Stay Out of Trouble: The Do's and Don't's of Your School Computer

One of the most exciting moments of any new teacher orientation program is the issuance of  school computers. No matter what type of computer you are issued, it is exciting to be connected with all of the other employees in your district and to have access to the same resources that are available to them. Being issued a school computer also means that new teachers have to adopt a professional approach to the way that they use this ubiquitous tool. After years of working on personally owned computers, many new teachers are not always sure of the behaviors that

are acceptable and which ones are not even though they may have signed a document outlining their district’s acceptable computer use policies. To make sure that your use of your school computer is as professional as possible, be guided by these do’s and don’ts.
School Computer Do’s

• Do remain aware that the computer is the property of your school district.
• Do be cautious, conservative, and professional when using your school computer
• Do transport your computer in the case or bag that was issued with it if you have a mobile devices
• Do periodically go through your files to keep them organized and up to date.
• Do back up your work to an external drive on a regular basis.
• Do follow your school’s protocols for saving to a school network.
• Do use bookmarks to keep your topics easy to find in a hurry.
• Do use your computer only for school business.
• Do create passwords for your various school accounts that are logical, easy to recall, and can be updated periodically.
• Do respect the intellectual property rights of others.
• Do make sure to lock portable computers in a secure place  if you don’t take them home each day.
• Do keep your virus protection updated.
• Do report problems with your computer as quickly as you can.
• Do remember to take your computer to school each day.

School Computer Don’ts

• Don’t download any software program without permission—preferably in writing.
• Don’t have food or drink near your computer. Spills can be costly.
• Don’t forget that your email account may be monitored by district personnel.
• Don’t leave your computer unattended if you have to leave your classroom.
• Don’t allow students to use your computer.
• Don’t use other teachers’ accounts without their permission.
• Don’t visit sites that could indicate that you are not a good school employee such as pornography or extreme political views.
• Don’t decorate your computer’s case with stickers, images, or anything that has not been approved.
• Don’t open suspicious attachments that could infect your computer.
• Don’t share your passwords with others.
• Don’t conduct personal business on your school computer.