FOSTA I: nGAEILGE

Rationale

Coláiste Oiriall has formulated the following Internet Acceptable Usage Policy in accordance with the school’s fundamental aim to foster in students a sense of self-reliance, independence, co-operation and responsibility and to provide them with skills for life-long learning where the school believes that access to the school’s ICT resources plays an important role. The policy adheres to all aspects of CMETB Technology Acceptable Usage Policy and CMETB Internet Acceptable Usage Policy.

The aim of this Acceptable Usage Policy (AUP) is to ensure that students will benefit from learning opportunities offered by the school’s ICT and internet resources in a safe and effective manner. Internet use and access is considered a school resource and privilege. If the school AUP is not adhered to, this privilege will be withdrawn and appropriate sanctions will be imposed.

Strategies

The school employs the following strategies in order to maximise learning opportunities and reduce risks associated with the Internet:

• Filtering software and/or equivalent systems will be used where appropriate in order to minimise the risk of exposure to inappropriate material.
• Each student will be issued a unique Computer Network Account username and password. This will grant them access to the Coláiste Oiriall’s ICT resources at a student’s security level. Students must use only their own username at all times.
• Each student’s school email account should be used for educational purposes only.
• Students and teachers will be provided with training in the area of internet usage and safety.
• Uploading/downloading and installation of non-approved software will not be permitted.
• Virus protection software will be used and updated on a regular basis.
• The use of digital storage media (eg. personal memory stick or external hard drive) in school requires a teacher’s permission.
• Students will treat others with respect at all times and will not undertake any actions that may bring the school into disrepute.

Internet

• Students will not intentionally visit internet sites that contain obscene, illegal, hateful or otherwise objectionable materials or attempt to circumvent protective software. They will report accidental accessing of inappropriate materials.
• Students will use the internet for educational purposes only. They will not copy information into assignments and fail to acknowledge the source (plagiarism and copyright infringement).
• Students will never disclose or publicise personal information.
• Downloading or uploading materials or images which are not relevant to their studies is in direct breach of Coláiste Oiriall’s Acceptable Usage Policy.
• Students will not use any social networking websites.

Email

• Students will use email addresses for educational purposes only and not for personal reasons.
• Students must only use their school email for school related activities and for registering on school-based activities only.
• The use of personal email addresses is not allowed for school-based work
• Students will not send or receive any material that is illegal, obscene and/or defamatory, or that is intended to annoy or intimidate another person.
• Students will not reveal their own or other people’s personal details, such as addresses or telephone numbers or pictures.
• Students will never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they only know through emails or other online communication.
• Social networking sites including Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, MSN Messenger and any other similar sites are not allowed to be accessed in the classroom or in the school.
• Students should report the receipt of any communication that makes them feel uncomfortable, is offensive, discriminatory, threatening or bullying in nature and must not respond to any such communication. Students should report any such communications to a teacher.
• Students should avoid opening emails that appear suspicious. Students should report any suspicious emails to a teacher.
• All emails and opinions expressed in email are the responsibility of the author and do not reflect the opinion of the school.
• Teachers can be contacted using email during the school term during school hours, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday.
• Students will check their email every day.

Students’ Personal Devices

We do not allow students to use personal devices (eg.smartphone, tablet, smartwatch etc.) in class.  Three mobile trolleys are available for classroom use and two Computer Suites are available.

Pupils using their own technology in school such as leaving a mobile turned on or using it in class, sending nuisance text messages, or the unauthorised taking of images with a mobile camera, still or moving, is in direct breach of the Coláiste Oiriall’s Acceptance Usage Policy and the school’s Mobile Phone Policy and will be dealt with accordingly.

Students’ personal devices (eg.  phones, iPods, cameras, dictaphones, game consoles, PSPs) unless authorised by a teacher, are not to be used on school premises. Each student must ensure all his devices are switched off in the school building and should remain, powered off, in the locker throughout the entire school day, including lunchtime.  Devices on Silent or Vibrate mode are not considered powered off. Mobile phone usage, for the purpose of listening to music only, is permitted in Coláiste Oiriall until 8.40 am. A smartwatch may be worn provided that it isn’t connected or synchronized to a mobile phone or other device.

Coláiste Oiriall takes no responsibility for a personal digital device taken to school by a student.

Sanctions

Misuse of ICT and internet resources may result in disciplinary action, including withdrawal of access privileges and, in extreme cases, suspension or expulsion. Coláiste Oiriall reserves the right to report any illegal activities to the appropriate authorities.

