Social Media Guidelines

Social Networking Guidelines

The Cairo American College realizes that part of 21st century learning is adapting to the changing methods of communication. The importance of teachers, students and parents engaging, collaborating, learning, and sharing in these digital environments is a part of a 21st Century Learning Community. To this aim, Cairo American College has developed the following guideline to provide direction for employees, students, parents and guest participation in online social media activities.

Direct use of social media as a CAC community member should follow these guidelines:
 - Must follow the CAC Acceptable Use Policy and Guidelines.
 - Must follow the High School Student / Parent Handbook, CAC Code of Conduct, 6.Internet Protocol.( p.24 2012-13 handbook)
 - Participation in social media should not disrupt school operation in any way.

Top Tips for Publishing: http://edubuzz.pbworks.com/w/page/11239900/socialmediapupil
Be safe:
 - Be mindful of what you say:
 - Be respectful to others:
 - Be informative:
 - Be interesting:

“Publishing your work or ideas on the Internet is a very public activity. You should think carefully about anything you publish. Even if you delete something after you have published it, it can be found on the web for years afterwards. You shouldn’t publish anything you wouldn’t be comfortable with anyone viewing e.g. from parents to future employers.” http://edubuzz.pbworks.com/w/page/11239900/socialmediapupil
Establishing any official internet presence (Social Media Site) carrying the school name, logo or other identifying information/graphics should follow these guideline:

 - Must first receive permission from the Cairo American College Administration to establish.
 - Must register the URL and administrative login information with the school Information Services Department.
 - One administrator/monitor must be a CAC employee.
 - Must follow the CAC Acceptable Use Policy and Guidelines.
 - No Off Campus School event details can be published publicly; this includes location, date and time, names of attendees (security measure)
 - No student full names to be published along with their photos (security measure)

Official CAC Facebook Pages:

 - It is recommended that CAC organizations using Facebook establish a presence as a Facebook page in the name of the organization. We prefer people to like and follow the facebook page as a source of communication.
 - The organization representative and tech department representative need to be page managers.
 - Pages are used to contribute to the school’s public Facebook Page(s) in the name of the organization.
 - Official school Facebook pages should have links to each other in support.
 - Monitoring is done as usual by the page managers (At least one CAC staff member).
 - Comments to the organization’s posts needing a reply should be addressed by the organization posting the original message. The organization should take an educational perspective when replying to comments. Please see a School’s administrator when assistance needed.

For example: Booster Club may have a facebook page called “CAC Booster Club” using this page they post booster club information to the school’s Public facebook page(s). Booster club benefits from the school’s Page(s) traffic. All School’s page(s) have links to each other in support and all benefit from the each other’s traffic. If a booster’s club post receives a comment needing an official reply from the Booster club this reply should always take an educational perspective. Other page managers or other School administrator can assist as needed.
Facebook Groups: are created by community members similar to face-to-face groups. The should be closed and open to members by invitation only. This feature is commonly used by clubs, teams and student groups with a common interest.

Below are online resources used to develop these guidelines and extended our knowledge and understanding of social media guidelines:
    http://socialmediaguidelines.pbworks.com/w/page/17050879/FrontPage
    http://www.edutopia.org/how-to-create-social-media-guidelines-school
    http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents/social-networking-tips
    http://wiki.powerfulingredients.com/Home/workshops/social-media-guidelines

Help your Teens Play It Safe
   https://www.facebook.com/safety/groups/parents/

10 Mistakes Teens Make on Facebook (and What to Do About It)
   http://www.safetyweb.com/blog/10-mistakes-teens-make-on-facebook-and-what-to-do-about-it/

Parents, Get a Clue: What Teens are Really Doing Online Plus: Tips on How to Talk to Your Teen about Internet Safety
   http://www.empoweringparents.com/What-Teens-are-Really-Doing-Online.php

These guidelines complement CAC’s AUP and CAC Code of Conduct Internet Protocol. The most recent version is maintained on the CAC Website.