• UTAH COUNTY ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

     

    Policies and Procedures on

    CLASSROOM USE OF VISUAL MEDIA RESOURCES

     

    POLICY IC



    1. Philosophy

    Because of the availability of a large variety of movies, television programs, video recordings, and digital visual media, etc., herein all referred to as  “visual media”, it is increasingly necessary to exercise judgment and prudence in their classroom use. All visual media must be age appropriate and should be used for educational purposes only.  They may be used to initiate, enhance, or culminate teaching units. All visual media must be used under the supervision of the instructor and in compliance with applicable copyright laws and licensing agreements.

     

    1. Guidelines for appropriate use of visual media
      1. Visual media obtained from any course must be approved by the administration prior to its school use.
      2. Educators are discouraged from showing movies or television programs which were originally produced for entertainment purposes.  In some circumstances their use many be appropriate when directly related to curriculum content. However, use of any “entertainment type” movie or segment thereof, must be approved in advance by the school administration.  
      3. Use of visual media in the classroom must be limited to instructional purposes, and not for entertainment or as a reward.  Use of visual media in connection with school-wide entertainment or reward programs must be approved by the school administration.
      4. The instructional value of a particular piece of visual media shall be weighed against the value of the academic time it consumes.  It is recommended that only those segments of a program which illustrate the topic or curriculum content be shown rather than viewing the program in its entirety.  No visual media will be used in a classroom without having first been viewed and approved by the teacher.
      5. Scenes’ from any visual media that contain vulgarity, indecency, nudity, and/or excessive violence or profanity are strictly prohibited in the classroom and in any school sponsored activities.   Entertainment type movies with a PG 13 rating will not be shown without parent guardian permission. Movies rated R, or NC-17 will not be shown in school or at school sponsored activities.
      6. Any visual media related to maturation or healthy lifestyles must only be used after being approved by the administration.
      7. Students should be guided by the teacher in connecting the visual media to academic content through pre- and post-activities related to the curriculum.
      8. All video media marked “For Home Use Only” may not be shown at school, even with the administration’s approval, unless a public performance license has been obtained.
      9. Student generated visual media must always be previewed by the instructor before being shown to other students.

     

    1. Television programs
      1. Broadcast television programs give the teacher no opportunity to preview or control content and should not be watched by students at school in most circumstances.  Exceptions require approval by the administration.
      2. Curriculum related television programs may be recorded by a teacher for school instructional purposes.  Under “Fair-Use” copyright guidelines, such a recording may be shown to students no more than two times within ten (10) school days of the broadcast date, and the second showing may only be for instructional reinforcement.  The recording may be held for an additional 35 calendar days for preview-to-purchase purposes only. After allowable use, the program must be erased.
      3. If the program which is recorded was originally produced for entertainment, rather than instructional purposes, the limitations on its use are the same as those for movies obtained from other sources as outlined in paragraphs 2b and 2c above.
      4. Students are not allowed to record programs at home and bring them to school for viewing in the classroom.

     

    1. Parent/Guardian review of visual media
    1. Upon written request from a parent/guardian, the teacher will send home a list and brief description of the visual media that will be viewed as part of the curriculum during the course. Supplemental lists may be sent home as new materials become available to the teacher.
    2. If the parent/guardian has a specific concern about any of these instructional materials as they affect his/her students, the parent/guardian is invited to meet with the administration and individual teacher to discuss the concern.  Efforts will be made by the teacher and administration to resolve the concern. Alternative learning activities of equal curricular value may be offered by the teacher or suggested by the parent/guardian. Students will not be expected to view work in question until the concern can be resolved.

     

    1. Mountainland Technology Colled (MTECH) and/or Utah Valley University (UVU) on campus course work
      1. MTECH and/or UVU course curriculum under the direction of the university is not subject to this policy.

     

    Approved 2/15/2005
    Revised 03/2018
    Approved 03/2018

    Updated 10/2018