Legal Issues Involving Computers and the Internet

The widespread and still growing emphasis on using computers in the classroom means that it is likely that you, as a teacher, will have a question about legal issues involving your students' technology use. Here are some web sites that provide information on issues such as copyrights, safe surfing, and censorship.

Keeping it Legal: Questions Arising Out of Web Site Management. This site discusses such issues as copyright and fair use.

Weaving a Secure Web Around Education on the National Center for Education Statistics web site covers acceptable use policies, sunshine laws, accessibility, student rights and privacy, and more.

The Office of Educational Technology page on Internet safety includes links to a number of sites related to Internet safety and usage guidelines.

Internet Do's and Dont's is a page from the Justice Department designed to help children learn to use the Internet safely and legally.

SafetyEd International is a site devoted to Internet Safety, with sections devoted to schools and teachers. Choose "Resources" and then "Schools." Also see the Internet Content Filtering page on this site.

Copyright Site
This site tells you all you ever wanted know about copyright laws. You can find out if you're infringing them by taking "the fair use test."

FilteringInfo
This organization provides updates on legislation regarding filtering software and other ways to block students' access to parts of the Internet.