Compare and Contrast Acceptable Use and Responsible Use

Video Transcription

Today, we are going to compare and contrast acceptable use and responsible use, especially as it comes to the policies, their definitions, and what they look like within a learning environment-- how well each could meet certain needs. For today's, lesson I've chosen a quote by Albert Einstein which states, "It's not that I'm so smart, but I stay with the questions much longer."

By the end of this lesson, you will meet the following objectives. You will be able to define acceptable use policy and responsibly use policy. You will also compare and contrast acceptable use and responsible use. Finally, you will determine which policy meets the needs of most learning environments.

So first, let's take a look at what acceptable use looks like, particularly within the schools. Acceptable use is really a set of rules that are applied by networks and website owners. These focus in on a lot of the digital rights and responsibilities and how those owners will limit the way in which certain networks or web sites are used. This is put forward by both COOPA and SEPA as a requirement for what various programs are supposed to do.

Let's delve a little bit deeper into what is that acceptable use looks like. Acceptable use policies describe very specifically what students are allowed to do. Particularly when we look at acceptable use, we look at what students are allowed to do with in the various media and digital devices that they use within the classroom. So this is going to belong to all of those that the schools provide, such as any laptops or computers that are used, any digital devices that the student may use while they're at school, or also the various websites that students can look at when they are on those digital devices that the school provides.

A lot of acceptable use policies really hone in on what students are doing as they are downloading movies or music or any videos or different gifts, making sure that students are not accessing this material without the proper consent. There is also a significant amount of emphasis put on the using of those documents without consent. Acceptable use policies hone in on these two areas, really enforcing and informing students of what they should and should not do when it comes to these actions.

Another really good use of acceptable use policies in the schools are a form of cyber bullying education, again, focusing in on what the students are allowed to do and not do when it comes to cyber bullying. Specifically a lot of acceptable use policies now with a real push towards cyber bullying education help to inform that students and the internet users have the right to report cyber beliefs to the proper authorities within a school.

So perhaps this is reporting it to the administrators, but also helping to a forum that they can report this information to the proper facilitators like various website hosts or network administrators. This is one wonderful way that the schools are really working with various organizations to help make sure that students are being held accountable for cyber bullying.

So no longer will that punishment just take place within the classroom, but also potentially from the network or website host. The main thing to remember about acceptable use is that the onus is really put on the websites and the schools to block materials, right, and focusing in on the punishments that will ensue if a student accesses a material that they shouldn't be using.

Now let's take a look at the responsible use policy. You'll notice that the definition is very similar. However, the way that it differs is that in responsible use as opposed to acceptable use, there's really an emphasis on digital rights, securities, and safety. What we mean here is looking at the way in which students are using these digital vises within schools and reminding them that there are different ways that they can help make sure that they are keeping themselves safe and secure and the rights that they have when using the school provided devices.

There is also a pretty strong emphasis on students learning that their access to these technologies, especially with in the classroom or the school environment, is a privilege not a right. Meaning that if they get wider access, that they have that only until they abuse that privilege or demonstrate that they are not able to follow the rules. And then that can be taken away. This is a wonderful real life lesson in when students leave the learning environment, they will be able to access all of these different materials, but there are consequences for using it inappropriately.

As a part of really putting forward what students are able to do, there is a huge emphasis within responsible use policies, as there is an acceptable use policies, of making sure that students and various internet users know that they have the right to report that cyber bullying to a number of different facilitators like website hosts, network administrators, as well as the school administrators to make sure that they are helping being active members of stopping that cyber bullying.

The biggest difference between responsible use and acceptable use is that in responsible use, the onus is on the student for a responsible use of media. What we're getting at here is really focusing in on making sure that the students know that rather than the school blocking common web sites like YouTube or Facebook or Twitter, it's about teaching students responsible use of those websites when they are at school.

A wonderful element of responsible use policies is that they are essential in one to one environments, or a bring your own device environment where students are bringing in a lot of different ways to access the internet. Since it's not possible to block a student's like personal 3G access for example, students can still use their data even if we're able to block them from getting on the school's internet.

Using a responsible use policy really focuses in on that education, making sure that we are teaching students how to act responsibly whenever and wherever they are as they are using these various digital devices. So really integrating that technology into the schools as we move from acceptable use policies to responsible use policies is something that requires a significant amount of education, so that the student understands that the onus is on them. They are responsible for how they use that media.

I want to focus just really quickly comparing contrasting the two side by sides. So both of them are founded in the elements of SEPA and COOPA, meaning that schools must follow those regulations in order to help protect students. So whether you have a responsible use policy or an acceptable use policy, you need to be following those various regulations.

However, responsible use policies really put the emphasis on teaching about digital citizenship, whereas the acceptable use policies put limitations on accessibility. Both ideally have a strong outcome. You could argue that with acceptable use, you definitely are ensuring that students aren't getting at that content when they are in school. However, if you look over at the responsible use, really teaching them on how to be responsible users ideally will ensure that students are staying away from that harmful material at all places.

Another thing that really ends up making responsible use policies much more beneficial within most learning environments is that in acceptable use policies. We have a lot of challenges when it comes to one to one programs or bring your own device programs, because students take those devices home. And how are we ensuring that students are not accessing those harmful elements through that device at home, other than teaching them?

Whereas with a responsible use policy, it's much more friendly to a one to one situation because you are focusing on teaching the students. There isn't content that is restricted under the acceptable use policy, but rather you are teaching students if they're going to engage with certain potentially harmful sites, positive ways to do that.

Now that you've reached the end of the lesson, you are able to define acceptable use policy and responsible use policy. You have been able to compare and contrast acceptable use as opposed to responsible use. And you've been able to determine which policy meets the needs of the learning environment in most occasions.

Now I would like to take just a moment for reflection. As you look back at the various ways we've compared and contrasted acceptable use policies and responsible use policies, which version do you think would be most applicable and most beneficial in your individual learning environment? Feel free to pause the video for just a moment as you think about your answer to this question.

Now to dive a little deeper and learn how to apply this information, be sure to check out the Additional Resources section associated with this video. This is where you'll find links targeted toward helping you discover more ways to apply this course material.