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A. Mission Statement |
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The computer network environment supported by the Hamilton/Clermont
Cooperative Association is designed to enhance the learning and teaching
of the participating Boards of Education located in the Greater
Cincinnati area. The term "network" in this document refers to a number
of computers and other electronic tools that are connected to each other
for the purpose of communication and data sharing. HCCA is a State
Department of Education and use of the network is provided to allow
access to the Internet and other network connections as powerful
educational resources for administrators, educators and students. |
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1. Purpose of the Internet |
| The Internet (a
global network made up of many smaller contributing networks) and its
services are intended to support open research and education in and
among US research and instructional institutions, plus research arms of
for-profit firms when engaged in open scholarly personal business, s not
applicable. |
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2. Purpose of the HCCA Network |
| The purpose of the
HCCA Network is to facilitate communications and collaboration between
members of the HCCA community. Network use is primarily intended for
the support of project work conducted for the participating members
which students and teachers determine to be of educational value. The
HCCA Network has limited resources, and HCCA classrooms have limited
time available for network-supported teaching and learning activities.
Any use of the network which adversely affects its operation in pursuit
of teaching and learning or jeopardizes its use or performance for other
community members is prohibited, and may result in the loss of network
privileges. |
| B. Services Available on the
HCCA Network |
| The HCCA consists of
a variety of computing equipment, software and network connections.
This section describes the primary tolls and services approved for use
in the HCCA network. Other tools may be used but may not be supported
by the system administrators: |
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1. General-Use Internet Tools |
| These include, but
are not limited to, the following: |
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a) Electronic Mail |
| E-mail is like postal
mail, except it is delivered electronically. E-mail correspondence is
considered private. |
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b) Listservs |
| A listserv is a means
to broadcast an e-mail message to many users for the purpose of
maintaining a discussion list. Although listserv messages are
transmitted via e-mail, correspondence is public, so extra care should
be used when participating. |
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c) File Transfer Protocol |
| File transfer
Protocol is a means of moving tiles between to computers over the
internet. |
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d) Telnet |
| Telnet allows you to
connect to other computers on the internet, provided you know the
machine's internet address and appropriate password. All provisions of
this document apply to members of the HCCA community while using remote
computers via Telnet. |
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e) Gopher |
| Gopher is a means of
navigating the internet via a menu-driven or point-and-click
intervenient way to retrieve files and information from the sources all
around the globe. For more purposes, it may be considered and easier
form of FTP. |
| C. Who is a member of the
HCCA community? |
| All account holders
on the HCCA Network will be granted access to all services the network
offers with the pre-requisite of training as specified and documented
for each tool. The following people may hold accounts on the HCCA
Network: |
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1. Coordinators |
| Coordinators of
internet access for students will automatically be granted an account
and limited privileges for creation special accounts. Coordinators will
be authorized as trainers as specified for access to various internet
tools and are also subject to agreement to the terms stated in HCCA
policy. |
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2. Teachers |
| Teachers of HCCA
institutions may hold accounts on the HCCA Network. Other teachers,
within the geographic area may apply for accounts. Coordinators will be
authorized as trainers as specified for access to various internet tools
and are also subject to agreement to the terms stated in HCCA policy. |
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3. Students |
| Students who are
currently participating in Phase One of the HCCA training and mentoring
program will automatically be granted a network account upon training as
specified and agreement to the terms stated in the HCCA policy. |
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4. Mentors |
| Mentors who wish to
collaborate on student projects may be granted HCCA Network accounts.
The exact nature of the account (i.e., which services are available)
will depend on the individual circumstances and be subject to training
and agreement to the terms stated in the HCCA policy. |
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5. Administrators |
| Administrators within
the structure of the HCCA network will be granted HCCA Network accounts
subject to training and agreement to the terms stated in the HCCA
policy. |
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6. Others |
| Anyone who is
actively involved in the formal education of students within the
specified geographic area may request a special account on the HCCA
network. These requests will be granted on a case-by-case basis,
depending on need and resource availability. |
| NOTE: Except in
special cases list above, people from the larger internet community are
not part of the local HCCA community, and will probably be unaware of
the existence of this policy. However, the HCCA user is expected to
always treat people 'met' on the network with respect, as they were a
part of the HCCA community. |
| D. Privileges and Rights of
HCCA Network Community Members |
| Members of the HCCA
community have certain network privileges and rights. These include: |
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1. Privacy |
| All members of the
HCCA community have the right to privacy in their email, and listserv
communications when so designed by the user. However, if a user is
believed to be in violation of the guidelines stated in this policy, a
system administrator or coordinator may need to gain access to private
correspondence or files. An attempt will be made to notify the user of
such inspections whenever possible. As HCCA access is primarily
provided as an educational research tool, administrators or coordinators
may periodically make requests to study or view correspondence and
files, but confidentiality is ensured in such circumstances. Also, it
is important that users recognize the fundamental differences between
public (e.g. news) and private (e.g. e-mail) forms of communication, and
shape their content accordingly. |
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2. Equal Access |
| All members of the
HCCA community will be granted access to as many network services as
their technology and training will allow. Exploration of the internet
is encouraged relative to the purpose of the HCCA Network. |
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3. Safety |
| To the greatest
extent possible, members of the HCCA community will be protected from
harassment or unwanted or unsolicited contact. Any community member who
receives threatening or unwelcome communications should bring them to
the attention of a system administrator, internet coordinator or
teacher. Users must, however, be aware that there are many services
available on the internet that would potentially be offensive to certain
groups of users. The designers of the HCCA Network cannot eliminate
access to all such services, nor could the even begin to identify then.
