C3
This space provides a location to expand our communal knowledge base for educators related to Cyberethics, Cybersecurity and Cybersafety (C3). Please contribute to the Cyberawareness blog (click on the Comments hyperlink under the Terminology post) as you find new things to add to our communal knowledge base related to C3.
posted by Davina @ 1:07 AM
81 comments
81 Comments:
"Spam is flooding the Internet with many copies of the same message, trying to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it." Usually spam comes in advertisement form and you get them in your email box. Spam use to be a major major issue and most email services could not protect you from it, but these days things are getting better and most email sites can block or directly throw spam mail into a junk mailbox.
Using a "backdoor" in a technological sense is going into a system an illegal way in which you would not normally go. An example of this was that on my high school network every student had a user ID and password to log on and they were restricted to the use of certain programs. However, if you clicked certain keys you could access taskmngr.exe and enter into the system without even having a user name or password and you had unrestricted access to every drive on the system. These things are wrong and should not be done.
"Spam is flooding the Internet with many copies of the same message, trying to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it." Usually spam comes in advertisement form and you get them in your email box. Spam use to be a major major issue and most email services could not protect you from it, but these days things are getting better and most email sites can block or directly throw spam mail into a junk mailbox.
Using a "backdoor" in a technological sense is going into a system an illegal way in which you would not normally go. An example of this was that on my high school network every student had a user ID and password to log on and they were restricted to the use of certain programs. However, if you clicked certain keys you could access taskmngr.exe and enter into the system without even having a user name or password and you had unrestricted access to every drive on the system. These things are wrong and should not be done.
This is Bryan before I begin since i'm posting anonymously and well being lazy not to just signup for an account.
Anyway, spamming is sending out useless information/flooding to people who don't want this material or whom did not solicit it. Backdoor is simply referring to ways to get around security protocols. Looking at Brent's commentary, I remember being able to circumvent the network in my hs days by going through mspaint and then we'd have all sorts of videogames hidden there that we'd play. They also had a program (i didnt really know how to install or use most of this stuff, but watched kids who were pretty tech-savy do this) that would control other computers...something bus. Anyway, they'd be in the library and the computer guy would turn on a computer and they'd make the cd-rom open, then he'd close it and they'd make the monitor turn off then he'd turn it on and they would make the computer shut down (all they needed to know was the ip). They never did get caught and backdoors are more prevalent than people think. Spoofing is just masking your identity and can reference making an email appear as if it came from @bryanshuy.com or also can mean giving a false ip reading for you. Lastly, firewalls are simply protocols to try and stop viruses/spam/etc from getting in. They are encrypted and often the main methods of anti-virus agents. Can be used through networks, routers, so on all levels.
As for using blogs for teachers to keep up-to-date, i think it is a good idea. The only downside is that if students see discussion of themselves or their tactics. I wouldn't underestimate students abilities to use the web to find out information about themselves, particularly if it is by their teachers. Thus I would suggest such blogs be locked so that only teachers can access them.
This is Dan.
Spam is unwanted email, usually for advertising or other economic gain.
Backdoors are non-obvious methods of obtainging access to computers.
A firewall is a protective system that is put in place to protect files and communication from intrusion.
I see blogs as being very similar to online journals. So they must have a good use in education. Obvioiusly, there must be great caution when undertaking such an endeavor however, and teacher would have to strictly monitor continuously.
Firewall is a protection system that intercepts the illegal approach to the information network.
Spoofing is a technique that attacks the computer system caused by an intruder hiding identification information of own oneself.
The backdoor is a secret way that the system designer or the manager opens the security of system with deliberation. It is a program cord inserted in application program or operation setup. Hackers tend to use this backdoor to infiltrate into the system.
Spam is either junk email transmitted to multiple addresses or unwanted news messages posted in many newsgroups. It is often intended to advertise or slander the specific goods or enterprise.
I was kind of ambivalent about using a blog in the classroom especially when the WebCT is available. But, after reading a couple of articles on blogs, I've come to realize that it could bring a sense of readership and ownership to the students particularly in K-12 levels while reducing the cost of publishing, which makes them more responsible for their learning process.
Firewall is a protection system that intercepts the illegal approach to the information network.
Spoofing is a technique that attacks the computer system caused by an intruder hiding identification information of own oneself.
The backdoor is a secret way that the system designer or the manager opens the security of system with deliberation. It is a program cord inserted in application program or operation setup. Hackers tend to use this backdoor to infiltrate into the system.
Spam is either junk email transmitted to multiple addresses or unwanted news messages posted in many newsgroups. It is often intended to advertise or slander the specific goods or enterprise.
I was kind of ambivalent about using a blog in the classroom especially when the WebCT is available. But, after reading a couple of articles on blogs, I've come to realize that it could bring a sense of readership and ownership to the students particularly in K-12 levels while reducing the cost of publishing, which makes them more responsible for their learning process.
"Spam" is the mass e-mailing that floods in-boxes with advertisements, viruses, chain letters, etc. Spam can come from people we trust or from large corporations. I know that the umd webmail accounts automatically attempt to send spam to the "junk mail folder" of our mail server. Yet, the system is flawed in that regular e-mails are often sent to the junk mail folder and spam is often allowed in the normal inbox.
A firewall, according to my anti-virus software, protects from incoming viruses by acting as a filter, detecting dangerous software, websites, and downloads.
I think blogs can definitely be used for homework help in a elementary through high school setting. A situation in which the students could post questions, and answer each other's questions, as well as involving the teacher, could be greatly useful in reviewing and with regualr homework, allowing for more personal help for students who don't necessarily have that support at home.
I personally don't like blogs. I would much rather be on a threaded discussion board. I feel like they are more powerful and much more organized. I don't see the benefit of a blog over a discussion forum? Anyone have any ideas?
Blogs, like discussion boards do encourage out of class discussion amoung students. They are also wonderful places for students that have questions during out of school hours to post questions about homework or tests. Other students have the ability to help them, along with teachers as well. Discussion boards/blogs should be more widely used in the classroom. It is not that hard to teach students how to use them.
