In recent years the term 'Open Access Policy' has taken on a further perspective with the increasing popularity of VLEs, allowing remote access by permitted users, whether children doing homework at home, parents wanting information, staff doing the inevitable overtime at home, or Governors just keeping up to date with the school's activities!   As schools' Intranets, VLEs and websites are becoming increasingly ubiquitous, as the speed of access over broadband continues to increase and as students' familiarity with ICT continues to develop it is essential that firmer guidelines are laid down in terms of Acceptable Use.  The following pointers may be of some use:

1. The ICT facility is provided for the furtherance of your education. It is not a toy and should not be treated as an overgrown 'PlayStation' .

2. Schools have a special responsibility in terms of the Data Protection Act. In particular, parents and children should be clear about the additional rules relating to the disclosure of their personal information.

3. Website designers and contributors especially must be very careful not to disclose personal information  about children or images which may in any way identify an individual child.

4. Where schools allow e-mails or any internal messaging system it is essential that the students understand that the facility must be used responsibly.  They should be aware that all traffic is monitored and any silly, offensive or slanderous messages will be dealt with accordingly.

5. The value of collaborative or group work is recognised.  With modern educational blogging tools the initial input by teachers, the responses by students and the inevitable peer-assessment and sharing of ideas is easily monitored and documented for assessment of individuals' contributions.  See separate page on blogging tools.

6. The demise of the floppy-disc, with all its vulnerabilities, has been replaced by various USB memory devices, Bluetooth pen drives,  cheap CD and DVD writers, PDAs and mobile phones with e-mail and internet facilities, and even digital cameras.  All of these can be used for the underhand passing of information between students.  Students should be aware that staff are well aware of such practices and appropriate sanctions should be in place for inappropriate use.

7. Plagiarism, the unadmitted misappropriation of another's work, is a serious issue recognised by very serious penalties particularly where examination coursework is involved.  Again, teachers are well aware of such activities and modern software is available which can identify when such an offence has taken place.  See 'Other Tools' page 4.

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