Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Etc… We are a culture filled with electronic devices where the terms tweet, like, and friend have vastly different meanings from twenty years ago.
In the interest of maximizing electronic potential while protecting students, parents, and staff from possible dangers with the latest and greatest technological innovations, a committee of Vail parents, teachers, students, and administrators met together to create electronic communications guidelines for District employees – known as the TAP test.
The guideline suggests employees apply the TAP test (Transparent, Accessible, and Professional) to all online tools and messages used. It further recommends this advice, “Before hitting ‘send’ or ‘post’ ask yourself, ‘Would I mind if this information appeared on the front page of the local newspaper?’”
Assistant Superintendent John Carruth states, “With technology changing so rapidly, we used underlying values that persist over time as our guide in developing the TAP test. In short, it is a digital extension of our ACT statement.”
The ACT Statement, which has been in use for over 10 years in Vail is used daily in all classrooms as a reminder of expected behavior. It reads: In Vail we Are respectful and trustworthy, Care about each other, Take responsibility
Read the entire TAP guidelines and watch the KGUN9 coverage of how Vail leads the way with social media policy.
