As educators, it’s imperative that we teach students how to stay safe online, especially with the rise of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI. With rapidly evolving technological capabilities, it’s more important than ever to teach students about cybersecurity and online safety – topics that need to be discussed and explored at all grade levels.
Distinguishing Between Cybersecurity and Cyber Safety
Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting electronic devices, networks, and sensitive information from unauthorized access. It means taking proactive steps to ensure confidentiality and thoroughly examining the resources we use. Our use of a wide range of devices and an endless array of technology has changed the way we learn and work. However, it has also led to an increase in dangers that could affect our safety and well-being. We need to help students understand how to utilize this technology and pay careful attention to how to stay safe online and protect personal information. Cybersecurity awareness is vital for everyone.
Cyber safety is the responsible use of technology and resources on the Internet. It is especially important to be careful when accessing and sharing information online to avoid the risks and potential harm that can result, such as cyberbullying, hacking, phishing, identity theft or exposure to inappropriate content and other online threats. Because of these risks, it is critical that we are intentional about helping students understand how to protect their safety and privacy online.
As schools increasingly use AI through personalized learning platforms and data analytics tools, we need to understand how to protect personal information from the risk of data breaches and other negative impacts.
Safety Tips
Here are some strategies to keep your students safe online. Taking the time to create opportunities for students to be more aware of their online activities and how to best protect their information will provide them with more protection and help them avoid negative and/or potential long-term consequences.
Taking time to discuss cybersecurity and the different ways we can be good digital citizens is something we should be focusing on in class throughout the year. It is also important for students to know that just because a website exists or a resource is available does not guarantee that the information is valid and reliable.
Protect your machine. Students should know that links they click on different websites or emails can lead to malware and viruses on their devices. Use an anti-virus program to protect your device and keep your software and operating system up to date. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading files from unknown sources as they may contain malware or viruses. Log off your computer after using it, especially in public places. Be careful when using public Wi-Fi. Do not share personally identifiable information, such as logging into bank or credit card accounts, as this information may be compromised.
Create strong passwords. Create unique passwords that contain letters, numbers and symbols to make them harder to detect. It’s also important to have a different password for each account. Remind students not to share passwords with friends. Show students some different passwords and have them evaluate whether they are secure. It is important to help them understand how to create a strong password.
Use two-factor authentication (2FA). Two-factor authentication provides an additional layer of security, such as sending text messages or emails to people trying to access the account. The added security settings will prevent any unauthorized access, even if the password is compromised. However, it is important to change your password to avoid any further problems.
Check your privacy settings. Always check the privacy settings when using any form of social media, email, digital tools or any other platform. It’s important to understand the permissions you grant to apps and other software and how your information is used and/or shared. Always check FAQ pages or standalone pages detailing how user information is handled and verify that site settings are up to date. Compliance with COPPA and FERPA is critical for any digital tool we use in the classroom. Remind students to limit the personal information they share, such as name, date of birth, location, social security number, and other sensitive data.
Choose a few different websites to explore and ask students to look for privacy information, look for guidelines such as COPPA and FERPA, and check to see if they are compliant, the terms of use, and the date the site was last updated. On some sites, this information is usually listed on the “About” page or in the “Frequently Asked Questions” section. It is also sometimes listed on the main landing page. Students can also use General Knowledge to view ratings and age usage information for different apps, as well as privacy settings.
You can also create different scenarios for students to come up with solutions. For example, if a student receives an email telling them they’ve won a prize or there’s an advertisement for a free game, all they have to do is send their message? What would/should they do? Another scenario would be to ask students what they think about posting their driver’s license on their social media accounts. What potential issues would this create?
Resources to Explore
In my STEAM program, we use Nearpod lessons on online safety to cover a variety of important topics related to staying safe online, such as cyberbullying, digital identities, social media, and more. There are also 23 lessons in Common Sense about internet safety. Be Internet Awesome is another resource to help students develop skills to stay safe online. My students enjoy the different activities and questions that help them better understand how to stay safe online.
Finally, to assess my students’ understanding of online safety and cybersecurity, I use Quizizz to create games or choose from lessons and quizzes readily available in their library. Using Quizizz helps us review and also provides me with data that I can use to adjust student lessons. They have ready-made games and lessons in their library, which makes it easy to get started. After my students complete the game, I review common missed questions and discuss topics to ensure they have a clear understanding of cybersecurity and best practices.