Week 8: What I've Learned

On-line communication tools should help people share information, allow for productive conversations and promote thinking among various individuals and groups.  These tools can be used to facilitate communication between all groups of people, be it administrators and staff or between students and teachers.  Either way, the tools should be a means to an end. 

As a future educator, I am very excited about the possibilities that on-line communication tools offer.  These tools are all designed individually, but work together so well.  In my future classroom, I hope that I can combine various online tools to provide the best flow of information and collaboration within the classroom and outside to parents and other staff. 

I am partial to the blog for general information and a location where the teacher can provide answers and ‘need to know’ information.  Using a blog to communicate information is easy and straightforward; there is a small learning curve as to how to use the blog.  But I like most that there is no new equipment or software required.  If you have a computer and an internet access, you can have a blog.  It’s also easy for the end-user.  It’s easy to access, read and reply to if necessary. 

However, when you are using online communication tools, you must always consider the issues of security.  The security issues that educators must consider run the gamut…from individual PC security to the security of yourself and your students.  Not only do teachers and administrators have to be concerned about the physical security of the software and hardware, but they also have to be concerned about the security of information and identity. 

The potential for viruses, malware, worms, and Trojan horses is unending.  By opening your computer to the internet, you automatically open the door for these unwanted ‘bugs’.  It is vital that the computer and the network being used have sufficient protection against these invaders.  Firewalls and virus protection must be installed and updated regularly.  Your computer must be ‘checked’ regularly for viruses.  Often times viruses can be on your computer without your knowledge.  So, it’s important to regularly check your computer.  In addition, it’s important to check sites such as Microsoft Security Bulletins for messages and warnings about potential hazards for your computer.  As a further precaution, it’s important to backup your data regularly.  While this is not a ‘preventive’ measure, it is a smart option to protect your data in the event that your computer is ever compromised.

But in addition to the ‘technical’ security that educators must consider, it’s also imperative to model appropriate behavior when it comes to responsible behavior with internet use.  This includes instructing students to not give out personal information that could be used to identify them.  As much as we would like to believe the world is a safe place, it’s not and we must be responsible and not open ourselves and our students to potential threats.  Further examples of ‘secure’ use would include instructing students to be cautious of what sites they visit and what types of attachments they should and should not open.

In general, using passwords, firewalls, virus protection and all-around responsible behavior will reduce the potential for an attack from the outside to your classroom.  However, there is always a chance that your computer will be attacked.  Remember to use caution when accessing any information on-line and to always be prepared with back-up data.

Until the next time…be safe!