Online learning platforms have become essential tools for K-12 students during the pandemic, but they also pose some risks to their privacy, security, and well-being. In this article, you will learn some practical tips on how to stay safe while using online learning platforms for your education.
Not all online learning platforms are created equal. Some may have better features, reviews, and support than others. Some may also have more robust policies and practices to protect your personal data and prevent cyberattacks. Before you sign up for any platform, do some research and compare different options. Look for platforms that have clear and transparent terms of service, privacy policies, and security measures. Avoid platforms that ask for unnecessary or sensitive information, such as your social security number, bank account details, or passwords.
Nearly every school district/division has some policy on how teachers are expected to handle student data. Ensure that you know those policies to uphold your professional obligations. Safeguard student information and data even if it might cost you the use of a "shiny new toy."
With so many platforms saturating the market and more coming out every day, it's important to know the right questions to ask. FERPA and COPPA are the two major privacy protections in the United States and companies should be able to provide documentation and data regarding how they meet the requirements of these laws. Speak with more than one person at the company; not just the sales person. To truly educate yourself on the platforms it helps to speak with project managers, engineers, and others responsible for the back-end. If the company wants your business they should be willing to make these people available if only for a short conversation.
When selecting safe online learning platforms for my grandchildren, I prioritized those recommended by their school for their strong reputations and clean security records. I compared each platform against FTC guidelines and compliance with FERPA and COPPA. It's essential to consider a platform's history, success, and reviews before allowing children to engage with it for a secure and beneficial learning experience. I found a lot of reviews out there that helped me choose between the different platforms just by searching with Google and Bing.
K-12 students can ensure online safety by first safeguarding personal information and using secure, unique passwords. They should only interact with trusted classmates or verified users, avoiding sharing personal details or meeting strangers. Regularly updating privacy settings and understanding platform features for reporting and blocking inappropriate content or users is crucial. Additionally, following a healthy screen time routine and seeking adult guidance for any suspicious activity or cyberbullying ensures a safer online learning experience. Lastly, ongoing conversations about online safety with parents or educators help students navigate potential risks effectively.
One of the most common ways that hackers can access your online learning accounts is by guessing or stealing your passwords. To prevent this, you should use strong passwords that are long, complex, and unique for each platform. You can use a password manager or a passphrase generator to create and store your passwords securely. You should also enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible. MFA is a feature that adds an extra layer of verification to your login process, such as a code sent to your phone or email, or a biometric scan.
This is good advice, but it doesn't address the realities of a K-12 context. Most students will not have hardware that directly supports MFA or school divisions cannot fully enable it for a variety of reasons. The advice provided here also doesn't mention the importance of changing passwords regularly or not sharing passwords with fellow students. Students share locker combinations without thinking, so its more to do with education than technology.
In my experience, the use of Multi-factor authentication for access to educational services should be a primary concerns, to keep our children and their information safe. While not perfect, I have seen how the benefits of MFA has kept private information confidential.
Another way that hackers can compromise your online learning platforms is by sending you malicious links or attachments that can infect your device with malware or spyware. These links or attachments may look like they come from your teachers, classmates, or the platform itself, but they are actually designed to trick you into clicking or opening them. To avoid this, you should always check the sender's address, the subject line, and the content of the message before you click or open anything. If you are not sure, you can contact the sender directly or report the message as spam.
Your webcam and microphone are essential for participating in online classes, but they can also be used by hackers or intruders to spy on you or record your conversations. To protect your privacy and security, you should always turn off your webcam and microphone when you are not using them. You can also cover your webcam with a sticker or a piece of tape, and mute your microphone when you are not speaking. You should also be careful about what you share or say in front of your webcam and microphone, and avoid revealing any personal or confidential information.
In safeguarding K-12 students' online privacy, sometimes simple, non-tech solutions are the most effective. For my family, we use webcam covers and plug audio blockers into microphone jacks. This prevents any potential hackers from seeing or hearing my granddaughter. These physical blockers cannot be bypassed remotely, offering a robust layer of security. It's a reminder that taking time to assess potential risks in our unique situations can lead to straightforward yet powerful safety measures.
Many companies have shutters and killswitches built into laptops which will be better than a software solution as that can be toggled back on by hackers. If you're using a desktop, unplug those devices when they are not in use if physical switches are not provided.
Online etiquette and netiquette are essential rules and norms of behavior to follow when interacting with others online, as they help you communicate effectively, respectfully, and responsibly in online learning platforms. For instance, you should use appropriate language, tone, and grammar in your messages and posts, respect the opinions of others even if you disagree with them, avoid spamming, trolling, flaming, or cyberbullying others, cite your sources and give credit to others when using their ideas or materials, and ask for permission before sharing or recording someone else's content or image.
One thing students fail to understand is that nothing on the internet is truly private. If it is posted, it can be found. If it can be found, it can be copied. If it can be copied, it can be shared. You should always act as those someone is watching.
When using online learning platforms, it's important to take care of your physical and mental health to stay healthy and happy. To do this, you should set a regular schedule and routine for your online learning activities and stick to it. Additionally, take breaks and stretch your body, eyes, and mind regularly. Make sure to stay hydrated and eat nutritious food, as well as get enough sleep and rest. Moreover, if you feel overwhelmed or anxious, don't hesitate to seek help and support from your teachers, parents, or counselors.