This is Scott S.
My knowledge of spamming can be any e-mail sent to you without having your consent, or request for it to be sent to you. Usually although not always, spam mail is sent in mass quantity to an unlimited scope of e-mail addresses, from solicitating companies trying to sell a product, ask you to subscribe, or is a phishing scam, etc...
I currently define backdoor, as a hidden way of entering ones computer by an unknown user. In particular, a backdoor can be, but not limited to accessible multiple in and out ports left open by various pieces of software or the operating system.
Spoofing, is where one attempts or pretends to be someone else through various means. An example may include creating a website address titled www.yahooo.com, that is a potential threat to one who thought he or she was going to www.yahoo.com. Overall, spoofing, is the act of making one believe you are someone else. Anyone who spoofs can be considered an attacker, or an intruder.
Lastly, a firewall protect ports, by informing the user of requests to initiate in and out connections to and from ports on your computer. In addition, a firewall closes ports that one may wish to have closed at all times. Overall, a firewall, protects and prevents attacks from occuring on your computer via unknown connection to the internet(Oftentimes backdoors).
Overall, I feel as though blogs would be useful for the k-12 environment, so long as it is managed and used properly. Having such a technology would allow for students to discuss with others information relating to his/her class(es). However when abused, or if not managed properly or even not restricted to only individuals within the classroom, you open the chance for unwanted, possible unrelated postings from unknown sources that students would have to shuffle between.
Sincerely,
Scott S.
The most important thing that I learned about Cybersecurity is that children need to be educated on how to use the computer safely.
I like the idea of teaching kids from kindergarten on about how to use the computer responsibly. At the age of 5, kids take in and retain a lot of information. If they can begin to become aware of all of the negative aspects of using computers and the Internet, they will be much better prepared than many adults are.
Many elementary students use a computer lab weekly. This would be a great time for the computer teacher to talk about the dangers of the Internet and how kids can prevent problems that could occur.
It might be a good idea to teach about these computer viruses and predators like we talk about germs in the first grade. There could be a video that depicts viruses as ugly monsters and shows youngters what they can do to fight off these "bad guys" they may take more of an interest.
So the more and more I learn about cybersecurity...I wonder how I can stay "two" steps ahead of hackers, spammers, hoaxes, etc...when they seem to always be at least "one" step ahead of us always looking for new ways to make technology scary? We have a huge responsibiltiy to address this matters...especially in education.
Just a little note to think about....
I like Amanda's point about children teaching their peers about computer issues. Many teachers, especially older ones, know a lot less than their students. It is not only important for teachers to learn more, but students teaching each other is probably just as effective, as long as they know what they're talking about.
Kids love to play teacher and show and explain things to one another.
In response to James' comments, I never thought that people actually bought things from spammers! I react the same way I would to junk mail--trash it. I agree that it is important not to respond to unwanted messages.
One thing that bothers me is that lots of stores I shop at have their clerks ask me for my email address so that they can send me "promotions" (ie. junk mail). I think it's very annoying. I always tell them no. It's just as bad as being asked to sign up for the store credit card and get 15% on your purchase.
Thanks Margie, I think that there can be many benefits to peer to peer teaching..not only do students get to learn from eachother but by teaching a topic it demonstrates that they really know the subject matter. This would be an excellent project for teachers to do with kids so that there is some monitoring and supervision. Your point about making sure that peer to peers are teaching the right things is really important to consider.
I forgot to do this one on this site so I'm just now getting to it. This is Christin. This "backdoor" approach bothers me, especially because of the content of material that manages to get into my inbox...whether its in teh bulk mail or not - especially inappropriate subjects that I have no idea how they got my email address. While everyone understands that Spam will infiltrate almost everyone's email, certain addresses, such as my work email, does a much better job filtering through them than Yahoo or Hotmail. Perhaps these cites should do a better job about trying to limit Spam.
Christin again - in terms of expanding upon cyber safety, I would like to see it become a requirement for schools with a website to have postings or links to certain cites informing about cybersafety...especially for kids. If people are going to be surfing the web and checking out a school's website, shouldnt they be required to read about cyber safety? Perhaps this method would reach more individuals already using the internet.
Our readings this week have reviewed the importance of the C3: cyberethics, cybersecurity and cybersafety. For some reason people believe that cyberethics, as with any form of ethics (honor code), seems to be subjective depending on the person. Some people have used information without following copyright rules and have also plagiarized works. However cyberethics requires us to ensure that we follow copyright if we plan to use any information, music, graphs, pictures, clip art, etc. gained from online sources. Students also have to be aware of how to decipher true/factual information from bogus stuff. They also have to be aware of plagiarism and copyright.
However one of the most critical areas of concern for students I see is cybersecurity and cybersafety because children are online so often surfing the net, instant messaging and sending emails they are open targets for bullies and even predators. Children need to be aware of the signs of online harassment and bullying. There is also a need for children, parents and teachers to have a trusting relationship. As the “Family Fun” website suggests we can set up filters, monitors, and even restrict our children to only internet playgrounds but without trust and communication we may still have children who are easy targets for danger. Children are urged to show their emails to their parents, not to give out personal information and to limit their time and information shared in chat rooms.
It's Christin.
This is in response to something Mindy wrote above NCSA Education Whitepaper stat about 75% of children believign its ok to reveal personal info to recieve a prize, etc... When discussing C3 and children, I do not find it surprising at all that kids are not aware of all the dangers associated with the internet. To compare, we have to teach and reteach our kids to look both ways before crossing a street to avoid the dangers of the road. Then we teach them never to talk to strangers if they pull up next to them, or to never accept candy from a stranger, so why is it so shocking that kids must be taught and retaught about the dangers of internet predators? They are kids, unaware of all the evil lurking in their everyday lives, and from the viewpoint of a child, the computer must seem like a fairly safe place, placed in the family kitchen or den area, with their parents sitting in the next room. It’s reasons like these that increases the realization that we MUST continually educate children about the dangers of chat rooms and posting their information online, especially if they are lured with the prospect of receiving a prize or gaining entry into a contest if they do…
Cybersecurity is becoming a problem on the internet. there are people on the internet out to get personal information about you you have to be careful but also remember not to do it yourself.
