F-160-BR: Use of Personal Mobile Devices and Social Media in Schools
References:
- Ministerial Order #014/2024
- A-110 Welcoming, Caring, Respectful, Inclusive and Safe Working and Learning Environments
- F-110 Student Conduct
- F-140 Health and Wellness of Staff and Students
The Board of Trustees is responsible for carrying out the government’s mandate for schooling as defined in the Education Act. To that end the board is committed to complying with Ministerial Order # 014/2024 Use of Personal Mobile Devices and Social Media.
The Board of Trustees recognizes there is an appropriate educational purpose for the use of technology in the classroom provided it is used to achieve the learner outcomes in Alberta Programs of Study and allows students to participate in learner activities chosen by the teacher.
As per Ministerial Order #14/2024 the board directs the superintendent of schools to ensure each school implements a school policy clearly articulating the acceptable use of personal mobile devices and social media during school hours and school sanctioned events.
Definitions for the purpose of this Regulation:
Personal mobile device (PMD): means any personal electronic devices that can be used to communicate or to access the internet, a cellular network, or other devices such as, but not limited to cell phone, computer, tablet, gaming device, electronic toy or smart watch. This may also include devices capable of communicating with a PMD such as headphones, earbuds, or smart speakers.
School sanctioned or sponsored events: Any event or activity that is authorized or approved by the school or school authority.
Social media: means web-based and mobile technologies or applications providing communications through interactive or social dialogue. Examples include but are not limited to apps, weblogs, social blogs, wikis, internet forums, instant messaging and social network aggregation platforms, such as Instagram, SnapChat, Discord or Tik Tok.
Student instructional time: includes all time during scheduled class periods. Students not scheduled for a class during scheduled class periods must adhere to applicable school and division policy.
Student non-instructional time: Includes time during the school day outside of the scheduled class periods, school sponsored events and off-site activities. This includes before and after school, breaks and lunch.
Guidelines for school policy:
1. In creating a safe & optimal learning environment, school policies will recognize that technology impacts a student’s learning. Balance between using technology for educational purposes and removing the distraction in a classroom is necessary.
1.1 PMD may be used for educational purposes to:
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- enable students to achieve the learner outcomes in the Alberta Programs of Study;
- allow students to participate in activities chosen by the teacher;
- accommodate a diagnosed medical need of the student;
- accommodate an inclusive education need identified in the students Individual Program Plan (IPP) or Individual Learning Plan (ILP).
1.2 Schools are required to restrict PMD usage during the school day. The PMD must be out of sight during instructional time. At minimum schools must require students to keep their PMD on silent.
2. Students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 are requested to leave their PMD at home.
2.1 Should a K-6 student choose to bring their PMD to school, it must remain on silent mode and out of sight for the entire school day.
3. Schools have the right and authority to temporarily confiscate, restrict and/or prohibit PMD usage while individuals are on school property and/or in attendance at school sponsored activities.
4. Confiscation, restriction and/or prohibition of PMD may extend to:
4.1 students, staff and/or school visitors;
4.2 instructional time;
4.3 non-instructional time;
4.4 periods or time students are being transported;
4.5 time staff are working; and
4.6 specific locations in the building or on school property.
5. When schools are creating individual school policies, administration must take into consideration the following when deciding on the application of restrictions and/or prohibition:
5.1. student demographic (e.g. students age and developmental stages);
5.2. instructional and non-instructional time;
5.3. instructional and/or medical accommodations; and
5.4. all applicable school and board policies.
6. Schools must communicate to staff, students, and parents that use of PMDs may be prohibited and/or restricted. Messaging must include clear and concise expectations around what the prohibition or restrictions are, what a breach of the expectations involves, and the progressive nature of discipline applied to a breach of the expectations.
7. Division employees shall:
7.1. serve as role models and must only use PMDs in compliance with board and school policy; and
7.2. understand and promote a welcoming, caring, respectful, inclusive and safe working and learning environment.
8. The division assumes no responsibility for the safety, security, loss, repair or replacement of any items confiscated for the purposes of discipline.