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Section 1: Teaching, Learning and Assessing ICT

Safeguards

Well-reported instances of abuse of media such as the internet, telephone, video and photography in terms of paedophilia, pornography and sales exploitation raise serious questions of personal safety on the part of children and schools in the use and development of ICT. This has, quite properly, become an aspect of major public concern. It would be easy for schools to react simply by prohibiting access by young people

... protective systems including the filtering of internet access, have evolved to prevent young people from accessing inappropriate material.
to the internet and other ICT tools, but the natural curiosity of young people to explore is a feature of life. Young people will try to find ways of beating any system put in place that attempts to give them a degree of protection. The positive benefits of ICT are plain, and protective systems including the filtering of internet access have evolved to prevent young people from accessing inappropriate material. These

systems are becoming more sophisticated and robust and it is incumbent upon schools and education authorities to put suitable screening procedures in place.

The Scottish Executive 1999 publication Click Thinking (www.scotland.gov.uk/clickthinking/) explores the issue of safe internet access in depth including topics such as:

  • risk assessment
  • the context of the internet
  • publishing on the internet
  • e-mail and newsgroups
  • chatrooms.

    Click Thinking gives references to a range of other publications and websites that will be of interest to teachers and parents. Advice on general strategy is also offered and schools should consult that source in developing ICT policy and to ensure that personal safety programmes for pupils covers this important area.

    Pupils' safety is paramount but it is also important for staff to feel similarly protected and supported. Aberdeen City Council has produced a booklet for heads of establishments entitled ICT and the Law. This booklet can be accessed online here and is recommended to schools nationally. The booklet is intended for general guidance only and is not a comprehensive statement of the law on these matters. However, very useful advice is given on important areas, such as:
  • copyright protection - software licences and plagiarism
  • child protection - supervision, internet, parents and health & safety
  • protecting confidentiality - secure practices, networks and stand-alone computers and viruses
  • acceptable use policies for senior and junior schools and further information.

    Schools will be aware that the legal position changes and local authorities will keep them informed of any legal steps that they require of staff in schools. Managers for their part need to demonstrate that they have exercised 'all due diligence' to prevent any offence being committed - information sources such as those described help in the exercise of this duty.

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