Jonovan
It seems to me that everytime technology advances, so do the bad guys. They find a new way to protect yourself from the hackers but then the hackers always find a way. Now a days you have to really be careful about what you do and say online. There could be someone tracking your everystep. It takes them less then an hour to just snatch your whole identity. So the only way to what out is just by being cautious about what you put out online.
Cybersecurity is important so that we can protect our private imformation. but now there are all these types of ways that people can get a hold of your information by the information that you may post on websites about yourslf. By peopkle posting so much of their infor on the web they are making it easier for people to get a hold of our information. I think that we should make sure that we protect our information even if that means we have to have a pasword on every single thing that we have.
~ Janna ~
It is vital to all of the public that we secure our personal information. There are people out there that have hacking as there job, they are professionals. We are helping them by leaving personal information out there just to be found, so protect all of your personal information, which means use passwords, difficult ones to decipher.
-Brandon-
Now a day people use the internet for everything from shopping to ordering pizza to bidding. What they aren't aware of is that the internet is filled with bad people whose job is to intercept transactions and collect all the persons inforamation without them knowing the next thing you'll see that your credit bill sky rocketed or you now can't get a loan because some how your credit got bad all of a sudden. That where cyberawareness comes in, because there are software and programs that'll safe guard you as well as your computers from predators and hacker. Like cybersecurity will some what protect your information against the predator as well as other little details that you may not know about. cybersecurity, cybersaftey, and cyberethic are very importants because they are like protect between us and the person on the other end. If all internet users follow and regulate by the cyberethics then the internet would be a safe place, but they don't so actions and steps have been taken to better protect people.
- Ayo Jaji
I wanted to contribute to my thoughts regarding blogs in the classroom. I also think that blogs can serve as a great tool in enhancing the learning experience.
Like many other new methods being used to share information, blogs add another dimension. A student will feel more compelled to express themselves through blogging. In this manner, they are empowered to voice their opinion and take on the subject matter at hand.
In addition, the student can participate in other people's blogs. While different students are contributing to one another's thoughts, a communal source of opinion, critique, and thought is built. In a sense, it is a democracy of thought in which everyone has a say.
Many students who felt disenfranchised previously in a classroom setting may now be engaged.
I've found it interesting how much the safety and security overlap. You can't really be safe without being secure, and vice versa. You have to be aware not only of what information you're giving away, and what information you're failing to hide, and kids are quite vulnerable in both respects. I like how some sites have real-life stories about kids getting into trouble with bullying or personal safety. The biggest problem I've seen so far however is that many sites are very shallow in their coverage, including maybe just a short list of tips or a simple game to play, and important issues are often left out. I found it surprisingly difficult to find good sites for kids about computer security. Many sites that claimed to be for kids were not kid-friendly. Some used a vocabulary that was too complex, or had a bunch of ads along the sides, or wrote a lot of text without any pictures or any interactivity, or had broken links and missing content. For our calender project I wanted to find a site that could explain simply some of the terms associated with computer security like virus, worm, adware, spyware, spam, etc., but found nothing kid-friendly. For activities and information, I found myself constantly coming back to Netsmartzkids.org, either directly or through links on other pages. I think I have a new appreciation for kid's web search engines like yahooligans because it is so difficult to educate kids and protect them from sites that target them for spyware and adware.
In response to Kimberly's response to my initial post on blogging:
It is always wonderful when an educator can find new ways in which to reach those students who are hard to engage. I agree that blogs can certainly facilitate this.
Students do vary tremendously, both in their extroversion and favored methods of expression. The more opportunities to give students a chance to express themselves, the richer the learning environment becomes for all involved.
I definitely see how blogging would liberate many shy students who are reluctant to speak in class. In fact, it is many of these same individuals who happen to be the most gifted writers. This creates a symbiotic relationship and others who never knew their views can simply read their thoughts expressed verbally.
With regards to Kathleen/CosmoKat's recent blog.
You make a very astute point regarding what constitutes safety. While many zero in and focus on not giving away any information, they do forgot the other important component; what they are failing to hide.
The interesting thing I have been throughout our readings is that it is not kids in particular who are subject to breaches in their privacy and security. I was amazed at how many adults fell victim to 'phishing' in the readings for Session14/15.
In terms of the shallowness of the sites you describe. I think this might be by design so to speak. There is a wide held belief that children suffer from widespread attention deficits, and these sites might be tailored to keep the attention of such children. Even I had trouble keeping up with certain sites that were overly verbose.
RE: discussion of blogging in the classroom
This does sound like a good idea, especially for AP courses and courses that don't meet every day. For example, I had an AP Environmental Science class a couple years ago, and it would have been great to have them discuss current issues on a blog. I'm not sure how it would work in, say, a middle-school math class. It could be valuable simply as a forum for the teacher to communicate with students and build a little extra bond.
My husband is actually working on something similar to a blog for me to use in the classroom. It's software he uses at work to report and track problems and fixes in a project he's on. If his versioni is a success, I'll let you know. Yes, it's legal, he's not hacking copyrighted software.
Re: Kim and adult security.
My husband had the same thing happen with his company. They were keeping human resources information on a computer which was not in a secure location and was stolen. Fortunately, it was most likely stolen by someone who was only interested in pawning the compupter, not the information it contained. The company, however, has had to pay for identity theft monitoring and protection for thousands of employees.
I think the truth of on-line security is the same as off-line security. People fall for schemes by mail and solicitors and callers, the same as they do for on-line predators. In a sense it's nothing new what these people are doing, they just have a new medium in which to do it. I get postal mail regularly from companies saying things like "urgent", "regarding your student loan," etc., but it's all junk mail from companies I have no dealings with.
The main concern for students using the internet today is each other. Peers lead each other to actions that are unethical and/or illegal. For the most part, these actions are done unintentionally. Regardless of intent, the consequences of any of these actions committed will still be enforced. Examples of these ranges from file sharing to sexual offenses.
