Monitor your student computer usage!

It is critical that you keep an eye on what the students are doing when they are on the computer.

Over the past month, we have been working with several teachers, the administration, and NEOMIN to block a program that students have been using to by-pass the filtering system to get onto social networking sites. We now have this resolved; however, it is possible that the problem may surface again.

Here is how this works. On the Internet, there are several (meaning thousands) of websites that cater to providing students with directions and programs to by-pass filtering systems at their school district. The draw-back of these programs is once a student opens up that portal, the network is now vulnerable to hack attacks and viruses, and there is no way to stop them from spreading, and the students are downloading these programs at home to a thumb drive. They bring in the programs, plop them in their directory on the server, and then share their username and password to whoever wants to update their Facebook status.

Sounds innocent enough; however, if that student were to leave that portal open so that unwanted programs are downloaded, or posts something that was offensive during school hours, or even shares non-blocked information with others within the area, who is ultimately responsible… the teacher who provided computer time to the student.

So, I am sending this message as a warning for yourself. PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT THEY ARE DOING. I’m not saying you have to sit with each student and watch intently for every mouse click, here is what I am suggesting you look for:

1. Does the student appear nervous and looks around the room watching where you are at?
2. Is the student fully concentrated on the screen and other things within the room are not distracting them?
3. Are there non-educational games on the screen?

These are not school policies, well, they actually are since it relates to the acceptable use policy, but ultimately federal laws under the CIPA Act relating back to the provider of services and our regulations we have provide to receive federal e-rate funding.

So here is what I recommend to cover yourself:

1. If you see a student who is not working on NON educational related items on the computer, write a referral and immediately have them close down the site (or game).
   1. Please note: for major discipline to take place, the student ultimately needs to be referred about three times.
   2. Bringing in a program that overrides the system is already a major offense and can lead to suspension.
   3. We need the documentation!
2. The Technology Office will receive copies of technology related referrals and we keep a log of those who to monitor.
3. If a student is using a thumb drive, confiscate the thumb drive and take it to the technology department for immediate scanning of viruses and unwanted programs.

I am writing this not to create issues, but to provide you with information to help protect you as a teacher offering educational related technology within your classroom. This is not meant to scare you or spark up debates, but mainly to ask for assistance before something major happens. If we continue to work together on these issues, they will not exist and I am more than happy to help explain this more if you want to talk about it.

For more information about CIPA: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cipa.pdf