Learning Technologies Policy
Code of Conduct

Computer Use

Student use of computers and associated learning technologies at Rossmoyne Senior High School

• keep settings or configuration of a workstation,
• only open applications on instruction from their teacher,
• use any function of any application only with the approval of their teacher,
• use with respect, computers peripheral devices or any other learning technologies equipment,
• bring to school or use other media (floppy disks, optical media, memory sticks, phones …), which has legal material on it. All media may be checked for legality at any time. If the contents are deemed inappropriate, illegal or in breach of copyright the media may be confiscated and further action will result.

Network Use. Students will follow the teacher’s instructions at all times.

Students must not

• use “net send” or other unauthorised communication software.
• allow others to use their account. Students will logon on to their own account only and only onto one computer at a time.

The following are not permitted:

• sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures,
• using obscene language or offensive words,
• harassing, insulting or attacking others,
• violating copyright laws,
• intentionally wasting limited resources,
• employing the network for commercial purposes.

Email Use

Students may only access email at “student.rossmoyne.wa.edu.au”.The school email is provided for students to conduct research and communicate with others within their educational environment. Students must not access any external email system (eg hotmail) at any time. The service is a privilege. Loss of good standing can mean loss of this service.


Mobile Phones and other recording devices.

The school, through its Duty of Care, can look at and download the contents of mobile phones and other recording devices confiscated or in the possession of students, for material that is in breach of school rules or content that is inappropriate. This includes laptops, CDs, DVDs, memory sticks and the like.


Privacy is not guaranteed.

The Principal, Deputies and other school staff review files and monitor all student computer and Internet activity to maintain system integrity and ensure that users are acting responsibly. All Internet activities are subject to electronic and other types of monitoring. The content of electronic communications may be monitored at any time and the usage of electronic communications systems will be monitored to support operational, maintenance, auditing, security and investigative activities.


Internet Use.

• Access to the Internet is for educational purposes only. Any site visited should reflect the needs of the subject.
• The accessing of sites of an offensive nature is not permitted. Sites that contain pornography, violence, obscene language, computer crime, racism or hacking are not to be searched for, or entered at anytime. Students in doubt should consult their teacher before continuing. In the event that a student deliberately or knowingly searches for or accesses any site containing material of an explicit or offensive nature will be deemed a breach of the Code of ConductIf an undesirable site is found or accessed by mistake, students must notify the teacher immediately. The student may be asked to explain how they arrived at the undesirable site. If the student is found to have continued exploring the site their action will be viewed as a deliberate attempt to access such site and the student will be deemed to be a breach of the Code of Conduct.
• Email (other than the official school email), chat lines and other forums are not to be accessed.
• Games and gaming sites are not to be accessed at any time.
• Students must understand that the Internet can be a dangerous place and that under no circumstance should personal or school details, phone numbers or addresses be revealed.
• Students must not download any material from the net without permission. In particular MP3’s, videos and related files that breach copyright, should not be downloaded or stored on school equipment.
• Internet Usage/Charging. Each student has an allowance for Internet usage. When this allowance is used the student is required to pay for further Internet access.

Printing

All printing in the school is charged for. Students can check their balance online on the school Intranet.


Consequences

Depending on each circumstance the consequences for breaches of this Code of Conduct include:

• after school detention,
• subject withdrawal,
• temporary loss of computing privileges within a particular learning area,
• permanent loss of computing privileges for the rest of the year within a particular learning area,
• temporary loss of computing privileges across the whole school,
• permanent loss of computing privileges for the rest of the year across the whole school,
• referral to Deputy Principal for suspension or other penalty,
• ineligibility for future courses involving use of computers,
• restitution of costs associated with repairs to equipment,
• police involvement.

Commonwealth Legislation and Copyright.

Students need to be aware that Section 85ZE of the Commonwealth Crimes Act states that a person shall not knowingly or recklessly:

• use a telecommunications service supplied by a carrier to menace or harass another person; or
• use a telecommunications service supplied by a carrier in such a way as would be regarded by reasonable persons as being, in all circumstances, offensive.

The AMCOS/ARIA licence does not allow schools or school students to download music or sound recordings from the Internet, therefore the copying, for example, of MP3 files, which are available on the Internet or from CDs is not allowed.