To increase knowledge of the dangers of the online environment a greater emphasis must be placed on education. This instruction needs to occur in school, homes and communities in general. School districts must work C3 into their curriculum, parents must be clear about their expectations of their children’s actions online and communities must support legislation that will enact better standards and approve funding.
Programs in the schools and by community police can be used to illustrate the dangers waiting for children and teenagers online. Simply blocking any offensive material from schools and homes will only increase the problem. Children must be educated, not protected, from an early age. By starting early children will grow up knowing how to conduct themselves properly in both the real world and in cyberspace. Allowing them to explore and grow will be beneficial to both the individual and the society as a whole.
Hi, this is Tracy. Maybe it's only because I have just finished reading all of these articles on this topic, but I really feel that cyberbullying is a huge problem in a student's world- and one that I was not really aware about! The number of students in both the United States and Canada who have been in some way bullied while online is unacceptable. Millions of children are being affected by this issue, and it is a huge problem that can affect a student's emotional, mental and social health. I think that proactive steps must be taken to prepare students to know how to respond (and how not to respond) to a cyberbully. Proper netiquette, rules and general character building should help prevent a child from becoming a cyberbully him/herself.
It is important to address this, and other C3 issues, with chidren as soon as they are old enough to use the computer. While I would focus on first teaching cybersafety issues (for obvious safety reasons), it is also important to introduce ethics and security issues as well. Learning proper cyber behavior can greatly increase a student's positive online experience. I think that awareness training can do a great deal in aiding student "enlightenment" on why participation in cybersafety issues is important. Without proper training, how will a student learn the "how" and "why" of these matters? When learning this training early on in life it is more likely to automatically kick in as the child uses the Internet, much like any other kind of training.
Cyberbullying continues to be a problem that increases amongst our youth. The emergence of sites including facebook and myspace gives teenagers more information to use in order to hurt others character.
Anonymity seems to be the driving force for this growing problem. Many students who you would even consider to be good kids can become a cyberbully without the fear of being caught.
The main thing is that teenagers do not often have a censor to stop them from reacting to situations. They feel safe in that no one can see them.
Therefore, how do we as educators help to prevent cyberbullying. We have many programs in place to try and prevent bullying from occurring face to face.
We try and teach students why bullies exist at a young age. We attempt to help them befriend bullies (as it is often the problem that they don't have any). Yet I do not always feel as though we even reach kids on how to handle or prevent becoming bullies.
So, if we are having such trouble stopping bullying face to face, it seems near impossible to stop online bullies. In reading "Cyberbullying on the Internet" the author discused suggestions for how to handle cyberbullies.
I think passing this information along to parents is crucial in helping to solve this problem. After all, many articles state that cyberbullying is not taking place on campuses but more after school hours. Therefore, educators must partner with parents in order to create a solution to this growing problem.
The Berson & Berson article offered a different perspective regarding children and cybersafety. The cognitive development of one child will likely differ from a different child and therefore it is important to keep in mind the capability of one person as compared to another. I think the most critical area of concern for students today is a false sense of safety, security, and anonymity. Students need to be aware of the dangers that persist online, like stalkers, bullies, thieves, and hackers. An unsuspecting person (of any age) might have their identity stolen, provide personal information to a stranger, falsely trust someone who is trying to deceive them, or lose money as a result of an online transaction. Students must learn how to be safe at home and at school beginning as early as they are able to use the computer. Teachers need more training so they are able to pass safe practices along to their students and their parents.
Brian White said:
You are right that there is a false sense of security. With identity theft even messages that seem to be from someone you know can really be from a zombie.
That is what is really scary about security online. Everything that you receive must be scrutinized.
I think you are also right about needing improve how much teachers know about cybersecurity. They are the key to all this. If they do not know how ot educate children to be safe then the conditions will only worsen.
Tracy M. writes:
It was interesting to learn how the term "hacker" has come to change it's meaning in the eyes of the general public. One of our readings linked to a blog that was debating the term "hacker" and whether or not real "hackers" (the ones that don't hack to harm others, but to make security aware of weaknesses in a network or system) should change their name because of the negative connotation it has. Then someone made an interesting point that if there weren't "bad" hackers to begin with, that "good" hackers wouldn't really be necessary.
I actually know someone who is a professional hacker for a company that is a safety consultations provider for other businesses, so I know that he is doing his job to help others. Still, I feel that part of the appeal of being a hacker is the thrill of getting into something that shouldn't be accessible. One of the class articles mentioned that hackers began hacking because they didn't believe that information should be hidden or secret- they thought everything should be accessible. I definitely think that there are places where information should be kept private (such as places that store personal information such as people's SSN and credit card info, etc). What do others think? Is freedom of access a good reason for hackers to justify accessing secure info?
Tracy,
I was also surprised to read how the term "hacker" has both a negative and positive connotation. Prior to our readings, I was unaware that people who are "good hackers" share the same title as the "bad hackers." I agree that a change in terminology would help clarify this to the general public.
It is interesting to me how many different schemes there are to trick people online. From phishing, to "bad" hackers, to viruses - there are so many ways that a person can be harmed as a result of technology use. Computer and Internet users have to be aware of so many things in order to protect themselves from fraud, identity theft, and being taken advantage of as a result of ignorance.
I consider myself to be a pretty technologically savvy person, at least above average, and learned many additional ways that I am vulnerable to being victimized online. Forums such as online communities and blogs are useful tools in spreading tips and safe practices to online users but, what about the more novice computer user? I don't think someone who is new to the Internet and computers will necessarily look for tips and safey guidelines. AUP's should be more prominent on ISP webpages and written for even the most novice user to understand.
Brian White said...
It is proabably pretty bad that I did not know about many of the security measures that each individual needs to take to protect themselves until I took this course.
I would also like to think that I am as proficient with computers as the average person but maybe I have overestimated my knowledge. I too realize how vulnerable I make myself sometimes.
This makes me think that maybe the biggest concern for students today is their own ignorance and the ignorance of the curriculum they are taught. Measures must be taken to prevent against this condition worsening. The growing number of websites devoted to C3 topics is encouraging.
