Introduction
Cyber space is very much a part of the real world although it is in a digital format. It is just as public to the degree the physical world is public. Cyber space identity is NOT faceless. It is in fact an extension or a reflection of the person in the background. Therefore what are considered inappropriate actions or words in the physical world would similarly be inappropriate in the cyber world. There are rules and guidelines, boundaries, protocols and “out of bound” areas that are put in place to provide a framework for safe use.
Please read through this segment of the website and become familiar with the compliance requirements laid out by the College. The compliance requirements apply to students and staff alike.
Digital Citizenship
Anyone who has access into the digital world is by default a citizen of that world. As a “digital” citizen, there are rules and guidelines on how to “live and behave” appropriately in that domain. What digital citizenship guidelines govern the College users?
Digital Access
The College is committed to providing digital access to students whilst they are on campus for the purpose of education and learning. Students and staff are issued access to the College network to accomplish this goal.
Digital literacy
In many aspects of education, acquiring and being proficient in a language is a basic and fundamental foundation to learning. A digital literate is one who has the knowledge and skill to learning about and use of technology. The College aims to equip our students with digital literacy for the purpose to encouraging each to learn and acquire knowledge at anytime and anywhere.
Digital etiquette
Appropriate behaviour in the digital medium is just as necessary; if not more necessary compared to a face to face social environment. The digital medium of communication is devoid of body language. The recipient of a digital message can potentially interpret wrongly the intent of the sender. The result of miscommunication can give rise to very unpleasant consequences and may have potential legal implications too. Every digital citizen must therefore exercise appropriate behaviour in this new society. The appropriateness extends to the use of emails, posting of photos, social media network such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and many more.
Digital Law
If a physical crime is punishable by law, a “digital” crime is no different, it is subjected to the same legal governance. Digital law governs the right of ownership and use of digital identity, information, property and works of individuals. Hacking into others information, infiltrating into unauthorised network, stealing of identity, creating and propagating destructive worms or viruses, illegally downloading of copyrighted material such as music, videos and intellectual properties are synonymous to cyber-crime is unethical and punishable by law.
Digital Health and Wellness
Working and operating within the digital world may not be physically laborious; however, it can have adverse effects to the physical and psychological well-being of an individual who spends extended hours locked within the cyber world looking at the monitor screen. The management of digital health and wellness means paying attention to not subjecting the eyes to over exposure to the light source from the monitor screen. It will also include proper posture when using the digital devices, giving care to potential excessive mental stimulation which may give rise to psychological issues such as internet addiction. It is very needful that a healthy dose of time is spent away from the digital world to give it a proper balance.
Digital Security
Protection of self and personal possessions is a natural behaviour we subscribe to in the physical world and the same must be applied in the digital world. Digital security refers to appropriate actions that are required to prevent damage or theft to the digital properties. The proper approach is to ensure that information and data are backup, network and computer systems are surge and virus protected in order that the digital world is not de-stabilised because of a breach.
For more information on cyber safety and how to stay cyber-smart, please refer to the link at:
Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner
Acceptable Use Agreement
The College will provide students and staff members appropriate access to the network for the purpose of teaching, learning and the effective digital operations within the organisation. All users of the college network are required to abide by the Digital Technology Policy and the Appropriate Use of Digital Technology guidelines found in the respective College handbooks. Please click to view the Cyber Acceptable Use Agreement and the Appropriate Use of Digital Technology Guidelines.
The overall goal of the school in this matter is to create and maintain a cybersafety culture which is in keeping with the values of the school, the legislative and professional obligations. This use agreement includes information about your obligations, responsibilities, and the nature of possible consequences associated with cybersafety breaches which undermine the safety and security of the school environment or good name of the College.
All students and parents will be required to read and agree to the Digital Technology Policy and the Appropriate Use of Digital Technology guidelines found in the iPad Initiative within Citipointe Central in order to gain access to the College wireless network (where applicable) and the College ICT equipment/devices.
Network Access and Monitoring
Students and staff members will be given access rights to the College network. Access passwords and identities are provided to each person. The password and id’s are unique to each individual and not for sharing without prior authorisation or permission under special circumstances.
The College reserves the right to monitor all activities that take place on the network. Inappropriate sites and content will be filtered by the IT department subject to the authorisation of the IT Director. Any user who is found accessing or downloading content from inappropriate sites will face disciplinary action.
Care and Safe Keeping of digital devices
The individual is responsible for the care and safe-keeping of personal devices brought onto the College campus. The College is exempt from any responsibility for the loss, damage or theft of the personal devices. The onus is on the individual to ensure the devices are kept safe and secure. However, if a theft should occur, the incident should be reported to the College through the teacher in charge or directly to the IT department and an investigation may be commissioned.
Resources
It is important that a digital citizen be kept up to date and informed of the development that takes place in the digital world and be equipped to manage the affairs that take place in that world. There are numerous resources that offer the necessary information and training. Below are a list for web-links for your reference: