Educational Context. The Open Universiteit (Netherlands) as well as the Cologne University of Applied Sciences (Germany) offer courses in the field of computer networks and cybersecurity. While the Open Universiteit is a university for distance education, the Cologne University of Applied Sciences is a traditional on-campus university. Both universities offer practical courses in networking and cybersecurity, but the setting is mostly different.
Educational Context. However, the use of Social Media by students, of any age, in an educational context is acceptable. In fact, the innovative use of new technologies by students in the classroom, such as social media, is to be encouraged provided certain safeguards are taken. When creating, configuring and using an online social media site with students in an educational context, the organising or “moderating” staff will have made those students aware of the setup settings, in particular the privacy settings. Any attempt by students, either as individuals or as a group, either in school or at home, to circumnavigate or amend or adjust these configurations will be considered a disciplinary matter. Any pupil using any social media site must: • act responsibly at all times when on the site • be responsible for any content they add or upload • inform at once the “moderator” of any inappropriate content found • inform at once the “moderator” if they are contacted by someone they do not know • inform at once the “moderator” if they are suspicious about something Any pupil using any social media site must not: • Bring the school into disrepute • Breach confidentiality • Breach copyrights of any kind • Upload inappropriate material or content that refers to the school or any school staff • Bully, harass or be discriminatory in any way • Be defamatory or derogatory Use of Social Media by Students Out of School Reading School appreciates that students will make use of social media in a personal capacity. However, they must be aware that if they are recognised from their profile as being associated with the school then certain opinions expressed, content added or linked to, or images or movie clips uploaded could be considered as damaging the reputation of the school and may be considered a disciplinary matter. Content added or uploaded in a personal capacity should follow the Reading School policy guidelines and not bring the school into disrepute, breach confidentiality, breach copyrights or bully, harass or discriminate in any way. General Considerations (both in and out of School) When using social media websites, in either a school based activity or in a personal capacity, students: • Must never share log-in details or passwords, even with friends or siblings • Should keep personal phone numbers private • Should not give out their personal email addresses to any one they do not know • Should restrict access on their personal social media sites and pages to groups of people they kn...