Tracy M. said:
I agree with you, Brian, that it is encouraging to see so many C3 sites available, especially so many that are aimed at young people! My concern is that they do not know that those sites are there to find and read. I echo both Pamela and Brian when I say that I thought that I was more computer savvy than I was. I had never seen any C3 sites before and I was unaware of a lot of C3 issues- especially on cybersecurity!
Pamela, you are quite right in saying that AUPs should be more accessible to users. I had never heard of the term AUP before, though I knew what the general idea of one was once I started reading about them. I think that clear AUPs would really help users as they navigate sites and create a safer environment for everyone involved.
With a younger generation who seems really plugged into the online world, educators need to wake up and realize the importance of teaching C3 early on. Before this course I would have had no idea how important this concept of early C3 education was, because I was not aware of all the problems that resulted from a lack of C3 training. Now I know and I'm going to spread the word to other educators!
This is in response to what Brian said about the need to educate students because they may "unintentionally lead others to make unethical or illegal decisions."
One thing that seems to be the same amongst most teenagers is that they believe they know more than adults. While that may be true in terms of the Internet, many of them have not developed the skills to recognize danger. Even when they are told something can happen to them, they don't believe it.
Therefore, it is important that with the education comes live examples that students can relate to and believe. It is more than just being told, students must be able to experience. They must see and know the consequences that can occur.
According to the "Teensangels search for cybersafety" article, teenagers are helping to teach others their age about the dangers of the Internet including how to avoid predators. This is more effective than an adult trying to share this with a child.
Peers often have a bigger influence on each other and therefore, it may mean more coming from someone their age.
Pamela and Brian have both talked about the fact that even as generally knowledgeable computer users, there were still so many things they have learned that they can do to better protect themselves.
I absoutely agree with this. In my school, I am probably one of the more advanced teachers when it comes to technology. I go to trainings and there are still teachers who are really unsure of how to send an email.
As a result of this lack of experience, how can we expect educators to help train America's future to be responsible Internet users?
We have talked about the importance of including a C3 requirement, however, this is not something that is in place and could possibly take awhile for it to happen.
Therefore, it is people who have taken the class that have access to educational settings, that must pass on this information.
I know that I have already begun with my own classroom but perhaps I also need to take this information to my staff. Maybe I can meet with my team and pass on some of this information in a training.
In Montgomery County, we are required to work an additional 16 hours outside of the work day towards professional development and collaboration. This is easily a topic I can use to work with my peers.
While this may not be a requirement for awhile, it does not mean that it isn't important. Perhaps, we need to begin to take responsiblity for our own learning.
Spamfilter and Spybots can be used to fight against some of the dangers of using the internet. By filtering your email you can prevent potentially dangerous emails that are intended to look important so the recepient will open it. Some programs such as Instant Messanger are at risk of sending spyware to their users and to people on their buddy lists. These spy bots can do things such as open advertisements randomly while your computer is on. Carefully browsing the internet and monitoring your emails can help to limit some of the risk involved with keep your computer on the internet.
From all of the C3 reading, and past reading I think that the most interesting thing is plagerism, and cheating. I think that using plagerisim to cheat is becoming an increasing problem in todays society, and education system, and is of critical concern. I think that it is especially important to raise awareness about plagerism and cheating, and about the copyright laws, becsuse i feel that in our schools we are not taught enough about it and it is therefore, not the student fault entirely. I think taht teaching children at an early age what plagerisim is and how it can be used for cheating and also teaching them about some of the copyright laws can help to decerease the increasing occurence of cheating using plagerisim. Another important issue is cyber safety using is keeping your personal information safe and protected. This can be done using passwords and protected sites.
Of interest to me was the article "Bringing Online and Offline Living Together: The Integration Principal." I found this interesting because I don't have an online life due to the fact that I won't allow strangers that I can't see have discussions with me via chat, messenger, etc. I suppose this is a safety issue, but it's also an issue in that having two lives (an online and offline)is unmanageable for me. The article provides a means of helping those who do have on and off lives to bring those two together, such as sharing information and meeting online companions. Still, in my view, this is very unsafe though clearly it is being done quite frequently.
Brian White said:
I thought that the most interesting discussion from the C3 readings are from session 5 regarding cheating and plagiarism. One of the most interesting articles from that is the article on success of honor codes at http://www.collegepubs.com/ref/SFX000515.shtml. One of his points is that the internet is not creating many more cheaters. In his survey he found that those who are using the internet to cheat have other comorbid cheating habits. This is a good sign because it shows that the internet is not creating cheaters.
The main point of his article is that the universities that stressed their honor code had less cheating. This sentiment is echoed in other articles, like the US News and Report one. So it is important for all educators , regardless of level, to stress their honor code.
Brian White said:
I need to touch on the last part of the question. I think that the best way to show students that there are dangers online is to display to them evidence of bad things that have happened online, such as identity theft and abductions. This should be part of online education that starts very early.
It is difficult for me to pinpoint one exact topic which was of most interest, but I do certainly want to discuss one issue which is highly controversial and I think needs SO much more attention brought to it. The idea of cyberawareness is the first step before a child,parent, student, teacher, employer, educator or writer can even begin to think about cybersafety... Awareness is the only first step which one can begin to imagine and deeply understand the dangers involved in the online world today. The idea of awareness is tricky because we all assume we just need to "get the word out" by providing training right? Well, what about the rest of us who do not receive any training and do not take certain precautions regarding anything from copyrights to privacy rights... I honestly realize how terrible this may sound, but I feel that the only way people ever understand that security measures are needed is if they are the victims of cyber dangers. I have had my Identity stolen twice, and still this day am not sure how. Even if we lock our computers or take extra safety measures with passwords, how are we supposed to avoid downloading faulty software or hding from certain websites, AWARENESS... USE common sense, such as, ONLY talk with people you know. I just think if you want to make friends, go out and meet people! Too many hidden facades are possible in the online world
I think that the reading that I found the most interesting was “Avoiding Plagiarism” I talked about this in another post but I honestly feel like this article was the most useful because it is a huge concern for students, (me knowing since I am one). I swear sometimes I don’t know if I am getting my own ideas or ideas from the author. It is important to know that when you are not sure you should always cite your information to be safe. There is a lot of students who try to cheat by plagiarism. This should be a growing concern for teachers and students. I think that a lot of students get away with it either because the teachers do not care, or don’t know themselves how to look it up. Teachers and parents must teach students about the dangers of plagiarism. It can have such a negative affect on students and their ability to write and cite a paper. It is important that have as good of knowledge about this topic as possible. With students cheating via plagiarism the students will not learn how to write a proper paper, when they get to college teachers who do know how to catch them will fail them and possible have them kicked out. Copyright laws are very serious because someone worked hard on their work and to have it published. It is important that we as students, teachers, and workers learn to respect that hard work and give credit to who deserves it because it is not ours and we should not steal it.