Social Media and messaging services for Staff and Students

All members of the Coláiste Oiriall school community must not use social media, messaging services nor the internet in any way to harass, impersonate, insult, abuse or defame others staff and students must not discuss personal information about students, staff and other members of the school community on social media

Staff and students must not use school email addresses for setting up personal social media accounts or to communicate through such media. Staff and students must not engage in activities involving social media which might bring the school into disrepute

Digital Learning Platforms (including video conferencing)

Coláiste Oiriall’s digital learning platform, Microsoft Teams, is managed and maintained by Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board of behalf of the school. Each pupil has an outlook email address created for them as part of the school platform  This gives them access to all the office 365 licences and apps free of charge. Students may use this licence on up to 5 devices. Parents do not have to buy individual word, powerpoint, excel licences etc. New apps are added to the pupils’ accounts regularly to help them with new initiatives in the classroom.  

Remote Learning

When students are invited onto or put into a Team to facilitate remote learning, it is the same as being in the class. Students cannot choose to leave a Team once a teacher has created one. When using Teams or any other online interaction, students must always, use their own names and appropriate account pictures. Teachers will only correspond and engage with students who are using and are logged into their Coláiste Oiriall account

Students may not use any language directed towards a fellow student or teacher that is aggressive/ threatening or offensive. All communication online will be exclusively through the medium of Irish, with the exception of the other language classes.

Any behaviour or language deemed inappropriate during school applies online. Students attire must be suitable, and they should use only Microsoft Teams’ backgrounds during live lessons. Students are not permitted to record live classes or to take screenshots and neither are they permitted to share material (powerpoints, notes, videos etc.) created by a teacher

Parents under no circumstances can participate in online classes for reasons of Child Protection and GDPR. Students should leave Mute function on during classes, use the Raise Hand to ask a question and the Chat function to ask a written question or make a comment. Homework and other assignments to be submitted to teacher via OneNote (unless students receive alternative advice from teachers).

Images & Video

Care should be taken when taking photographic or video images that students are not identifiable (no names mentioned etc). Care should also be taken when taking photographic or video images that students are appropriately dressed and are not participating in activities that might bring the individuals or the school into disrepute

Students and staff must not take, use, share, publish or distribute images of others without their permission

Taking photos or videos on school grounds or when participating in school activities is only allowed with expressed permission from staff.  Students and staff must not take or share images, videos or other content online with the intention to harm another member of the school community regardless of whether this happens in school or outside

Sharing explicit images, and in particular, explicit images of students and/or minors is an unacceptable, illegal and absolutely prohibited behaviour, with serious consequences and sanctions for those involved. Sharing explicit images of other students automatically incurs suspension as a sanction and will be reported to the appropriate authorities

Teachers

Teachers will assign specific places in the Computer Room and will assign specific devices from the mobile trolleys in the classroom. Teachers will endeavour to supervise students’ use of computers at all times. However, it is the responsibility of the student to act responsibly when using a computer or other school device.

Teachers will ensure that students internet use will be planned, task-orientated and educational with a regulated and managed environment.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is the use of technology to bully a person with the intent to hurt, humiliate or intimidate them. It can take many forms including exclusion online, hurtful messages/images, abusive messages/emails, imitating someone online, etc.

Cyberbullying can be defined as placing a once-off offensive or hurtful public message, image or statement on a social network site or another public forum where that message, image or statement can be viewed and/or repeated by other people and this will be regarded as bullying behaviour.

As cyberbullying uses technology to perpetrate bullying behaviour and does not require face to face contact, cyber-bullying can occur at any time (day or night). Many forms of bullying can be facilitated through cyber-bullying. For example, a target may be sent homophobic text messages or pictures may be posted with negative comments about a person's sexuality, appearance etc.

Access to technology means that cyberbullying can happen around the clock and the students' home may not even be a safe haven from such bullying. The nature of these technologies means digital content can be shared and seen by a very wide audience almost instantly and is almost impossible to delete permanently. While cyberbullying often takes place at home and at night, the impact can also be felt in school.

When using the internet, students, parents and staff are expected to treat others with respect at all times. Engaging in online activities with the intention to harm, harass, or embarrass another student or member of staff is an unacceptable and absolutely prohibited behaviour, with consequences and sanctions for those involved.

This policy was amended, reviewed and adopted by the Coláiste Oiriall Board of Management on 6^th September 2022.

Signed: _________________________________      Date: 6^th September 2022

(Chairperson of Board of Management) 

Signed: _________________________________      Date: 6^th September 2022

(Principal)

Date of next review: 2024