GS Virtual Learning uses a group of applications to deliver remote learning to its students. These applications include but are not limited to Whatsapp, Zoom and Google Apps for Education henceforth referred to as e-learning Apps. Your student’s teachers will be using these e-learning Apps for lessons, assignments and communication.
The use of these e-learning Apps is strictly intended for educational use. This permission form describes the responsibilities of GS Virtual Learning, students and parents in using these applications.
These e-learning Apps are available at home, the library, or anywhere with Internet access. School staff will monitor student use of these applications. Parents are responsible for monitoring their child’s use of Apps when accessing programs from home. Students are responsible for their own behaviour at all times. Student safety is our highest priority.
Acceptable Use (Privacy and Safety)
e-learning Apps are primarily for educational use. Students may use e-learning Apps for personal use subject to the restrictions below and additional School rules and policies that may apply.
1. Privacy – School staff, administrators, and parents all have access to student email for monitoring purposes. Students have no expectation of privacy on the e-learning Apps.
2. Limited personal use – Students may use e-learning Apps tools for personal projects but may not use them for:
- Unlawful activities
- Commercial purposes (running a business or trying to make money)
- Personal financial gain (running a web site to sell things)
- Inappropriate sexual or other offensive content
- Threatening another person
- Misrepresentation of GS Virtual Learning, staff or learners.
- Apps, sites, email, and groups are not public forums. They are extensions of classroom spaces where student free speech rights may be limited.
3. Safety
- Students may not post personal contact information about themselves or other people. That includes last names, addresses and phone numbers
- Students agree not to meet with someone they have met online without their parent’s approval and participation.
- Students will tell their parent/guardian or teacher or other School employee about any message they receive that is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable.
- Parents and students are responsible for the use of their individual accounts and should take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to use their account. These accounts should be used under parents supervision and guidance.
- Under no conditions should a user provide his or her password to another person.
4. Access Restriction – Due Process
Access to these e-learning Apps is considered a privilege accorded at the discretion of GS Virtual Learning.
GS Virtual Learning maintains the right to immediately withdraw the access and use of e-learning Apps when there is reason to believe that violations of law or School policies have occurred. In such cases, the alleged violation will be referred to the Rector and Head of School for further investigation and account restoration, suspension, or termination. As a party of the agreement with Google, GS Virtual Learning also reserves the right to immediately suspend any user account suspected of inappropriate use. Pending review, a user account may be terminated as part of such action.
Consumer Safety (Advice for Students and Parents)
- Don’t get scammed. Criminals are good at fooling people. They create fake emails and web pages that look real in a practice called phishing.
- Do not trust links or web pages sent by email. Instead, open a new browser window and type in the address yourself.
- Do not get spammed. Spam is unwanted advertising sent by email. Never reply to spam and never do business with a Company that sends spam. Use the “report spam” button to get rid of spam.
Digital Citizenship (Advice for All)
- Treat others well. It hurts to get a mean email just like it hurts when someone is mean at your School campus. When using email or making a post on a forum or web page, be kind. Everyone will see what you write so think before you type. Be careful with what you say about others and yourself.
- Respect the rights of copyright owners. Copyright infringement occurs when an individual reproduces a work that is protected by copyright law without permission where such permission is required. If a document contains language that specifies acceptable use of that document, the user should follow the expressed requirements. If the user is unsure whether or not they can use the document, they should request permission from the copyright owner.