HIT:Internet Management

[Gloria Joan Baker <gjbaker@UNIXG.UBC.CA>]

Thanks to all who identified a way that worked for them in establishing
and enforcing rules of responsible student  behaviour on the
Internet.Again, several wanted a HIT posted so here goes:
       I thought I would post this idea to the net.  At our high school
library we have a computer lab of 25 stations.  It is not always easy to
monitor the students who are authorized to use the internet.  We have added
a field to the students' patron records which indicates whether or not they
have a signed AUP on file with us.  If they want to use the internet, they
check in at the circ desk.  If their records indicate that they have a
have a signed AUP on file with us.  If they stuffed animal with a
barcoded collar which
is checked out to them.  The animals must be placed on top of all monitors
that are running Netscape.  At a glance, the librarian or the lab monitor
can see who is authorized to use the internet access by checking for stuffed
animals and computer screens.  The students return the animals to the circ
desk when they are done.  The barcoded security collars help the animals to
remember that their homes are in the library, as an alarm sounds if they try
to escape!

*************************************************************Date:
Sat, 2 Dec 1995 21:01:31 +0000
This is what I did:
I discussed the issues with people whose view I value such as the Head of
IT and a sensible deputy. I talked formally and informally with my
headmaster (Principal)  and proposed the following:
1. Unsuitable material is a problem on The Net but it has been overstated
headmaster (Principal)  and proposed the following:
1. Unsuitable material is a problem on The Net but it has been overstated
by the Press (esp Time magazine)
2. Ultimately although we can filter out inappropriate sites we can't get
rid of the problem entirely.
3. The Internet is the best communications system of our age and we have a
duty to teach our students how to use it sensibly and responsibly.
4. We have an existing peronal and social education course and existing
information retrieval strategies (Big Six etc)
So we take several steps:
1. We load software on the terminals which records sites visited (Netscape
Global History) and connections made (PPP Report).
2. We make it clear that every Net user must a) log on with the librarian
before visiting the terminal, using the usual library card bar code with
Internet as the resource on loan     b) Complete an Internet Search Form
which includes name data and time, subject to be searched for, key words to
be used and a suggestion that the Net may not be the best resource. the
form also  contains advice on searching including "if you find something
which you would not be willing to show you teacher or parent them move on
form also  contains advice on searching including "if you find something
which you would not be willing to show you teacher or parent them move on
quickly to another site."
3. We place the terminal in full view of the librarian and the loans desk.
4. We allow e-mail use by all students but      a) the signature includes a
line saying this is from pupils and anything inappropriate should be
forwarded to myself for action - "we care"     b) at the moment all e-mail
replies from the open access terminal are downloaded by me, later probably
by a trusty student.
5. I held a parents eveninng to discuss the issues, demonstrate not the
gee-whizz element of the Web but the practical down-to-earth curriculum use
of it. I emphasised the need for responsibility from pupils and showed how
this was an important feature of the hidden curriculum in our school.
6.  Finally I signalled that we would use "Surfwatch" if it proved
necessary but not until then. I trusted the students but if they betrayed
that trust hat's how I would deal with it - plus banning individuals from
the Resources Centre if necessary.
Currently we have one student (out of 1875) banned until Christmas - for
Currently we have one student (out of 1875) banned until Christmas - for
accessing the Pamela Anderson Home Page! He wasn't banned for that (though
he was egged on by fellow students who vanished when I popped up) but for
hogging the machine and looking at material which was at odds with his
intentions as stated in the Internet Search Form.
Personally I feel we have done enough to encourage responsible use. More
than many would think necessary, but enough to placate parents and about
right for my own piece of mind. In the end I have sold it as just another
resource - better in some ways, poorer in others. It's a mistake to
oversell it for it brings with it expectations which may not be fulfilled
(eg finding out simple answers to simple questions) and expectations which
may try to be fulfilled (like seearching for porn that they've heard exists
even though they wouldn't dream of looking for it elsewhere.)
Jan Hylen is welcome to consider this strategy but it sounds as if, for
Carole H. Carpenter it has come too late....
Carole H. Carpenter it has come too late....
Let me quote the wise and experienced Stephen E Collins of Web66:
"Contrary to the trash printed in Time magzine and commonly rumored
in the general public, the Internet is not saturated with "bad stuff".
In fact, compared to everyday life, it is relatively quite difficult to
find violence, racism, hatred, and pornography on the net." and his
signature:
The biggest danger to children on the Internet is FEAR MONGERS.
Too right!
For more good advice read Stephen Heppell's faq at
http://sol.ultralab.anglia.ac.uk
Sorry this is so long but there was a lot to say!
Duncan
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_/ Duncan Grey, Head of Resources | Hinchingb-pess@ bbcnc.org.uk      _/
_/ Hinchingbrooke School          | http://www.worldserver.pipex.com/ _/
_/ Huntingdon  UK  PE18 6BN       |          nc/Hinch/hinchhome.html  _/
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
------------------------------

