Downloading software is against the acceptable use policy. In addition to educational resources, the Internet offers multiple forms of entertainment, including games, songs, and videos that can be either web-based or downloaded. Although studentsÕ use of their laptops at school should be focused on educational activities, students may attempt to download entertainment files to their laptop or home computer and should be aware of the risks of these activities.
Downloading these files poses two threats:
- malicious code such as computer viruses, spyware, and adware may be imbedded in the file
- the file may be an illegal copy of a copyrighted work, such as an illegal copy of a song, an illegally recorded movie clip, software or games, pictures, etc.
By downloading files, students risk harming their own computer, as well as the computers that belong to friends whose email addresses may be readable by the malicious code and used as a means to spread a virus. If the file is illegal, students risk legal action against them by the owner of the song or video.
Students should minimize the risks associated with downloading files by:
- Using web-based instead of downloadable versions of multimedia files
- Using music and video for multimedia classroom assignments:
- that are in the public domain
- that are available through a creative commons license
- that follow educational copyright guidelines
- for which educational use is clearly permitted (according to the web siteÕs terms of use)
- that are legally purchased (including only allowable portions according to copyright guidelines)
