The International School of Panama

Technology Code of Conduct
(February 2, 2002)

 

The International School of Panama actively promotes the appropriate use of technology in education.  We recognize the importance of using information technology in today’s world. Students need the skills to use IT not only in their schoolwork but also in their personal lives. Information technology is a tool and an element of a broad spectrum of learning. As parents and educators we must equip our students to use that tool and be able to integrate it with other essentials such as critical thinking, lucid writing, numeracy, and citizenship. Essential to the use of technology is the acquisition of wisdom and the ethical responsibility a student needs to effectively use this unlimited resource. As well, every student must have access to information technology as an adjunct to excellent instruction.

To ensure that students, staff, parents, and other community members can take full advantage of the technologies available at ISP; all users of technology must have proper authorization and adhere to the school's Technology Code of Conduct. 

 

To access and use technology at ISP each user, and parents of student users, must abide by the following rules:

 

  1. All use of technology must be in support of and consistent with the educational purposes of the International School of Panama.  It is the user's responsibility to keep all inappropriate materials or files, or files and software dangerous to the integrity of the system away from the school's technology.
     
  2. The school expects that users will not access inappropriate materials when using the school’s equipment. Users agree that they will not send or knowingly receive pornographic materials or access pornographic sites.  ISP users agree that they will not send or solicit hate mail.  Users will not attempt unauthorized access (hacking) into files, programs, or network sites.  Rare exceptions to access some inappropriate sites may be made by high school students for research purposes if a student receives the express written permission of his or her teacher, his or her parent or guardian and the principal.
     
  3. Individuals are responsible for adhering to the laws for copyrighted materials under Panamanian and international guidelines.  Users accept responsibility for personal software when used on school premises.  Such software must be appropriate for school use and conform to school policies and procedures.
     
  4. Each user agrees to respect another individual's work, files, and programs.   The modification or destruction of another persons work, files and/or programs is a serious offense.
     
  5. Users will not intentionally seek password information, modify passwords, obtain copies of files or view files belonging to another person without their express permission. Users agree not to misrepresent themselves or log into programs or networked sites as another person when using the school's technology.
     
  6. It is the user's responsibility to obtain proper authorization prior to the addition, removal, or relocation of any equipment or software.
     
  7. It is the user's responsibility to make sure no equipment or software is destroyed, modified, or abused in any way.  Users must ensure that all food and drink are kept away from the equipment.
     
  8. The consequences for failure to adhere to the technology code of conduct will result in restriction or complete loss of access to any and all forms of technology at ISP.  Other disciplinary measures deemed appropriate by the school administration may also be applied.

To safeguard our large investment in computer hardware, no food or drinks are allowed in computer labs or near any equipment.