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New CoSN Report Offers Guidance on Responsible Technology Use in Schools

Key Takeaways

  • CoSN promotes Responsible Use Agreements over traditional AUPs: The report recommends complementing compliance-based policies with RUAs that are clearer and more student- and family-friendly.
  • Guidelines emphasize clarity, positivity, and community input: Effective RUAs should focus on positive behaviors, use plain language, and involve students, families, and caregivers in shaping expectations.
  • RUAs outline key elements for digital citizenship: These include purpose statements, expected behaviors, guidance on digital integrity, misuse consequences, and student acknowledgment.

A new resource from CoSN provides guidelines for creating responsible technology use policies and supporting digital citizenship in schools and districts. In "Setting Conditions for Success: Guidelines for Responsible Use of Technology for Schools," the professional association for K-12 ed tech leaders argues that traditional, compliance-based "Acceptable Use Policies" (AUPs) should be complemented by more student- and family-friendly "Responsible Use Agreements" (RUAs) that prioritize clarity and guide constituents through real-world application. The resource was developed in partnership with ISTE+ASCD and the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools.

The document proposes three key ways to create an effective RUA:

  • Keep it positive. "RUAs should not be a long list of don'ts," CoSN emphasizes. "Instead, make them mostly about the do's of technology use."
  • Write in plain English. "This isn't a real estate contract or a piece of legislation. Keep the language conversational, human-friendly, and accessible to students."
  • Engage the whole school community. Provide students, families, and caregivers with a way "to have input, make suggestions, and ask questions," CoSN suggests. All constituents should have a role "in reviewing and shaping the expectations so the entire school community understands and supports responsible technology use."

According to CoSN, effective RUAs should include the following elements:

  • A clear statement of purpose;
  • Desired digital behaviors, aligned to digital citizenship skills;
  • Guidance on authenticity and digital integrity;
  • What to do when something goes wrong, including consequences for misuse; and
  • A place for students to physically or digitally sign the agreement.

The full report also includes RUA templates designed for primary and secondary schools, as well as advice for supporting a healthy digital culture. The resource is openly available on the CoSN site here.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

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