TECHNOLOGY

The mission of the Rocky Hill School Technology Department is to help create a rich learning environment by encouraging and facilitating technology fluency among its student body and its faculty. Technology complements our traditional learning processes with an approach that is more relevant to the world in the 21st century. By authentically integrating computers, computer applications and other technological tools into a Rocky Hill student's academic program, we expect to graduate young men and women who are active learners - they love learning, know how to learn and adapt easily, and can construct their own knowledge from the information they discover.

The creation of an appropriate technology-enriched learning and teaching environment has been a goal of Rocky Hill School since the mid-1990s. We have two academic computer labs – a mixed PC and Macintosh lab in Hale (the Middle School building) and a Macintosh lab in Perkins (the Lower School building) – along with scanners, printers, digital cameras, projection units, and Internet access. The school has equipped the faculty with laptops, allowing teachers to direct students toward more productive and creative use of their own, as well as the school's, technology resources. In the Upper School, all students are required to have laptops, an initiative that underscores our belief in technology as a critical learning and teaching assistant.

“Information technology” cuts across all disciplines. In their academic classes, students in the three divisions are constantly challenged to access, analyze, and evaluate data, to solve problems, to communicate effectively and to collaborate. As capable and creative technology users, they become more confident learners, using the powerful new tools available to them along with traditional approaches to create a dynamic learning environment.

One such tool is the Rocky Hill School Blackboard Learning System (http://bb.rockyhill.org). Lower, Middle and Upper School teachers use Blackboard, a powerful web-based academic resource center, to post class syllabi, course documents, and assignments and to facilitate communication between and among teachers and students, both in and out of class. E-mail, as part of Blackboard and for more general communication, is used with increasing frequency and should represent the exchange of appropriate information. A good “rule of thumb” is not to send anything in an e-mail that you would not be able to say face-to-face.

All students in grades 6-12 have Internet access, Blackboard accounts, and network accounts for file storage. Use of these accounts must support of the school's educational program; student network folders should be used to store school-related documents only. During class, students will not use computers or the network in any way that interferes with the teaching and learning process (e.g. e-mail, instant messaging, random surfing of the Internet, on-line games). The Rocky Hill School Acceptable Use Policy outlines expectations, and each student, as well as his/her parents, will be asked to agree in writing to the guidelines specified. An excerpt follows:

ROCKY HILL SCHOOL ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY, 2007-2008

The Rocky Hill School computer network, with its related hardware, software and Internet connectivity, is an enormously powerful medium and as such we expect all users to act respectfully and responsibly and to follow the guidelines set forth in the school's Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). This policy defines what constitutes permissible behavior when a student uses any technology at school. We believe it reinforces the school's mission to promote a school-wide commitment to integrity and to encourage the development of the whole child “in the pursuit of knowledge and self-awareness.” Our commitment to ensuring a safe, respectful and appropriate environment is paramount in our program for your child(ren).

Even though most returning RHS families read and signed the agreement last year, it is critical for both students and parents to review the AUP each year and to renew their pledge to abide by its guidelines. In order to use technology and/or receive a network and Blackboard account, students are asked to sign the policy, along with their parents or guardians, after they have read and discussed it together. Please return the signed agreement to school before the beginning of classes but be sure to keep the policy for future reference.

If you have any questions about technology at Rocky Hill School or the Acceptable Use Policy, please contact your division head or Mrs. Streuli. We hope you will join us in supporting the standards that we believe children should follow when using information technology.

Rights and Responsibilities

Access to and use of technology at Rocky Hill School is a privilege; it brings its own responsibilities and risks:

Every user is expected to act with respect and integrity in his/her dealings with others inside and outside of this community.
Every user has the right to expect privacy in his/her network activities and, to the greatest extent possible, protection from harassment and/or unwanted contact by other members of the community.
Every user has the responsibility to respect and protect the rights of every other user, and to conduct himself/herself in a way that is not hurtful to others or their property.
These expectations form the heart of the following acceptable use guidelines that are intended for all users. They provide the basis for good decision-making with regard to each individual's use of information technology.