Individual users must take responsibility for their own actions in
navigating the network. |
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4. Intellectual Freedom |
| The HCCA network
must be a free and open forum for expression, including viewpoints that
are strange, unorthodox, or unpopular. The network administrators will
place no official sanctions upon the expression of personal opinion on
the network. However, the poster of an opinion should be aware that
other community members may be openly critical of such opinions.
Occasionally, a posted messages may be met from the outside the HCCA
community with especially harsh criticism (a practice known as
'flaming'). It is best not to respond to such attacks,
unless the respondent believes s/he is capable of measured, rational
reply. Personal attacks are not an acceptable use of the HCCA Network
at any times. The HCCA Network does not officially endorse any opinions
stated on the network. Any statement of personal belief is implicitly
understood to be representative of the author's individual point of
view, and not that of the HCCA Network, its administrators, or the
participating schools. |
| E. Responsibilities of HCCA
Network Community Members |
| With the right and
privileges of membership in the HCCA Network community come certain
responsibilities. Users need to familiarize themselves with these
responsibilities. Failure to follow them may result in the loss of
network privileges. These responsibilities include: |
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1. Using appropriate language |
| Profanity or
obscenity will not be tolerated on the HCCA Network. All community
members should use language appropriate for school situations as
indented by school codes of conduct. |
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2. Avoiding offensive or inflammatory speech |
| Community members
must respect the rights of others both in the local community and in the
internet at large. Personal attacks are an unacceptable use of the
network. If you are the victim of a 'flame,' take time to respond
rationally, and/or bring the incident to the attention of a teacher or
system administrator. |
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3. Adhering to the rules copyright |
| HCCA community
members must respect all copyright issues regarding software,
information, and attributions of authorship. The unauthorized copying
or transfer of copyrighted materials may result in the loss of network
privileges. |
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4. Re-posting personal communications w/out
the original author's prior content is prohibited |
| To do this is a
violation of the author's privacy. However, all messages posted in a
public forum such as newsgroups or listservs may be copies in subsequent
communications, so long as proper attribution is given. |
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5. Use of the network for any illegal
purposes is prohibited |
| Illegal activities
include tampering with computer hardware or software, unauthorized entry
into computer, or knowledgeable vandalism or destruction of computer
files. Such activity is considered a crime under state and federal law. |
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6. Avoid the knowing or inadvertent spread
of computer viruses |
| 'Computer viruses'
are programs that have been developed as pranks, and can destroy
valuable programs and data. To reduce the risk of separating a computer
virus, do not import files from unknown or disreputable sources. If you
do obtain software or files from remote sources, follow proper
procedures to check for viruses before use. Deliberate attempts to
degrade or disrupt system procedures of the HCCA Network or any other
computer system on the internet by spreading computer viruses is
considered criminal activity under the state and federal law. |
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7. You have full responsibility for the use
of your account |
| All violations of
this policy that can be traced to an individual account name will be
treated as the sole responsibility of the owner of that account. Under
no condition should you give your password to another
user. |
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8. Impersonation is not permitted |
| Real names must be
used, pseudonyms are not allowed. |
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9. Anonymity is not allowed on the HCCA
network |
| As an educational
network, HCCA network policy unequivocally demands that individuals must
take responsibility for their actions and words. |
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10. Exemplary behavior is expected on
'virtual' field trips |
| When 'visiting'
locations on the internet while utilizing communication tools, HCCA
community members must conduct themselves as representatives of both
their respective schools and the HCCA community as a whole. Conduct
that is in conflict with the responsibilities outlined in this document
will be subject to loss of the network privileges. |
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