Technology Policies

Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) Policy

Rationale

The ubiquitous and diverse technologies at SCAS promote the development of 21st Century skills and engaged learning. Schooling must match technological advancements and help prepare students for the modern networked workforce and world. SCAS utilises a BYOT policy to enhance and support learning. 

Please note that the SCAS cannot accept responsibility for the loss, damage or theft of any personal property belonging to staff or students.

Policy

• “Technology” includes but is not limited to tablets, laptops, mobile devices, storage devices and software.

• Teachers direct student usage of technology during school hours. This includes before and after school and break times. Teachers may confiscate devices if they are concerned about inappropriate use.

• Charging of devices at school is not allowed. Students must ensure devices are prepared with full charge before arriving at school.   

• Students must only use the secure SCAS Wi-Fi network to connect to the internet while at school. Personal 4G and 5G connections are prohibited, as are VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) and internet browsers designed to bypass school internet filtering.

• While at school, student activity on the school network and internet may be monitored. Any student activity in the SCAS Google Education Suite can be monitored and reviewed.  This includes emails or communications that are sent while students are connected to other networks. The use of imessage or chat apps is permitted within a supervised class activity. 

• Students must only use their own passwords to connect to any system or resource.

• Teachers and IT Staff may collect and audit any student technologies when needed.

• Laptops should have installed anti-virus software that will protect personal devices and the SCAS networks and their connected devices.

• Devices may not be used for gaming while at school.

• No personal technology devices are to be used in the school playground (before and after school, including lunch breaks) unless supervised by a teacher. Students wishing to use devices during these times should attend the library or inform a staff member to seek permission. 

• Students are not permitted to use mobile phones for calls or messages from when they arrive on campus until 3.20pm, when they may make travel arrangements.  Students wishing to make calls should attend the relevant student administration office.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Policy

Legal and Ethical Responsibilities

Students need to know that it is unlawful to use mobile phones or electronic devices to:

• Threaten others or incite violence;

• Take pictures or video footage of other students without their permission;

• Post pictures of other students on websites or social networking sites without the formal, written consent of the parents of such students;

• Bully or harass other students.

In addition:

• No mobile phones, cameras or video equipment are ever to be used in toilets or change rooms. Breach of this directive will result in the item being confiscated and permanently banned from being brought into the SCAS grounds.

• Students’ access to and use of, mobile devices during camps, retreats, excursions and overseas trips will be advised by the teacher in charge.

• Parents seeking to send a message to their child must do so via the Front Office. Even in emergency cases, SCAS needs to ensure that students are under the care and supervision of suitably qualified staff and have up to date information on all students at all times during school hours. If students need to contact parents during the day, they are to go to the relevant administration office after seeking permission from their Head of School or classroom teacher.

• No abusive emails, pictures or information are sent or received by staff and students. 

• Abusive, threatening or hurtful emails, posts, messages, pictures or behaviours will not be tolerated and will result in immediate corrective action. The police will be notified at the Principal’s discretion.

• Disrupting others’ learning or damaging others’ property will result in restorative justice whereby the perpetrator will bear the cost of replacing the property and repairing the damage

• The sending of any messages without clearly identifying the sender’s details is in breach of this ICT policy and will result in the immediate suspension of ICT privileges and access.

Uphold Laws regarding Copyright and Intellectual Property

• It is illegal to copy any software, graphics, text, games or music that may contravene copyright laws.

• Copying files, passwords or work belonging to another person may be deemed plagiarism and/or theft.

• Never bring ‘pirate’ copies of films, games or other multimedia to school or share them with friends using school equipment or resources.

• All files and materials created using SCAS equipment and resources are deemed to be the property of the SCAS. 

Safeguard Security Data and Information

• Never reveal your password to another person. Change your password regularly and be aware of others watching you enter your password to log-on.

• If you share your password with others and they use it inappropriately you will be held responsible.

• Respect all security provisions on the computer network.

• Do not share personal information or inappropriate materials with others via the SCAS network.

• Remember that all electronic information sharing cannot be guaranteed to be private. The EdTech team and/or Principal at SCAS may review, delete or recover files (including emails) at any time. Students can also expect teachers to have access to read student files in particular instances.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Technology Policy for Students

At St Columba Anglican School, generative AI tools are used to support and enhance teaching and learning. Students are supported to use generative AI tools ethically in both their classwork and assessment tasks. Learning designed for students, including assessment tasks, clearly outlines how generative AI tools should or should not be used. In all contexts, students must provide an acknowledgement of any generative AI used as a part of their assessment task and not claim work generated by any AI tool to be entirely their own creation. This acknowledgement should declare which tools were used and provide a list of all prompts that were entered to generate any information for the task. When using image generating AI, students are required to provide the output images generated and any reference images entered into the tool. Students are also required to make specific references to AI generated work when used throughout their task, as they would when citing other information sources.