College Information

Rationale [edit]

The school recognises that student instruction and student learning will change as ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and other new technologies alter the ways in which information may be accessed, communicated and transferred.

The school also recognises the importance of electronic communication skills in the development of essential knowledge and skill for members of our society and as future employees and productive members of society.

In responding to these changes the school actively supports access by students to the widest variety of information resources together with the development, by staff, of appropriate skills to analyse and evaluate such resources.

Access to ICT facilities will enable students to explore libraries, databases, web sites and other online communication resources (such as bulletin boards, chat rooms, educational and social networking sites etc.) while exchanging information.

The School believes that the benefits to students from being able to access and retrieve information from these resources and the opportunities this provides for collaboration, exceeds the disadvantages. However, to protect the students in our care and in accordance with our responsibilities to students, parents and staff, access is a privilege and is governed by various policies. These include the ICT Code of Conduct, Student Management Guidelines, the ICT Unacceptable Uses Policy, Mobile Phone and Electronic Equipment Policy, this policy and others published by the school community. Access entails responsibilities; these policies exist to outline such responsibilities.

Generally acceptable use refers to use of ICT and AV resources that are in the pursuit of learning, appropriate community communication and / or for community service purposes.

Policy [edit]

Marcellin College's network, web sites, email and electronic communication and learning systems- hereafter referred to as "mcOnline” - have been implemented with educational imperatives in mind. Activities that are acceptable on mcOnline and on College owned laptops include: 

1. classroom activities and learning activities, 
   
2. career development activities, 
   
3. Marist, educational, school or school community related communication.
   

The Role of Students

Students are responsible for their own good behaviour relating to all uses of mcOnline facilities. They must act in accordance with the "ICT Code of Conduct”. Communications and activities on the information networks provided by the School are subject to the same rules that govern student conduct and standards of communication.

Students are subject to the Student Management Guidelines when using ICT resources (whether accessing or using them from school, home or elsewhere).

Students and families in possession of College owned devices (including but not limited to laptops, cameras, digital cameras, video cameras, projection devices and hand held devices) are guided by the relevant College policies stated in this document and in the case of school owned laptops "The Terms and Conditions for Issue of College Laptops to Students".

The Role of Parents

Parents and guardians are ultimately responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow. The school expects that those standards will be in accordance with school rules and the Student Management Guidelines, the ICT Code of Conduct, the Electronic Equipment Policy, this policy and other school policies.

The Role of Teachers

The School expects that staff will incorporate appropriate use of such information throughout the curriculum and that teachers will provide guidance and instruction to students in the appropriate use of such resources. This will include staff facilitating students accessing information in support of and to enrich the curriculum while taking into account the varied instructional needs, learning styles, abilities and development levels of the students.

School staff are also expected to adhere to the "ICT Code of Conduct” document and other related policies. Teachers are expected to set standards that are in the best interests of learning and responsible use of technology as outlined in the relate policies and documents.

Staff should regularly update and improve their ICT skills as a matter of professional learning and endeavour to utilise electronic learning resources where appropriate. This includes maintaining a balanced approach to use of technology with the philosophy that the Computer is just one of a number of learning tools in the teaching and learning repertoire and therefore its use should be balanced and predicated on sound educational thinking.

The Role of the College

The School undertakes a commitment to implement and uphold the Acceptable Use Policy and to provide appropriate physical and financial resources to enable safe, educationally relevant access to the Internet and other ICT resources for staff and students.

The School undertakes to ensure that information published on the Network/Internet by students or the school under the School's name meets legal requirements and standards of general practice within the community in relation to copyright and safety.

Student Access

The School's network is provided for students to conduct research and communicate with others. Independent access to network services is provided to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner.

The use of online services, made possible by the School through student access to telecommunications networks, may lead to any publicly available information or database in the world. Although the School has in place steps to reduce risks, students may encounter electronic information resources which have not been screened by educators for use by students. Therefore, prior parental or guardian permission is required for students to be able to access the School network. The "ICT Code of Conduct” signed by students clearly outlines appropriate action for students to take in the event of coming across unsuitable material.

All students and a parent or guardian are expected to sign the "ICT Code of Conduct” for access to the school's computer facilities.

Staff Access

All staff are expected to be aware of these polices and to access to the school's computer facilities in accordance of such policies.