Lesson 8: Security Implementation in Schools

I cannot believe this class is coming to a halt, and this is our very last week. I have definitely learned immensely in this course and will certainly apply the things I have learned into my own classroom setting. Preceding this course I felt as though I was up to date with technology; however, now that the class is basically over, I have realized that I was not as current with technology as I thought.

Now, for our final lesson topic: Ethical and Social Issues in the Implementation of Technology. This topic consists of security implementation that individuals should put in place in order to prevent malicious software and/or hackers from entering their computer system(s).

Malicious software, aka “Malware” includes the computer virus, computer worm, Trojan horse, etc. that infects one’s computer in various forms. For instance, viruses, Trojan horses, and worms can affect the operational level of one’s computer by deleting and/or corrupting data. These can infect other computers via email, USB drives, CDs, and other types of computer files. Now, the question is: How does one prevent malicious software from affecting their computer? Prevention is key! The best way to prevent malicious software and hacking is by installing virus protection software. Some of the most commonly used anti-virus software are Norton Antivirus, McAfee, AVG, and SpyBot.

School districts typically have a policy for installing and utilizing virus prevention programs. The school district in which I am employed utilizes McAfee, which updates periodically in order to stay current since new viruses are released constantly.

Although the best way of preventing malware is by anti-virus programs, there are also numerous other ways the school district enforces security with their computers. In the computer lab in which I teach, I strongly emphasize the AUP policy, which is a contract between the students, teachers, staff, and parents. I also promote and model good digital citizenship, which is part of the NETS-T. Digital citizenship teaches the students how to use and maintain appropriate behavior when using their computers and the internet. It also teaches the students the significance of virus protection software. I have taught the students netiquette (network etiquette), explained to them not to open anything that they are unsure of without asking permission from an adult, and explained to them the importance of keeping their usernames and passwords private in order to ensure privacy. Implementing anti-virus protection software and explaining the significance of the programs to the students is very important because children often feel too comfortable being online and do not typically understand malware and the risks they pose; therefore, it’s crucial for teachers and parents to teach their children prevention of these threats and promotion of good digital citizenship.