1) What do you find to be the most critical area of concern for students in today’s electronic era?
- The most critical area for concern for students today is security and privacy! The Internet is full of predators and dangers, and securing your personal information is tough.
2) Are there other methods we could use to increase awareness of these issues to students of all ages?
- Of course there are other methods, but I think if students want to learn about security and privacy, they can very well easily search for more information on privacy on Google to find out more. Shoving security policies down students' throats will only work to some extent. I think in the end, to be really safe, they need to have the initiative to want to be safe as well.
3) Some argue that awareness training is not enough, and in fact the real enlightenment comes from students becoming aware of why it is wrong to participate in such an activity. It is obvious why you lock your car doors when parking in city, but it is not as obvious to many that they have to “lock” their computer. How do we illustrate the dangers intrinsic in operating in a computer/network-centric environment to today’s youth?
- Watch television shows like NBC's "To Catch a Predator" provides a good wake up call as to how dangerous internet predators can be.
Becoming aware of what criminals can do with personal information is also helpful. For example, identity theft is a common issue that can ruin a person's life if they are not careful. Your credit might get damaged to the point where you can't buy a house when you get older. Or you might not get approved for the loan you want to go to college. Students need an incentive to protect their information and if they are aware of the incentives and the plentiful amount of reasons to do so, I think they will.
-- Sandy K. EDUC478 Spr '07
By Devina Vinaik:
In relation to C3 I have found it interesting that there are many problems that occur when using information on the web. People are using information from the web on daily basis to come up with ideas, and when they do not site their resources, it creates a problem with infringement and copyrighting/plagiarizing. Cyber security is a good way to minimize these problems because they allow for firewalls, password protection of materials, and inaccessibility of personal things. Students greatest concern for the electronic era is in the music industry where they can download music and software that may be contaminated with viruses that ruin their computers. They can send files to teachers that contain viruses or spam, which can be bad. Students need to be aware of the dangers in doing illegal things like stealing software, installing illegal downloads, and especially using materials on papers and projects that is not their own. People do not care as much about their computers as they do bigger assets so locking computers is not as important when it should be. I do know that many people do require passwords when logging on to the computer so no when else can invade there computer privacy, the problem comes in when the do not know much about getting on to the internet through wireless systems and using other peoples internet because they do not know if the persons internet they are using is a hacker, or a good person.
I was never aware of all the cyber safety and copyright issues there are. Particularly with copyright issues, so many people do you understand that even if information is online, they are mostly copyrighted even if they do not have a copyright mark on it. We all just assume that since it is online, it is free to use without permission and without citations. In my opinion, it is important that teachers understand all the copyright issues because they are displaying a lot of information now-a-days from websites, and they need to know when to copy and when not to copy, or when to get permission to display either for class purposes or other educational purposes. “Copyright Issues on the Web” is a site that gives a pretty basic foundation on what copyright means and when you are allowed to display certain things from online resources. Teachers need to pass on the information they learn about because students need to know that it is plagiarism if they obtain other people’s works and claim it as their own.
I think one of the growing concerns for students in today’s electronic era is cyber safety. Children now a days love playing games online, chatting, emailing, and doing all sorts of things on the World Wide Web. Parents cannot monitor everything their child does online, and many are not aware of the software and such to help protect their children. I do not think some parents are fully aware of the many dangers online that their children can run into like not just online predators but identity theft as well. As we have previously discussed in class, a lot of information is stored online and many people can easily gain access to the information. Children do not understand all of these dangers, and it is imperative that parents teach their children the right decision to make when going online.
The internet is a new toy. One in which they many uses, but no one knows all of them. We tend to see the positive side of things before we realize the negative. The portion of of C3 that I am reflecting on is plagerism. The internet is an instantaneous tool that makes us feel more intelligent than we are (in some cases). In having this, plagerism has been made easy. Type of a phrase or topic and you can have what you want whether good or bad. In many ways I think that telling children about plagerism and how children use the internet to commit this plagerism has good and bad sides. Children who are driven and have a lack of pride may use this as a way to keep up in classes. Unfortunately teachers don't always have the time to make sure that this is not happening, so they make think that they are getting away with it.
Unfortunately, children now a days tend to learn more from actually experiencing things verses talking about them. Some examples must be made. It seems like that is the only way for some to learn.
In relation to C3 I have found it interesting that there are many problems that occur when using information on the web. People are using information from the web on daily basis to come up with ideas, and when they do not site their resources, it creates a problem with infringement and copyrighting/plagiarizing. Cyber security is a good way to minimize these problems because they allow for firewalls, password protection of materials, and inaccessibility of personal things. Students greatest concern for the electronic era is in the music industry where they can download music and software that may be contaminated with viruses that ruin their computers. They can send files to teachers that contain viruses or spam, which can be bad. Students need to be aware of the dangers in doing illegal things like stealing software, installing illegal downloads, and especially using materials on papers and projects that is not their own. People do not care as much about their computers as they do bigger assets so locking computers is not as important when it should be. I do know that many people do require passwords when logging on to the computer so no when else can invade there computer privacy, the problem comes in when the do not know much about getting on to the internet through wireless systems and using other peoples internet because they do not know if the persons internet they are using is a hacker, or a good person.
By Devina V.
