HomeMy WebLinkAboutP 100 IT - Appropriate Use of Technology • l
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OTTAWA-CAPLETON
DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
POLICY P 100 IT
TITLE: APPROPRIATE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Date Authorized: 21 November 2001
Last Revised: 29 October 2025
Last Reviewed: 24 June 2024
COMMITMENT TO INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND EQUITY
The Board recognizes its responsibility to ensure that this policy and associated procedures promote
and protect Indigenous rights, human rights, and equity. The Board will strive to address and
eliminate racism and structural and systemic barriers for students, staff, and the community.
1.0 RATIONALE
To govern the appropriate use of information technology in the OCDSB Community.
2.0 DEFINITIONS
Please refer to Appendix A for a list of definitions of terms used in this policy.
3.0 GUIDING PRINCIPLES
3.1 The Board recognizes that the responsible use of Information Technology can:
a) support learning;
b) advance human rights, equity, and inclusion;
c) promote staff and student development and well-being;
d) support communication with OCDSB Community members; and
e) advance other core administrative and operational functions of the District.
3.2 The District supports and encourages the responsible use of Information Technology
through the following nine principles of Digital Citizenship:
a) Digital Access: Equity of access is essential to the effective use of
technology in the OCDSB Environment.
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b) Digital Commerce: Technology provides opportunities for Users to be fair and
informed participants in commercial pursuits. Appropriate tools and
safeguards should be used to facilitate any financial transactions in the
digital space.
c) Digital Communication: When engaging in digital communication, Users
should consider the appropriateness of their chosen content and medium for a
professional and/or educational setting.
d) Digital Fluency: Users who are digitally fluent are able to effectively and
ethically interpret information, discover meaning, design content, construct
knowledge, and communicate ideas in a digitally connected world.
e) Digital Etiquette: Users should be aware of how their technology use affects
others, and be conscientious of time, method, and context when engaging
with technology.
f) Digital Law: Users are accountable for their own digital conduct, and must
engage with technology in a legal, ethical, and respectful manner.
g) Digital Rights and Responsibilities: All Users are afforded the same rights in
a digital environment. Being provided with opportunities also means
demonstrating ethical behaviour online and reporting potential problems.
h) Digital Health and Well-being_ Long-term technology use can have physical
and psychological impacts which should guide the frequency and duration of
use.
i) Digital Security and Privacy: All users should understand how to safeguard
sensitive or personal information while online for the protection of
themselves and others.
3.3 The Board believes a positive and healthy digital work and learning space is
supported by User adherence to this policy and the accompanying procedures.
4.0 SPECIFIC DIRECTIVES
Scope and Application
4.1 This policy applies to all Users while in the OCDSB Environment. Personal use of
Information Technology is permitted as a privilege subject to the expectations of this
policy.
4.2 All use of Information Technology shall support student learning and well-being and
employee professional duties and development in compliance with all federal and
provincial laws and regulations.
Responsibilities
4.3 All Users are responsible for:
a) ensuring that Information Technology is used in accordance with
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Board policies and procedures;
b) using Information Technology in a responsible and ethical manner
consistent with the purposes for which it is provided; and
c) reporting any and all potential security incidents and privacy breaches
to the appropriate District staff.
4.4 Users who are Supervisors are responsible for supporting, instructing, and modeling
the appropriate use of Information Technology, including the application of strategies
to minimize expectations for the use of Information Technology outside of work hours.
4.5 Users who are Educators are responsible for supervising student use of Information
Technology and guiding and preparing students to make appropriate choices when
online.
4.6 All Users who are not employees of the District, including
parents/guardians/caregivers, who apply for access to any of the District's Information
Technology and services are responsible for:
a) agreeing in writing to abide by this policy and accompanying District
procedures before access is granted.
Equitable Access to Technology to Support Learning
4.7 The District shall make every reasonable effort to provide students with equitable
access to any Information Technology needed in order to fully access:
a) the curriculum;
b) any learning activities outside the instructional day; and/or
c) remote learning.
Safe Digital Spaces
4.8 The District shall take active measures to ensure Supervisors and educators are
aware of the unique potential for bias in technology and to ensure digital materials
support culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy.
4.9 Users shall create, promote, and/or engage in digital spaces that are healthy,
respectful, and free from hate speech/imagery, racism, oppression, or cultural
appropriation, and are authentic spaces for all communities.
4.10 All members of the OCDSB Community shall refrain from recording, taking, or sharing
non-consensual recordings or photos of other members of the OCDSB community.
This section does not apply to photographs or recordings of the public portions of
Board meetings or the public portions of governance committee meetings.
4.11 The District shall restrict access to social media platforms on school networks and
devices and may identify circumstances where students may use social media for
educational purposes.
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Access to Technology
4.12 The District maintains the right to monitor the use of technology to ensure the
efficient, ethical, and legal use of Information Technology.
4.13 The use of Information Technology is for business purposes and is subject to rules
established in this policy. The District may access accounts and information for any of
the following legitimate purposes, which may include:
a) collecting data to assist in the effective operation and monitoring of
technology;
b) performing system maintenance and repair;
c) investigating system misuse;
d) proactively monitoring and auditing for System misuse;
e) complying with a legal obligation;
f) supporting work continuity; and
g) conducting research.
Individuals accessing Information Technology for personal use should be aware of the
provisions of this policy and have no expectation of privacy.
