1. AUP Resources for Administrators
A Guide to an Acceptable AUP
Michael J. Payne, Presenter

2. The Acceptable Use Policy
✤ Many resources exist for administrators looking to draft an AUP for
their school/district, from templates of existing documents to
research backing (or debunking) best practices in the field.

3. Contents:
✤ What Goes Into an AUP?
✤ Templates of Existing AUP’s
✤ AUP Mythbusting
✤ Photo Credit:
http://muir.pasadenausd.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/917202/Image/policies/ComputerLab.jpg

4. Where do I look first?
✤ ISTE, the International Society for Technology Education, publishes
books and updates it’s website regularly with materials to help fill
the growing need for technology related articles for educators. The
link below features an excerpt from The Technology Coordinator’s
Handbook (Frazier and Bailey, 2004). The last four pages of the 20
page pdf include the authors’ recommendations for an appropriate
AUP.
http://www.iste.org/images/excerpts/TCHAND-excerpt.pdf

5. More from ISTE
✤ ISTE sponsors a community website for their members to share their
own thoughts. A simple search of “AUP” will yield several relevant
hits.
http://www.iste-community.org/
✤ ISTE is also the creator of the NETS Standards for Administrators,
Teachers, and Students. Leading districts around the country use
these documents as the guide for their holistic technology vision.

6. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
and the
Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
✤ The FCC is the Federal organization charged with governing the use
of the country’s mass communications infrastructure.
✤ CIPA was enacted by congress in 2001. It includes a provision
mandating that all schools and libraries serving students obtain an
“Acceptable Use” Policy, signed by the student’s legal guardian.
✤ Additional information is available at:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cipa.html

7. Why Should I Care What the
FCC Says?
✤ Institutions who do not follow the mandates outlined in the CIPA are
not permitted to benefit from the federal “E-Rate” program, which
provides discounted internet services and technology infrastructure.
✤ And, you’d probably be fired.

8. AUP Templates
✤ A stock template is a great
place to start. Read through
several to get a sense of what
others are thinking.
✤ www.docstoc.com features
documents for professionals
that are uploaded and shared
by their creators. Several AUP’s
for all grade levels can be
found.
✤ photo credit:
http://www.staustinschool.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=28

9. And when you really want to find something, there’s this new thing called:

10. Photo Credit:
Http://www.intomobile.com/2010/09/09/google-pleased-with-apple-iphone-developers-terms-of-service/

11. Now, for those of you that say ...

12. Forget Templates, I’m creating my own!
(Resources for re-inventing the wheel)
✤ Federal law dictates a few items that must be included in your AUP.
Refer to the FCC slide from earlier. After that, it’s up to you (or your
boss).
✤ One basic question of philosophy will shape the rest of your AUP:

13. “Will my policy limit access to every possible
distraction available on the Internet, or will it
encourage the use of technology in a manner
that promotes freedom with appropriate
supervision?”

14. AUP Rough Guide
✤ Name of Organization/School
✤ Technology Philosophy
✤ Equipment/Software/Infrastructure Covered by the AUP
✤ Terms of Use/Service
✤ Responsible Use and Training
✤ Consequences for Improper Use
✤ Parent/Student Signature

15. ✤ Current trends in AUP’s reflect the idea that access to
the internet should be open, and that proper training
and supervision should take the place of an over-
bearing firewall.

16. Oh, and don’t forget the
student and parent signature.
__________________________

17. AUP Myths
photo credit: http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT25bcAONgpOVp1HXja08zoCW-6SYy0MnUvKnLiucpmHiHMOtBTJg

18. AUP Fact or Fiction?
✤ #1 - Federal Law requires a parent signature for student use
in schools.
✤ #2 - Message boards and chat rooms must be banned in order
properly protect students
✤ #3 - YouTube, Facebook, Google Images, and such will be
abused if not proxied.

19. Answers:
✤ #1- No. Schools would be wise to require a signature, but no specific
requirement exists.
✤ #2 - No. Student use of message boards, chat rooms, or any social
media is acceptable, but must be properly supervised, as required by
federal law.
✤ #3 - This all depends on how teachers shape their lesson plans and
monitor students. Proper training and modeling of responsible
technology use will promote an environment that embraces the
internet. And you can always quote Spiderman to your students:
“With great power comes great responsibility”.

20. The Best AUP:
✤ Is the policy that is written and backed by all stakeholders.
✤ Is the policy that puts creative, responsible learning first.
✤ Is the policy that makes preventative training more important than
reactive consequences.