Social Media Guidelines (Including Blog Comments)

Before posting to any of Salisbury Township School District library blogs, I request that any student who wishes to comment would read and practice the following STSD guidelines.---Mrs. Jaindl

Guidelines for Students

Because of the wealth of new social media tools available to students, student products and documents have the potential to reach audiences far beyond the classroom. This translates into a greater level of responsibility and accountability for everyone. Below are guidelines for student use of social media tools in the Salisbury Township School District.

  1. Be aware of what you post online. Social media venues are very public. What you contribute leaves a digital footprint for all to see. Do not post anything you wouldn't want friends, parents, teachers or a future employer to see.

  2. Follow the school's code of conduct when writing online. It is acceptable to disagree with someone else's opinions. However, do it in a respectful way. Make sure that criticism is constructive and not hurtful. What is inappropriate in the classroom is inappropriate online.

  3. Be safe online. Never give out personal information, including, but not limited to, last names, phone numbers, addresses, exact birth dates, and pictures. Do not share your password with anyone besides your teachers and parents.

  4. Linking to other websites to support your thoughts and ideas is recommended. However, be sure to read the entire article prior to linking to ensure that all information is appropriate for a school setting.

  5. Do your own work! Do not use other people's intellectual property without their permission. It is a violation of copyright law to copy and paste other's thoughts. When paraphrasing another's idea(s) be sure to cite your source with the URL. It is good practice to hyperlink to your sources.

  6. Be aware that pictures may also be protected under copyright laws. Verify you have permission to use the image or that it is under Creative Commons attribution.

  7. How you represent yourself online is an extension of yourself. Do not misrepresent yourself by using someone else's identity.

  8. Blog and wiki posts should be well written. Follow writing conventions including proper grammar, capitalization, and punctuation. If you edit someone else's work be sure it is in the spirit of improving the writing.

  9. If you encounter inappropriate material that makes you feel uncomfortable, or is not respectful, tell your teacher right away.

For teaching purposes, the above guidelines are a highlighted adaptation of the official Salisbury Township School District guidelines.

Note that all of the above apply to using any social media tools at Salisbury Middle School as a Salisbury Township School District student.

To Learn more about Creative Commons attribution: Creative Commons Kiwi