Lisa Cantwell

Grand Canyon University

TEC- 530
March 20, 2018
 Long Beach Unified School
District Acceptable Use
Program (AUP)
Similarities:
Introduction/Preamble Introduction explains the
students’ rights and their right
to access of information. It is
set up by informing the users
that as with all rights, there are
responsibilities that accompany
those rights.
Unacceptable uses In this AUP, they have titled
section the section Network Privacy
and Guidelines with an
itemized list of seven items that
are not allowed. These include
items such as material they are
not to access, download, and
transmit.
Definition section In this district’s AUP, the
glossary is included and defines
such words as access, computer
network, and computer system.
Privacy In this district’s AUP, the
district reminds users that
information, files and messages
are never private and may be
reviewed and monitored to
maintain integrity.
Differences:
Consequences In this school district’s AUP, a
subheading is labeled
consequences that is in bold.
This section discusses the
consequences of violating the
district’s policy. This can
include loss of access to
technology. In addition, it
states if necessary, law
enforcement may become
involved.
Personal devices In this AUP, there is
information concerning the use
of personal devices and the use
of the district’s wireless access.
Newport-Mesa Unified School
District Network Acceptable
Use Policy (AUP)
Introduction and purpose
explain the intended goal and
overview of district’s
acceptable use policy.
In this district’s AUP, they
have titled it Prohibited uses.
This section gives a list of
prohibited behaviors that
inform the user of behavior that
should be avoided.
Included in the AUP is a
section titled definitions.
Words that are defined are
technology, NMnet and User.
This district’s AUP has a
section titled No Privacy. In
this section, the user is
reminded that the network is
not private and will be
monitored by district
representatives.
This information was located
very briefly in the introduction
and purpose. It is not titled and
may easily be overlooked.
There is no mention of the use
of personal devices on this
district’s AUP.
 It also informs the user that
through its use of the district’s
wireless connection, the
content will be continued to be
filtered as if it was being used
by a district computer.
Internet Use This district informs the user
what is not allowed under
Network Privacy and
Guidelines. Under this
section it also states that school
computer’s must be used for
educational purposes, This
AUP also infers that the
district’s viewpoint for the
internet is that it is fundamental
to discovering and learning
through connection and
collaboration. It also adds that
through research and the
resources available online,
students can increase their
knowledge through
exploration.
This district has a section titled
internet access. In this section,
the district defines what is
allowed and what is not
allowed on the internet. They
state that the internet must be
used for educational purposes
only and playing games and for
personal use is not allowed.
Internet access must be used
for educational purposes only.
This AUP is very matter of fact
and mainly discusses what is
allowed and not allowed and
used to guide the students in
making acceptable choices.
Dear Vanitha Chandrasekhar,

After reviewing the district’s acceptable use program (AUP) for Long Beach Unified

school district, I would like to commend you on the district’s mission statement and position on

technology for our district. In the introduction of the acceptable use program, the idea is

expressed that users of all ages have rights; the right to freedom of speech and the right to access

information. These same values follow the National Education Technology Plan, as you both

strive for the goal of knowledge that is empowered through technology (NETP, 2017).

However, there are some areas of concerns that I have noticed related to the district’s

acceptable use program. One such concern is that as an employee of the district, I was unaware

of the acceptable use program for our district. This should be a concern, because if an employee

of the district is unaware of the policy, how can I inform my students of this policy? After

research, I was able to locate where the acceptable use program for students is located. Placing it

in the district’s guidelines for parents and students may seem like an ideal place to address it.

However, because this document is only accessible online, it may not be accessible for those

parents who do not have access to technology.

In addition to the acceptable use program, the district’s technology master plan, in

Security and Infrastructure, goal 2, objective 2.1, addresses the school district’s intent to support

and provide accessibility to task appropriate online safety resources (LBUSD Technology Master

Plan, 2009). As a teacher for the district, this is a topic that is very important, but has not been

directly addressed in our schools. This should be a matter that should be discussed and reviewed

with teachers and administrators. This goal also coincides with Goal 3 under Teaching and

Learning in the master plan. Objective 3.4 states that students and staff will be educated in

online safety and the ethical behaviors needed for technology use. (LBSUD Technology Master
Plan, 2009). In the California Education Technology Plan, under Ed tech plan criterion for 2e, it

states that goals and a plan should be in place with yearly activities that will address internet

safety and the correct, appropriate use of technology (California Department of Education,

2015). This is a very important topic and consideration should be in place to assist teachers and

provide support with resources to ensure proper internet safety. LBUSD’s master plan should

consider adding a more detailed plan that involves educating teachers and providing proper

training with a specific goal and objective so all teachers across the district will have the same

information.

Furthermore, after further review of the technology master plan, in the area of Teaching

and Learning, Goal 1, Objective 1.1, the information is outdated and refers to the year 2007 for

the International Society for Technology in Education’s standards for students. As the current

update for the standard is 2016, the information should be updated to include the most current

version year. It would seem that a review of the master plan should be considered and brought

up to date. Although your mission statement concedes that the master plan is a living document

and changes do occur, after nine years, it is time our district’s technology master plan is once

again assessed and revised.

Another suggestion is a revision of the title of our acceptable use program. This should

be considered in that the title should be changed from an acceptable use program (AUP) to a

responsible use policy (RUP). The reason this should be considered is due to the intended nature

of the information provided in the acceptable use policy. With our innovative district’s outlook

and vision towards responsible use, the document should convey that message, starting with the

title.

Sincerely,
Lisa Cantwell
 References:

California Department of Education. (2015). California K-12 education technology plan

template, criteria, and guiding questions. Retrieved from

https://tpb.lacoe.edu/tpb/docs/TechPlan_v1.10.pdf

International Standards for Technology in Education. (2016). ISTE standards for students.

Retrieved from https://www.iste.org/standards/for-students

Long Beach Unified School District. (2017). Long Beach Unified School District guidelines for

parents and students. Retrieved from

http://www.lbschools.net/Asset/files/District/Guidelines/Guidelines-EN.pdf

Long Beach Unified School District. (2017). Student technology - acceptable use program.

Retrieved from

http://www.lbschools.net/Asset/files/Information_Services/AUP/Student%20AUP.pdf

Long Beach Unified School District. (2009). Technology master plan. Retrieved from

http://www.lbschools.net/Asset/Files//Technology_Master_Plan/FINAL-LBUSD-

Technology-Master-Plan_1.pdf

Newport-Mesa Unified School District. (2006). Newport-Mesa Unified School District rules and

regulations network acceptable use policy. Retrieved from

http://www.nmusd.us/district/net_aup/nmusd_net_aup.pdf

Office of Educational Technology. (2017). Reimagining the role of technology in education.

Retrieved from https://tech.ed.gov/files/2017/01/NETP17.pdf