**************************************************
You need to talk to your sysop about creating a separate directory for
every user.  That way you can assign privileges or take them away when
necessary.  Otherwise you are stuck "watching like a hawk" and get
nothing else done.
     Carole H. Carpenter         chcrpntr@strauss.udel.edu
*****************************************************
I have to disagree with Duncan, but first let me compliment him on a
complex system of Internet supervision.  We have not begun to attempt
that much control.  Once our students and their parents have signed the
AUP, the students are pretty free to "surf" wherever.  We do not have
e-mail because our state does not have a computer big enough to hold the
volume of mail which would be generated by all the students, and our
school does not have one either.  We felt that it was more important for
the students to be able to search for information than for them to
correspond, although that is admittedly a tough call.  However, in three
months of Internet use we have already had a teacher stumble upon a photo
of the area between a woman's legs with a cigarette held to it and a
student gasp in horrow when he connected with a photo of two naked women
of the area between a woman's legs with a cigarette held to it and a
student gasp in horrow when he connected with a photo of two naked women
fondling each other.  My aide was working with the student at the time
and swore that there was no indication that the connection would result
in that.  We have also had students spending lots of time discussing the
size of girlfriends boobs, exchanging My Mother is so Ugly that....jokes,
and generally not using this limited and valuable technology for
educational (well, school-oriented) activities.  Of course that violates
their AUP, but it is still an issue for discussion.
    Regardless, my comment was not that I was worried about filth.
I said that there are many parents in my district who are worried about
it.  Teachers can not,therefore, require Internet use. Access to
information is not the issue here.  Parental permission is.

**************************
We are at the first stages of this,  but we have done a couple of
interesting things.  First, we had our advanced computer students write
our AUP--We found a variety of sources and looked at many other AUP's,
but the kids were the ones who bought into the need to have it and they
wrote it, so I'm hoping that there will be more impact from that than if
I had written it.  We have let the advanced students use the net--by
using our accounts through TENET.  (No we did not give them
passwords--but set up the sessions)
We have also felt that it was important for the teachers to have the head
start on this technology--so that they didn't feel overwhelmed by the
students expertise.  At present we have half of our faculty using the net
mostly for e-mail and listservs---and we will probably add student access
with AUP in January.
Another issue we are thinking about is having a BBS which would be student
run and would give each student an email account through this. Ken
Blystone of Ysleta school district near El Paso for the past ten years.
He suggests setting this up for all students to use since they are not
able to do real time searching--they don't get into those bad situations
that we have been hearing of.  We intend to provide internet access, but I
think that his idea is worth looking into so that all students could
experience the benefits of telecommunications, then only those with a
specific educational goal and a signed AUP would Surf.
Finally, I think that searching should begin with the text-based
searches--using lynx if they want the net, but certainly learning gopher,
telnet and FTP and that should be taught before the student is using
Netscape.. On the basis that they will miss a lot by becoming enthralled
with Netscape first.  I don't know if I will stick to this---what do you
all think
*******************--------------------*********************
*******************--------------------*********************
Karen McIntyre
Morton I.S.D.
500 Champion Dr.
Morton, TX  79346       806-266-5524    Kmcintyr@tenet.edu
***********************************
We are at the first stages of this,  but we have done a couple of
interesting things.  First, we had our advanced computer students write
our AUP--We found a variety of sources and looked at many other AUP's,
but the kids were the ones who bought into the need to have it and they
wrote it, so I'm hoping that there will be more impact from that than if
I had written it.  We have let the advanced students use the net--by
using our accounts through TENET.  (No we did not give them
passwords--but set up the sessions)
We have also felt that it was important for the teachers to have the head
start on this technology--so that they didn't feel overwhelmed by the
students expertise.  At present we have half of our faculty using the net
mostly for e-mail and listservs---and we will probably add student access
with AUP in January.
Another issue we are thinking about is having a BBS which would be student
Another issue we are thinking about is having a BBS which would be student
run and would give each student an email account through this. Ken
Blystone of Ysleta school district near El Paso for the past ten years.
He suggests setting this up for all students to use since they are not
able to do real time searching--they don't get into those bad situations
that we have been hearing of.  We intend to provide internet access, but I
think that his idea is worth looking into so that all students could
experience the benefits of telecommunications, then only those with a
specific educational goal and a signed AUP would Surf.
Finally, I think that searching should begin with the text-based
searches--using lynx if they want the net, but certainly learning gopher,
telnet and FTP and that should be taught before the student is using
Netscape.. On the basis that they will miss a lot by becoming enthralled
with Netscape first.  I don't know if I will stick to this---what do you
all think
***********     Carole H. Carpenter         chcrpntr@strauss.udel.edu

Is there some way that students each can have an individual account for
which they must log-in when they sit down at the search station.  Many
programs, I understand, will keep a log of who was online and when along
with their user passwords, etc.

Kathy Graves                            kgraves@sisnet.ssku.k12.ca.us
IMC Director/Librarian                  phone: 916-842-8427
Siskiyou Co. Supt. of Schools           FAX:  916-842-8436
609 South Gold Street
Yreka, CA 96097
***********************************************************************
How about requiring a daily password in order to use the system.  They
then MUST sign in or at least see you in order to get the word.
Ron McAtee, Media Specialist                 ron.mcatee@bbs.nitco.com
Kankakee Valley High
3923 W. State Road 10
Wheatfield, IN 46392