Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 24, 1995 TAG: 9508250027
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-28 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JONATHAN HUNLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That's why the Roanoke schools try to be pro-active instead of reactive with computer-use policies, said David Baker, the system's director of instructional technology and information service.
"As technology improves, our ability to monitor it improves as well," Baker said.
Even with the myriad of potential problems, Baker said 97 percent of these cases don't reach his office. They are minor and handled at the specific educational site.
Usually, if a violation is reported, an official on the scene will use the general guidelines spelled out in the school system's "Strategic Long-Range Technology Plan" to determine punishment. The school administration has no set policy that determines specific repercussions for specific acts.
Penalties depend on the severity of the situation and range from a "mild slap on the hand" to suspensions, expulsions and maybe criminal charges, Baker said.
These rules don't apply just to students.
"If we're going to hold the students accountable, we have to hold the faculty and staff accountable, too," Baker said.
A majority of the situations dealt with thus far have involved people who cause problems unintentionally.
He said he doesn't know of any times when students have deliberately shutdown computer networks. Many who copy software, he said, probably don't see the act as being "illegal or not kosher."
Joe Do, who works with Baker during the summer as an office specialist, said misuse of computer access can occur in several ways. Do, a sophomore computer engineering major at Virginia Tech, listed a few:
Copying software that isn't meant to be duplicated.
Playing computer games when they shouldn't.
Bypassing installed security programs.
Intentionally bringing viruses to school on floppy disks.
Tampering with others' computer network accounts.
Downloading pornographic pictures and other inappropriate data from the Internet. Do said students can even access information on how to make a bomb if they're crafty enough.
Visiting noneducational sites on the Internet, including restricted military zones.
Intentionally breaking or manipulating computer hardware such as removing the roller balls out of computer mouses so they won't move the cursor on the screen, switching keys on keyboards, erasing disks with magnets or unplugging network connections to printers.
Shutting down an entire computer network.
"There are a handful of students who are capable of that," Do said.
The school system tries to combat these scenarios before they happen with security programs and the education of students, teachers and parents about what is appropriate, Baker said.
Some students even police their peers.
"They'll say, 'You really shouldn't do that''' to other students, Baker said.
Despite the chance of student misbehavior, Baker is optimistic about the effects of computers in classrooms. Computers put the responsibility of learning back into the hands of students, "which is where it was originally," he said.
Jane James, the associate director of instructional technology for Roanoke County schools, said her system has not had any major problems with computers, either.
"I can't think of anything serious," she said.
No computer has been intentionally damaged by a student in the county schools, she said. And although they have no use policies now, she recognizes the need for them when their Internet use increases.
Joe Kirby, the director of instruction for Salem schools, said his system has a computer policy in place that will take it through the year 2001. He doesn't know of any major problems, however.
One measure they've used to cut down on misuse has been to place teacher work stations at the back of classrooms. This allows teachers to view the computer screens of all their students, he said.
H.W. Scott, technology coordinator for Botetourt County schools, said he doesn't know of any major misuse in classrooms there, either. The administration has no specific computer use policy.
by CNB