A New Step in Teaching Students Responsible Use of Technology
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
Three years ago when Darlington piloted its program to provide a computing device to all students, keeping our students safe was a top priority. That goal continues today.
Our students use laptops, tablets and phones every day. Helping them learn to use these devices responsibly and purposefully is the best way we can make sure they are safe. Darlington’s program for putting a tablet or laptop into the hands of each student lets us be a part of students’ learning safe behavior on a daily basis.
Besides teaching and modeling good digital behavior, we have always intervened when there was a problem, monitored for inappropriate behavior, and blocked inappropriate Web content on campus. After a few years of experience working with students, listening to parent needs, and fine tuning the best and most appropriate ways to be involved in teaching responsible digital use, the school is making a few adjustments for the new year.
First, while Internet filtering will continue for all devices on campus as in the past, now Internet filtering will extend off campus for all school-issued devices. This will affect students in grades 4-12 who leave campus with a school laptop or tablet. This improved filter is a great new service for parent peace of mind and will be covered within the same technology fee already being paid. More important than just blocking “bad” sites, though, will be that all Internet activity on these devices will be logged. This is great incentive for students to stay focused on studying when that is demanded, and to spend personal time responsibly.
Darlington’s filter policy is not a highly restrictive one. In general, we do not block sites that some would view as time wasters, like games or video sharing. Besides of the abundance of educational opportunities found under these categories, we want students to enjoy their laptops responsibly for personal use when appropriate. That means we do want them to pursue personal interests as long as they are getting their school work and other responsibilities done. This is a balance that may be different for every student in the school. We have to partner with parents to help find this balance by helping them be as informed as possible as they set limitations and expectations for their own student’s use of the device.
So hand-in-hand with logging student Internet activity at all times, we will be updating our procedures for monitoring and communicating this behavior. Starting next Thursday, we do weekly spot checks of computer use. We will pick students in grades 3-12 to do a review of Internet activity, e-mail usage and applications installed. Students may be picked randomly, at the recommendation of the Students of Concern group, or at the request of the parent. In addition, we’ll be looking for students that appear in certain custom analyzers that we’ve designed, such as for inappropriate search terms, excessive unproductive use during school or during sleeping hours, or games rated outside of their age-appropriateness. The I.T. Office will partner with the Student Life and Counseling Offices to carry out and communicate regarding these checks.
Some may think these new measures heavy handed, and others may find them inadequate; there is plenty of room for debate between these extremes. Concern for the safety of our children makes productive dialogue necessary. I hope that our new procedures fall within a range that keeps our students safe, gives them the opportunity to learn, and provides parents the flexibility to instill their own expectations with their children.
As with all of Darlington’s efforts, we are driven by our mission in developing this program. Our students will have the opportunity to learn with passion because we are providing them the global information resource of the Internet and the creative power of a computer to become powerful digital citizens. Our students will also have the motivation to act with integrity knowing that Darlington is working with their parents to encourage responsible use.
In the end, parents and teachers should feel great knowing that the concern we have now will result in students who are ready to be their best when we are no longer watching.
