1. Basic Criteria for Media Hosting & Sharing Policies

A strong policy should be clear, age-appropriate, and safety-focused, not just restrictive. Key criteria include:

A. Purpose & Scope

Explain why media hosting/sharing is allowed (learning, creativity, collaboration).

Specify which platforms are permitted (e.g., school-approved video, audio, or image sites).
Clarify whether use is school-only or school + home.

B. Safety & Privacy

No sharing of personal information (full names, addresses, school IDs, location).

Clear rules on faces, voices, and identifying features.
Require privacy settings (unlisted/private when possible).
Prohibit contact with unknown users.

C. Digital Citizenship & Ethics

Respectful communication (no harassment, hate, or bullying).

Responsible commenting and sharing.
No reposting others’ work without permission.

D. Copyright & Fair Use

Use only:

Original student-created media, or
Media with proper licenses (Creative Commons, royalty-free).

Require attribution when using others’ content.
Prohibit pirated or illegally downloaded media.

E. Content Standards

Media must be:

Age-appropriate
Non-violent, non-sexual, non-discriminatory
Relevant to the learning task
No shock, prank, or viral-content-only posts.

F. Accountability & Consequences

State expectations clearly.

Outline consequences for misuse (educational, not punitive when possible).
Include reporting procedures for unsafe content.

2. Assessing Students’ Use of Media Hosting & Sharing Sites

Assessment should focus on learning, responsibility, and skill, not popularity.

A. Use a Clear Rubric

Assess students on areas such as:

1. Content Quality

Accuracy and relevance

Clear message or purpose
Creativity and effort

2. Digital Citizenship

Respectful language and tone

Safe and appropriate sharing choices
Responsible interaction (comments, replies)

3. Copyright & Attribution

Proper use of licensed media

Correct citations/credits
Originality

4. Technical Skills

Audio/video clarity

Organization and editing
Appropriate platform use

5. Reflection (Highly Recommended)

Short written or oral reflection on:

Why they chose the platform
How they kept themselves safe
What they learned about sharing online

B. Observe Process, Not Just Final Product

Monitor:

How students select media
How they collaborate
How they respond to feedback

Use check-ins or drafts to guide behavior early.

C. Self-Assessment & Peer Review

Have students:

Review their own work using the rubric
Give structured peer feedback

This reinforces responsibility and critical thinking.

D. Incident-Based Assessment (If Needed)

If misuse occurs:
Focus on what went wrong and how to improve

Use restorative conversations instead of only penalties
Re-teach expectations explicitly

Key Principle to Remember

Policies guide behavior; assessment builds skills.

When students understand why rules exist and are assessed on responsible use, they’re more likely to develop lifelong digital literacy.