The General Context

The Web consists of millions of pages of information of all kinds, available to students as a reference tool. It's multimedia capabilities make it an interesting interactive learning tool that teachers can use directly in the classroom.

However, you must prepare the students to search and navigate on the Net, and discuss with them the pitfalls they may encounter. They must:

• avoid responding to requests for personal information
• learn how to verify the reliability of information
• develop critical thinking skills
• respect copyright and understand its relation to plagiarism.
• develop vigilance regarding offensive sites, including those that promote hatred or display sexually explicit material or graphic violence
• report and discuss any uncomfortable or questionable situation with the parents or the adult responsible for a student
• exercise caution with regards to advertising and commercial offers

It is important to inform parents about the nature of the planned learning activities and about the code of conduct that students must respect, stressing that you will do everything in your power to protect students who use the Web. The participation and commitment of parents are needed in order to set with their children "limits and standards for responsible use" [free translation] of the tool (Université de Montréal, Centre de recherche en droit public, Implantation de services de courriel dans les écoles : exigences à satisfaire afin d'assurer la protection des droits des personnes et le partage des responsabilités [Québec: Conseil du trésor, 2000], 19.

School boards are governed by laws and they must ensure that nominative information about their students is protected and that copyright is respected at all times. Teachers must therefore prepare their pedagogical approach, understand the impact of the tools they choose, provide parents with sufficient information concerning the learning events planned (including the advantages and the possible risks) and obtain the necessary authorizations, make students aware of potential risks and teach them how to be wise, responsible and safe users.

The issues

Providing Personal information | Respecting Copyright | Code of Conduct | Advertising

Providing Personal Information

As they surf the Net, students may be asked to provide information in order to subscribe to or gain access to a site. Students must be aware that there is no way of knowing how the information will be used by the person or organization requesting it.

Respecting Copyright

As we search the Net, it is often tempting to "copy" some or all of the content of a web site. The law protects the way ideas were originally expressed, not the ideas themselves.

Most material available on the Internet is protected by copyright. This includes text (e.g., postings to newsgroups, E-mail messages), images, photographs, music, video clips and computer software. Under the Copyright Act, reproduction and unauthorized use of a protected work are currently infringements.

- Copyright Matters! Some Key Questions and Answers for Teachers (Noel, Wanda, and Gerard Breau [Toronto: Council of Ministers of Education, Canada; Toronto: Canadian School Boards Association; Toronto: Canadian Teachers' Federation, 2000], 12.

In order to use a document found on the Internet, or a document digitized from another format (written document, photograph, drawing, musical recording, video clip, etc.), you must obtain clear consent from the creator of the material. If this is not possible, you must find on the site the copyright clearance to reproduce the material, and you must meet the conditions governing the rights granted. If you do not find copyright clearance, you must obtain it by contacting the person who holds the rights to the material.

Furthermore, you may modify the original work only if so authorized by the author, as Canadian law distinguishes between copyright and moral rights and prohibits the assignment of moral rights. Certain exceptions are provided by law, but they are minor and clearly defined (see Acts-Copyright).

Quoting from a source is permitted when the source is clearly referenced. Copying material in whole or in part and presenting it as one's own is an infringement of copyright and constitutes plagiarism. Modifying the copied material in any way constitutes an infringement of moral right and is also plagiarism. However, one may use a source as background material to develop one's own original ideas or arguments.

Code of Conduct

[Free translation]
It involves clearly setting out the standards for using the Internet. A policy regarding acceptable can take the form of a contract between the students and the teacher which-depending on the students' age-may be brought to the attention of the parents. The policy defines what may and may not be done on the Internet and sets forth the consequences of undesirable behaviour. . . .

The age of the users and their required degree of protection should be taken into account in drawing up the policy. Thus, the rules for elementary students will need to be different from those for secondary students. These rules will have to be expressed in a language that is suited to the level of maturity of the students to whom they apply.

Implantation de services de courriel dans les écoles : exigences à satisfaire afin d'assurer la protection des droits des personnes et le partage des responsabilités (Université de Montréal, Centre de recherche en droit public [Québec: Conseil du trésor, 2000], 15. (see Code of conduct)

Advertising on the Web

Some Web sites and search engines permanently display an advertising banner.