4.14 The District reserves the right to restrict access to:
a) the use of Personal Mobile Devices during instructional time; and
b) Information Technology and tol moderate content, in accordance with
appropriate authorization, where the User has been non-compliant with the
provisions of this policy and/or the security, privacy, or reputation of the District
staff or students is at risk.
Restrictions on the Use of Personal Mobile Devices
4.15 The use of Personal Mobile Devices at school is restricted in accordance with the
following minimum standards:
a) For grades 6 and below, the use of students' Personal Mobile Devices is
prohibited throughout the instructional day, except when their use is explicitly
permitted by the educator; and/or
b) For grades 7 to 12, the use of students' Personal Mobile Devices is prohibited
during instructional time, except when their use is explicitly permitted by the
educator.
4.16 Exceptions to restrictions on the use of Personal Mobile Devices must include the
following:
a) for educational purposes, as directed by an Educator;
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b) for health and medical purposes;
c) to support special education needs; and
d) as an Accommodation to prevent Discrimination on a Protected Ground.
4.17 The principal, in consultation with the school community, shall establish practices for
the use of Personal Mobile Devices at school based on the requirements above.
Managing Content
4.18 The content of all District websites and social media platforms shall be developed in
accordance with the support and guidance of the Communications Department.
4.19 Users are responsible for their conduct and communication on Social Media and
online platforms.
4.20 The District is not responsible or liable for external comments and/or content posted
on its Social Media accounts.
Accountability
4.21 Where there is reason to believe that technology has been used in the District's
working or learning environment in a manner that contravenes this or any District
policy or procedure, or provincial or federal law, the use will result in an investigation
and necessary action will be taken where appropriate and in accordance with relevant
district policies, procedures, codes of conduct and/or employment contracts.
4.22 Information stored on Personal Mobile Devices is the responsibility of the device
owner/user. However, Personal Mobile Devices used on District property for
displaying, storing, sending, or creating fraudulent, harassing, sexually explicit,
profane, obscene, intimidating, defamatory, racist, hateful, or other potentially
unlawful materials may result in investigation and/or disciplinary action including
police involvement where required.
4.23 The Director of Education is authorized to issue such procedures as may be necessary
to implement this policy.
5.0 APPENDICES
Appendix A: Policy Definitions
6.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
The Education Act, as amended, Section 170
Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act(MFIPPA)
Criminal Code
Ministry of Education Policy/Program Memoranda (PPM) 128
Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19
Cod ririaht Act
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Trademarks Act
OCDSB Indigenous, Equity, and Human Rights Roadmap
OCDSB Policy P 074 IT - Information Technology Security
OCDSB Policy P 096 SES - Special Education Programs And Services
OCDSB Policy P 098 CUR - Equity And Inclusive Education
OCDSB Policy P 125 SCO - School District Code Of Conduct
OCDSB Procedure PR 618 CUR - Antiracism And Ethnocultural Equity
OCDSB Procedure PR 672 IT - Electronic Communication
Systems
OCDSB Procedure PR 564 IT - Information Technology Security
OCDSB Procedure PR 702 IT - Appropriate Use Of Technology (Staff)
OCDSB Procedure PR 622 IT - Appropriate Use of Technology (Students)
OCDSB Procedure PR 708 IT - Social Media
OCDSB Procedure PR 685 IT - District Issued Mobile Devices
OCDSB Procedure PR 587 SES - Student Specialized Equipment Purchased With Ministry
SSQecial Equipment Amount (SEA) Funding
Policy/Program Memorandum 128 - The provincial code of conduct and school board codes of
conduct
Ontario College Of Teachers, Professional Advisory: Use Of Electronic Communication And
Social Media (2017)
College of Early Childhood Educators, Practice Note: Using Social Media (2019)
College of Psychologists of Ontario, Social Media Terms of Use
ISTE's 5 Competencies for Digital Citizenship
The ISTE Standards
M. Ribble, "Digital Citizenship: Using Technology Appropriately"
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APPENDIX A: POLICY DEFINITIONS
In this policy,
Board means the Board of Trustees.
Digital Assets means any form of information received, created, or gathered on behalf of the
OCDSB in the course of District business.
Digital Citizenship means the norms of appropriate and responsible behaviour with regard to the
use of Information Technology.
District means Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
Information Technology means a computer, phone, tablet, printer, photocopier, hard drive, or other
device, software, or network owned or operated by the District that stores, transmits, or provides
access to information, including personal or sensitive information.
OCDSB Community means employees, students, parents, guardians, trustees, committee
members, school council members, caregivers, permit holders, vendors, service providers,
contractors, volunteers, visitors, and all other persons learning, working, or accessing services in
the OCDSB environment.
OCDSB Environment means school board property, events and activities whether in-person or
online including schools, offices, school buses, childcare and extended day programs, work or
school authorized events or activities, social media or online activity or other circumstances that
may have an impact on the school or work climate.
Personal Mobile Device means any personal electronic device that can be used to communicate or
to access the Internet, such as a cellphone, tablet, laptop, or smartwatch.
Social Media means websites and/or applications that enable Users to create and share content
and/or to participate in social networking.
Supervisor means superintendents, principals, vice-principals, and managers.
User means any member of the OCDSB Community using personal or District Information
Technology within the OCDSB Environment.
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