Introduction
Technology development in the last two decades significantly impacted society’s everyday life. However, technological development also influenced the areas of work and education. Technology simplifies the process of collecting, processing, and storing information which is why many institutions have integrated technology and the use of computers into work processes. In schools, computers for students’ use can be installed in classrooms and libraries. This paper will explore how schools and teachers can protect students from the harmful effects of technology and online content.
Legalities of School Restrictions on Computer Use
Schools cannot legally restrict the use of school computers because computers are needed for the educational process. Furthermore, the use of computers in classrooms should facilitate the learning process for students and teach them the basics of knowledge about the modern use of technology.
Managing and Overseeing Student Technology Use in the Classroom
However, schools are forced to supervise the activity of students working with computers following the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). The CIPA generally focuses on protecting minors from harmful content posted in online spaces.
However, supervision is also necessary for the protection of students’ data. For example, viruses and malware can encode important data from the school’s local network (Boncetta, 2019). Thus, as a classroom teacher, to help students manage their use of technology, I would educate students about the negative influence of cyberbullying and mistakes that can expose students or school computers to risks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I think it is important for all computer users to educate themselves about cybersecurity and how personal data can be exposed to cyber threats. To safeguard myself against potential technology abuses that can occur, I try to regularly change passwords on social networks containing my information. Lastly, I avoid using unknown data storage devices and ensure to double-check all unfamiliar or suspicious links.
Reference
Boncetta, S. (2019). Ransomware is crippling schools: What can they do about it? EdSurge. Web.