The internet is a new toy. One in which they many uses, but no one knows all of them. We tend to see the positive side of things before we realize the negative. The portion of of C3 that I am reflecting on is plagerism. The internet is an instantaneous tool that makes us feel more intelligent than we are (in some cases). In having this, plagerism has been made easy. Type of a phrase or topic and you can have what you want whether good or bad. In many ways I think that telling children about plagerism and how children use the internet to commit this plagerism has good and bad sides. Children who are driven and have a lack of pride may use this as a way to keep up in classes. Unfortunately teachers don't always have the time to make sure that this is not happening, so they make think that they are getting away with it.
Unfortunately, children now a days tend to learn more from actually experiencing things verses talking about them. Some examples must be made. It seems like that is the only way for some to learn.
In relation to C3 I have found it interesting that there are many problems that occur when using information on the web. People are using information from the web on daily basis to come up with ideas, and when they do not site their resources, it creates a problem with infringement and copyrighting/plagiarizing. Cyber security is a good way to minimize these problems because they allow for firewalls, password protection of materials, and inaccessibility of personal things. Students greatest concern for the electronic era is in the music industry where they can download music and software that may be contaminated with viruses that ruin their computers. They can send files to teachers that contain viruses or spam, which can be bad. Students need to be aware of the dangers in doing illegal things like stealing software, installing illegal downloads, and especially using materials on papers and projects that is not their own. People do not care as much about their computers as they do bigger assets so locking computers is not as important when it should be. I do know that many people do require passwords when logging on to the computer so no when else can invade there computer privacy, the problem comes in when the do not know much about getting on to the internet through wireless systems and using other peoples internet because they do not know if the persons internet they are using is a hacker, or a good person.
Jolie said:
Cyberawareness is knowing what benefits you can gain from the internet, and understanding to a large degree where and how to find information suitable to your needs and to publish/express it in the most suitable way for your needs. With all of this power comes the responsibility to make yourself informed on the issues that complicate this liberating new hobby and work activity. The dangers and rules, and there are many, should be learned and knowledge should be maintained to avoid entering criminal or victim territory. So many people use the internet with lawless abandon, that it is no longer a good teacher. If we all followed by example on this matter -- all information would be disreputable, people would use false identities. There is a lot of junk out there and there are resources available that protect us from persecution or harm by informing us. How many of us use this information is minimal. Students don't often check up on how to relay information they have usurped from a published text. It's still very easy for people to say they didn't know, so that's why they made a mistake. Educational courses should be instrumental in teaching students how to both learn and deliver class material appropriately.
The youth in general today, are the illegal music downloaders and the victims of abduction. The youngest of us needs to understand the ramifications of bad cyber decision making -- and if too young, they should be monitored. Crime will only continue to rise, there are countless loopholes in the cyber network, it is NOT like dealing with real people. When you put real money into it, or real identity, or treat cyber-fetched info. like it's free facts, you better be sure the source is certified.
Kevin F. here: What I find most interesting about the conversations in the classroom and on the Internet about C3 issues is, like Chaz says, that the Internet is so new and that it is changing so many aspects of peoples' lives: personal, professional, public, private.
Over the last 20 or so years urban (less so 'cause they had it first), suburban, and x-urban dwellers are having to adapt to a life the rhythms of which are not governed by night/day or the seasons but by computer cycles. Life has steadily been becoming more and more 24-7, convenience driven. And with that, boundaries and security issues are being revolutionized at the micro (one person's life) and the macro (how whole societies interact: think "war on terror").
After going through the class readings related to C3, I have come up with many different conclusions regarding IT today. Plagiarism has really caught my interest. And it also happens to be what I believe the most critical area of concern for students in today’s electronic era to be. With the internet, students clearly have instant, easy access to prewritten assignments that they could pass off as their own. I feel as though internet use has really boomed in the last 5 years or so, meaning that I believe the rate of internet use if growing at an exponential rate, not a linear one. Although back when I was in high school, the internet was commonly used, I feel as though today, it is even more common. The point I am trying to make here is that I knew of students that went to my high school that did just that through the internet – search the web for already written assignments and reword the papers. It wasn’t incredibly common, but I definitely heard of it. With the increase in IT use, I wouldn’t be surprised if more students are doing so. I don’t know if it’s that more students are dishonest, but with the availability so open, temptation could become participation. That is why I also believe that website like Glatts, that help detect plagiarism, is a great tool for instructors to have. With the internet use and abuse rising, it’s smart to have tools against such things. I believe that implementing the severity of plagiarism (like the readings have done for us) into students at the age they are beginning to write things of their own would help condition them into not falling into temptation. When teaching young students about the negative aspects of plagiarism, teachers should use specific examples or even take every day examples. Tell a story they can relate to. Young students may not realize the severity of taking someone else’s work and passing it off as their own, but if taught early enough, it should stick. Thus, when these students grow older and enter high school or college (an environment in which internet use could very easily be a daily necessity, based on internet use trends lately) they will be equipped with the mind set of what is right and what is wrong.
I'm not as computer savvy as most that use the computer regularly. Neverlesstheless, blogging appears to be an anonymous way of communicating feelings that one can't otherwise express openly. I'm also certain that many use such sites to seek and provide information, a good thing. I'm not a true chatterbox; I will limit my use, because it takes alot of time from other events that can be performed/completed.
For those who use it for honorable reasons, continue. Maybe one day my opinion might change.
Cyber safty and security are becomming issues of increasing importance due to the widespread use of the web and the advance knowledge of theives. I feel that provided you have installed the proper protection on your computer you can be sure that your informatgion is fairly safe and secure. However, I can't help but wonder if hackers are able to work through most of those systems and obtain your personal information.
This Is Joi form Tech Class. Ok, I was aware of what Spam was and fully appreciate the refresher that's provided. Still have a question that's got me perplexed. How do these Spamers (or whatever the technical term may be) get your email address to send these mass emails to the public. Also, what can you do to safeguard yourself. Sending them to the junk folder I have or blocking doesn't seem to work. In addition, I spend tons in spyware/protective software to no avail. I'm really not technically savvy so please use layman's terms :o)
It's amazing all the ways that people can get into your computer, email, and even your lives.
