Policy Information | |
Series Regulations - Regulations | |
TEACHER WEB PAGES INCLUDING WEB 2.0 TOOLS FOR COLLABORATION Policy # 3160R |
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Teacher Web Pages
Anexciting innovation in technology is the opportunity for District teachers and staff to create teacher Web pages. The Board and the administration encourage the development of Web pages by teachers and staff in order to provide information to parents, students and the community about classroom and student activities as well as instructional resources. To be considered authorized by the School District, teacher Web pages must be developed in accordance with this regulation using resources consistent with the District's Web presence.
Teachers and staff may begin the process leading to the creation of a teacher Web page by registering for training after obtaining the approval of the Principal or Supervisor.
In addition, the following guidelines apply to all teacher Web pages developed by District teachers or staff and housed within websites authorized by the District. All information must be in compliance with District policies, regulations, and Web standards.
Content Integrity
1) All subject matter on the Web pages and their links must relate to:
a. Curriculum and instruction;
b. District authorized activities and services;
c. Information about the School District or its mission.
2) Safety- Consider password protecting your Web Page and giving the password to your students.
Information about students and staff posted on a teacher Web page should be general in nature.
Do not use students' full names on the Web. Also, for example, do not give specific locations and
times when listing a field trip or activity. Remember that this information is public for anyone to
access.
3) Always refer to our organization by using its proper name, Marcus Whitman Central School
District.
4) Confidential information regarding students, staff, or the organization may not be posted on teacher Web pages.
5) Treat your audience with respect. Avoid any objectionable language, and use proper grammar and spelling at all times.
Copyright Information
Generally, you cannot post a copy of any copyrighted materials on your website without the copyright owner's permission. Merely acknowledging the source of the copyrighted material is not a substitute for obtaining this permission. Materials that may be subject to copyright include photographs, logos, music, videos, cartoons, drawings/paintings/graphs/charts/animation,articles, and other Web pages.
Teachers and staff should assume that any such materials, even if found on the Internet and even in the absence of the ©symbol or other copyright notice,are subject to copyright.
1) Under certain limited circumstances, teachers are authorized to use portions of copyrighted works in traditional classroom settings under the doctrine of "fair use," without specific permission. However, a copy of a copyrighted work placed by a teacher on a website is less likely to be seen as a "fair use" of that work. Therefore, reliance on considering such use on a website as "fair use" should be avoided.
2) Generally, links to copyrighted resources available elsewhere online may be created as long as the link merely directs the user to another site and does not cause a copy of the copyrighted work to be created and stored on District sites or Web servers. Include link disclaimer language:
The District has made every reasonable attempt to ensure that our Web pages are educationally sound and do not contain links to questionable material or material that can be deemed in violation of the School District's Standards and Guidelines for Web Page Publishing Policy.
These links are provided for your information and convenience. By clicking on a link you will be leaving the School District's website. Please be aware that, while we make every effort to evaluate all the sites to which we link,we cannot endorse nor be responsible for the content provided on these sites. Surf Safely!
3) Framing (displaying another site's Web page within the District's Web page design) is not permitted. Your link must create a separate Web page to appear.
4) Students are the copyright owners of their own work. You must get the written permission of the student, as well as his or her parent, to post a copy of a student's work on your Web pages.
Additional Guidelines for the Use of Photos and Images
1) Written parental permission or permission from an "eligible11 student (one who is eighteen years of age or older or who is attending an institution of post-secondary education) must be obtained before posting photos of students on the website under any circumstances, even if the students are not identified on the website by name. This includes students whose parents who may have otherwise 11COnsented 11 to the use of their child's photo in other contexts by not 110pting out11 of designation of their child's photo as directory information under FERPA.
2) When uploading a file containing an approved photo, please make certain the file name does not list students' names (ex.: SallyMae.jpg). If it does, please re-save the photo using another generic description to then upload onto the Web. Students' names could be inadvertently shared, accessed as part of the image's code, if not corrected.
3) Photos of individual students or staff are not recommended for security reasons. Group pictures make it harder to identify a specific person in the photo.
4) When using the School District logo, use only the standard logo and do not modify it in any way.
When using the logo of another organization, you must get permission in writing first.
5) You may only use images on your Web page with the permission ofthe copyright owner, unless the image is from a source that specifically grants permission for such use. You cannot scan material from a book and paste it onto your Web page. Handouts created by anyone but you cannot be posted on the Web page. Clip art may be used if from a source that grants permission for such use.
Blogs, Podcasts and Vodcasts
In addition to or as part of a teacher Web page, teachers may choose to create blogs to engage students in effective dialogue on selected topics.They may choose to create or make available podcasts or vodcasts for instructional purposes as well. Teachers and staff are encouraged to utilize Web 2.0 communications tools such as blogs, podcasts and vodcasts that are developed in accordance with this regulation using resources provided by and hosted on sites consistent with the District's Web presence.
Teachers who use blogs, podcasts or vodcasts as instructional tools should remember that their content may be viewed by anyone who has the ability to access the website on which the blog,podcast or vodcast is located. Blogs, podcasts and vodcasts should be reserved for classroom use only and
SUBJECT: TEACHER WEB PAGES INCLUDING WEB 2.0 TOOLS FOR COLLABORATION (Cont'd.)
must be "locked," so as not to allow the general public to post their comments, thus keeping your learning project on task. Inaddition, the District requires that all blogs developed pursuant to this regulation be monitored by the teacher or staff member. Therefore, teachers and staff members are not authorized to use the "unmoderated" option when setting up a blog.
Teachers and staff members are responsible for the content of instructional blogs, podcasts and vodcasts that they create. Blogs, podcasts and vodcasts will be monitored in the same manner as teacher Web pages. Inappropriate material may not be posted by staff or students. If inappropriate content is found, it will be removed immediately and notification will be made to the teacher or staff member who created the blog, podcast or vodcast. Appropriate disciplinary action may be taken.
The information above on content integrity, copyright and use of images and photos on teacher Web pages also applies to all Web 2.0 communication tools inCluding, but not limited to, blogs, wikis, podcasts, vodcasts, and social networking sites.
Blogs, podcasts and vodcasts should be used to enhance learning, and topics for those online presentations should align with the curriculum. Controversial topics may be addressed using these tools in accordance with Board policy and administrative regulations. Blogs, podcasts and vodcasts can be used to share the exciting and creative curriculum-based activities experienced by our staff and students.
Applicable Policy and Regulation
All development and use of teacher Web pages and Web 2.0 communication tools such as blogs, podcasts and vodcasts shall be subject to other applicable Board policies and regulations including policy and regulations regarding Staff Use of Computerized Information Resources, and student use inaccordance with Student Use of District Computing Resources (Acceptable Use Policy) #7315.
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