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Electronic Resources

The North Thurston Public Schools Board of Directors recognizes that an effective public education system develops students who are globally aware, civically engaged, and capable of managing their lives and careers. The Board also believes that students need to be proficient and safe users of information, media, and technology to succeed in a digital world.

District educational technology provides a powerful and compelling means for students to learn core subjects and applied skills in relevant and rigorous ways. It is the district’s goal to provide students with rich and ample opportunities to use technology for important purposes in schools, just as individuals in workplaces and other real-life settings use these  tools. The district’s technology enables both educators and students to communicate, learn, share, collaborate and create; to think and solve problems; to manage their work; and to take ownership of their lives.

Digital Citizenship

Digital citizenship includes the norms of appropriate, responsible, and healthy behavior related to current technology use. Successful, technologically fluent digital citizens recognize and value the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of living, learning, and working in an interconnected digital world. They cultivate and manage their digital identity and reputation, and are aware of the permanence of their actions in the digital world. Expectations for student and staff behavior online are no different from face-to-face interactions.

Digital Resources

All use of the district technology must support education and be consistent with the mission of the district.
In using district electronic resources, students should accept responsibility to:

  • Be held strictly responsible for all activity that takes place on their accounts and devices;
  • Not attempt to access other users accounts, files, or misrepresent them on the network;
  • Be aware the district has the right to examine all data created on, posted, stored on, or transmitted by the network or district devices;
  • Respect all internet filter and network security measures and not attempt to bypass those protections;
  • Not attach any unauthorized devices or install any software on district computers or network without permission from technology services;
  • Not use any district resources for cyberbullying, impersonating others, hate mail, harassment, or intimidation of any kind.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool that can provide new learning opportunities and benefits for all students, but also has potential risks when not used appropriately.  When utilizing generative AI tools to support the creation of student works, students are expected to adhere to these guidelines as well as additional guidance provided by their classroom teacher.

  • Use AI responsibly: Students should use AI tools and techniques in a responsible and ethical manner. This includes not using AI to cheat, plagiarize, or gain an unfair advantage. Generative AI tools should only be used for school-related creative work (e.g., to generate text or other creative works) when given approval or guidance from a classroom teacher.
  • Understand the limitations of AI: Students should understand the limitations of AI and recognize that it is not a substitute for critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
  • Consider the potential biases of AI: Students should be aware that AI tools and techniques may be biased, and should take steps to mitigate bias when using AI.
  • Maintain data privacy: The use of AI should be done in a way that protects personally identifiable information (PII). Students should not share any PII with AI technologies, including name, birthdate, address, or other financial or confidential information.
  • Check sources generated by AI: AI is not perfect, has been known to create inaccurate information, and can be used to create misinformation and disinformation. Use SIFT research skills (Stop, Investigate the Source, Find Better Coverage & Trace to the Original Context) to check sources and find independent facts to confirm AI-generated content.
  • Provide attribution: When using AI tools and techniques, students should provide proper attribution and credit to the source of the tool or technique.
  • Seek guidance when in doubt: When students are unsure whether the use of AI is appropriate for a particular assignment or project, they should seek guidance from their teacher.

Policies & Procedure

For more expectations and information about Electronic Resources and Digital Citizenship, please see NTPS Policy 2022 and Procedure 2022P.

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