Willie Davidson (The Learning Centre) discussed with us the formation of the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and how a ‘deficit view’ of the learners at the school in terms of not trusting them to look after the devices was not allowed to set the agenda for the pilot. Rather than worrying about the unfortunate things that might happen to the device, the school decided to trust their learners and allow the devices to go home. It was a requirement, however, that the pupils’ parents/carers had to attend one of the information evenings for the pilot or make an appointment with the school if they could not attend any of the planned evenings, so that they were made fully aware of the expectations of the pilot and agreed to and signed the AUP. There was 100 percent attendance by all parents/carers. At the time of our visit to Bellshill Academy there had only been one instance of an iPad going missing and that was due to a burglary. There had been minimal instances of any type of misuse of the device or transgression of the AUP.

Bellshill Academy: Acceptable Use Policy Mr Davidson (The Learning Centre) discusses Bellshill Academy’s Acceptable Use Policy

Mr Davidson stressed that an AUP does not necessarily stop those who wish to misuse their iPad from doing so, but it does give the school the formal structure to ensure that learners and their parents/carers are made fully aware of what is not acceptable.

The AUP devised by Bellshill Academy is available as a pdf.