LOWELL | Greater access to cyberspace and all it offers is a privilege, not a right, Lowell High School students will learn this week.
Jay Blackman, director of technology, told the Tri-Creek Community School Corp. board Tuesday that students will be assigned one of four levels of access on their corporation-provided laptops based on their academics and behavior.
Students will be placed in the second level by default, but will be able to earn expanded access. Take-home privileges will be revoked at the first level.
Students in good standing with no academic or discipline issues can be referred by parents or teachers into the third and fourth levels, which permit access to limited social media including Twitter and Pinterest. Access to email will remain blocked at the third level.
Those at fourth level will have access to email. Access to Facebook will not be granted to students at any level.
John Becker, a Lowell High teacher and member of the advisory committee that developed the online safety education program, said offering the levels of access can serve as an incentive to students.
Jan Richards, Oak Hill Elementary School principal and committee member, said, "We're looking at releasing responsibility to students as they can handle it."
This week and into Christmas break, high school students will be getting a video lesson on digital citizenship. After the break, all students will be in the second level until they complete a preassessment in the first lesson of digital citizenship and a parent signature is received.
Please Wait…