School Procedures

Using computer hardware, computer software and the Internet at Balwyn High School

The school has adopted an Acceptable Usage Policy to govern the use of information and communication technologies, including the Internet. The policy is set out below.

As part of its commitment to enhancing student learning, the school is committed to the provision and use of appropriate information and communication technologies in all classes.

The ICT policy of the school ensures that all computer hardware and software educational users receive priority and that the maximum number of computers is available for these purposes at all times. In addition, the policy also covers rules for the acceptable use of the Internet for research, communication and collaboration. Students will be assisted to develop the skills needed in order to find and select useful information and to decide on the value of this information.

All students and parent/guardians will be required to sign this Acceptable Usage Agreement. Students who have not done so will not be permitted access to the Internet. Below is a summary of the full policy posted on the Balwyn High School website. Students should read it prior to signing the agreement.

1. All users must log in under their own names and password and correctly log out at the end of each session.
2. Students must not attempt to discover, disclose or use another person’s password nor must they reveal their own password to others.
3. All hardware is to be used for school work only.
4. Students must not tamper with hardware. All faults must be reported to the supervising teacher.
5. Students must not tamper with the system setup or add or remove computer programs without permission.
6. Games are not to be used on any computer.
7. No food or drink is to be consumed or placed near any computer.

1. All users must behave in a proper way when using the Internet. They must be polite when communicating with other people. (Ref. 85 ZE Commonwealth Crimes Act)
2. The Internet is to be used for school work only. Students must not waste Internet time with matters extraneous to school work or send unnecessary email.
3. Apart from their name and school, students must not disclose any information about themselves on the Internet.
4. Students must check the Internet rules of different external groups and always observe these rules.
5. Students must ensure that copyright is not broken when copying or redistributing another’s work. Students must always correctly acknowledge the use of another person’s work.
6. If students read or see something on the Internet which they think is not acceptable, they must tell their teacher immediately.
7. Students must not use the Internet for any commercial purpose such as buying/selling of goods.
8. Students must not access or download inappropriate pornographic or offensive material on the Internet.

Balwyn High School’s policy on the use of computer hardware and software, and use of the Internet, is set down on the preceding page. This policy, called the Acceptable Usage Policy, also sets out the consequences for students who breach the rules for accepted usage.

Any student who does not follow the rules will be reported to the relevant Head of Sub-School, or Year Level Coordinators, who will then contact the parents. A consequence of breaking the rules may include one or more of the penalties listed below, and more than one may apply for a given offence. Serious or repeated offences will result in stronger penalties. The following is a list of possible penalties:

• temporary ban on using computers
• removal of email privileges
• removal of Internet-access privileges
• removal of network access
• paying to replace damaged equipment
• removal from classes where computer use is involved
• loss of marks for an assessment task (where appropriate)
• suspension from school