Acceptable Use Guidelines

At Rocky Hill School , we use a variety of technologies to support learning and to enhance instruction. Students, faculty, and staff are expected to use these resources, shared by the entire community, in a responsible, ethical and legal manner. Use should be for educational or research purposes and consistent with the educational philosophy of the school.
Adherence to these guidelines is not an option; it is an expectation.
I agree to respect the privacy of others. I will not read, delete, erase or modify another's files.
I agree to work only in the accounts (network and Blackboard) assigned to me and to take responsibility for all activity in said account. I agree that all work posted or submitted under my name is the product of my own efforts. I will use my real name in all activities associated with these resources.
I agree not to post, distribute, or use without permission or proper credit material that was created by someone else. I understand that plagiarism will not be tolerated.
I agree not to reveal personal information about myself on the Internet.
I agree not to use profanity or obscenity and will avoid insulting and inflammatory speech in written communication over the school network.
I agree not to use email or the Internet to threaten, tease and/or humiliate other members of the Rocky Hill School community.
I agree not to use the computer in a way that is disruptive to a class, to other students or to faculty.
I agree not to degrade or disrupt the school network and associated technology or interfere with its operation; this includes the intentional importation or creation of computer viruses, efforts to bypass security systems and/or to gain access to confidential or secure information, and attempts to change the configuration of any installed software or hardware.
I agree not to access, download or distribute inappropriate, vulgar, offensive or illegal material.
I agree not to create, print, or distribute material that is inappropriate, malicious, or wasteful.
I agree not to use the network for any illegal activities or for financial or commercial gain.
I will respect all copyright laws (questions about copyright law should be directed to the Technology Department). I agree not to download copyrighted files. I agree not to install “pirated” software on the school system.
To keep the system safe and accessible for everyone, I agree to notify a faculty member if I observe or have knowledge of violations of these guidelines.

For Lower School students, a “Technology Code of Conduct” is posted in the Perkins Computer Lab. A copy of the code is available in the Lower School Supplement of the handbook.

The Hale Computer Lab is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 3:30 pm; the Perkins Computer Lab is open from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm and is used exclusively by Lower School students except in special situations. During the school day, Middle School students may work in the Hale Lab. Signed passes are required for everyone. The guidelines specified in the Acceptable Use Policy are in effect at all times.

TIPS FOR SAFE COMPUTING

Life without a personal computer has almost become unimaginable, and with this increasing reliance on computers comes a greater degree of risk in the way your data is stored and handled. Computer hacking, malicious software, spyware and viruses are only a few of the ways your computer and the data on it can be corrupted, compromised, and/or stolen.

Here are some basic practices you should consider adopting to protect you, your computer and your data – regardless of the type of computer you own or the operating system and software you use.

1. Choose passwords that are unique and difficult to figure out. Try misspelled words, a mixture of letters and numbers, or even some special characters. Do not share your password with anyone and do not write it down; the only secure place for it is in your head. Changing passwords often, while not always practical, does give you another layer of security.

2. Do not open any unexpected e-mail attachments. If you receive one from someone you know, before you open it, contact the person to be sure that he/she actually sent it.

3. Be wary of e-mail that requests personal information or directs you to go to a web site where you will be asked to provide some sort of account information. Most companies will not send you this kind of e-mail. Always contact the company's customer service line to validate the e-mail.

4. Make sure your anti-virus definitions are current. Update them at least weekly; daily is even better. Your anti-virus program should allow you to configure automatic updates so it will happen without you even knowing it.

5. Keep current on critical updates for your operating system.

6. Don't blindly click “OK” on pop ups that appear when you are surfing the Internet. More often than not these will install unnecessary and unwanted software (“Spyware”) on your computer. This software may also slow down your computer's performance. Some examples include Hotbar, Webshots, Comet Cursor, Alexa, Gator, Save Now, and Bonzi Buddy.

7. If you store important data on your computer, make sure that you back it up frequently. Burn the data onto a CD, use one of the new USB Flash Drives, or save it to a network file server.

8. Never leave your computer unattended or unprotected. Use a screen lock or simply log out and/or shut down.

9. File-swapping and downloading continue to be very popular; however, if you cannot be entirely sure of who or what is at the other end and whether or not you can trust the files you are getting from them, then don't do it. Be on the lookout for “mystery” files, ones that you don't recognize and/or recall downloading. They may indicate that someone has gained access to your computer. Be very careful what you put on your computer!

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