Viruses and worms can get into your computer and take valuable information stored on your computer, or cause problems for your computer and your email contacts.
Just through spamming and spoofing, people are finding ways to get your money. I never open emails from people I don't know. I figure that if I made a mistake and deleted an email from a friend, they can call me! Lately, though, I find that I'm getting messages from myself!!
Of course, there is also the chance of people invading your life. Though cyber tactics, people can steal your identity. This concerns me the most, as it seems that I could be very unaware once this has happened. I've made sure to make a note to always check my credit reports at annualcreditreport.com each year.
It's too bad that people that such a great thing like the internet has to be an unsafe place. It's too bad that people are so dishonest to engage in this type of behavior.
I am finding the idea of cyberawareness to be very interesting. Working with second graders today, I told a child not to download anything without permission, and he did not know what I meant. I am concerned with viruses and worms attached to these "kids" websites, and the children need to be educated in these matters. We need to start young so that they are wise about using the internet as they grow older.
Make sure if you need to leave personal information on a website that it is secured. To figure out if the website is secure in the address line it will have https.
I have noticed with my students that I need to keep a very close watch of their use of the internet. It is very disturbing to realize that from the school computer lab, that much unhealthy correspondence has come from the school lab. Some recent acts of unkindness has the origination of our school computer lab. Teachers cannot be encouraged enough to oversee the areas that are visited by the student population during school hours. Students are able to send and receive annoying communications.
It is so very important to provide oversight to students when using the computer labs. It is within these areas that students are able to send and receive communications that are neither educational or safe. Students exhibit little or no fear for internet use. It is so very important to train instructors and students alike on the safe use of the internet.
Teachers and students alike should be trained on the safety aspects of internet use. Adults as well as students fall victim to the scams of the cyberworld. In general, students have no fear of the internet and therefore find themselves in serious situations. It is imperative that educators as well as the student populations are trained in the proper and safe use of the internet.
I believe that all staff, which includes, administrators,teachers, teaching assistants should all be trained in the area of cybersafety. Students are very much aware of the lack of knowledge that educators possess when it comes to the use of cyberspace. Complete supervision of computer labs would also help in eliminating access to harmful areas of the internet. Students also have the ability to use one another's identity to engage in cyberbullying during lab time. There are many ways in which we should and could be watchful over the great influence of the cyberworld.
It is very sad that some individuals do not give thought to downloading materials of various authors. I have mentioned that monetary penalties are involved for such violations; I hope they understand. Camille G-L
I agree with you.mlm
In a world in which people are coming up with new ideas to make things easier and less application of work, is it surprising that the work of others is often compromised. I would suggest that the research that we do not only stretch the imagination but also the ability for it to be copied by others.
Clint Harris
It is important for kids to be aware of cypersafety. Kids need to be cypersmart. To many kids have been exploited by sites that they think are safe but in the end there are predators that are out to get them. They need to understand the rules of of safety on the internet when it comes to net surfing, chatting and emailing. yvonne
This may sound absurd,but government should consider instituting a policy whereby schools do not allow children to get on line (I'm not sure what age would be appropriate)until children have passed some sort of "cyber-safety" intelligence test. Adults purchasing computers should receive some sort of rebate for passing a similar type of test. Clearly, I don't know much about government policy, but my heart is in the right place. Kids get too comfortable with the internet at school (where some sites are blocked) and then go home to "tech-clueless" parents. This is a recipe for disaster.
Cyber-safety is crucial. But at some level it's like "the war on drugs". We have to fight by every means possible (to keep our kids safe)-but "individual freedom/choice" is the major player. You can't monitor people 24-7.
Actually, technology offers parents a reward/consequence system that can be easily controlled. Astute tech-savvy parents can take away their child's electronic privileges and teach them responsibility. For certain kids-its the perfect "carrot and stick" learning tool; "Do the dishes and you can have 20 minutes on a learning site, 20 minutes on a game site and then we can create a cyber-safety web page together."
Cemil/Jamie
Hello, this cyber stuff is overwhelming but if one is going to use the computer then one must be aware of what's out there, whether it's helpful or harmful. It's interesting as to how many different ways people have of invading other's privacy, stealing their identities among other things.
My concerns include, the spreading of viruses, junk mail and the privacy issues but if this is going to be the way of the future then there has to be safeguards and we who use the internet need to be aware of those.
The other big issue, I think is plagiarism, that blurred line relating to usage. All in all, there are some helpful and knowledgeable sites so I guess we just have to press on with the learning if we are to keep up.
I didn't know about cyber security and the like but with this introduction I'll surely pay closer attention and use the pointers I got from this class for myself as well as to help teach others.
It is important that all schools have a Tech policy that addresses Cyber security. I currently work at a school with no IT specialist or IT policy. This is critical, particularly in private schools like mine who may still be trying to catch up with technological growth. Online harassment and cyber bullying are all issues that small private schools should be aware of in light of Tech savvy students.
I think the internet can be a potential risk for kids. Kids are not aware of the dangers of the internet.Parents and educators need to get information out to kids that will guide them when they net surf, use chatroom, and email to other users. Kids need to be exposed to cyber safety.
yvonne
There is so much information and so many images out there, that it is hard to know what is allowed as far as usage. It would be great if, as part of a class, the laws were reviewed with students. Have them do a project involving the copyright laws, etc. Even downloading images off the internet for power point presentations is questionable!
I think it is hugely important to make sure our students know what kind of information is appropriate to post on the internet and what kind is not. With the advances in photo and video camera technology, it has become very easy for children to record and post pictures and video. In America, we have seen numerous examples of people posting visual media on the internet, probably with the assumption that only their close associates and friends will be looking. This, in fact, is not the case. While we cannot control every single thing our children put on the internet, we should make a concerted effort to make them well-educated and informed Internet users. At least then we know they are more likely to make good decisions.
Identity theft: Pharming is the practice in which a malicious code is used/installed on a personal computer or server. This misdirects users to fradulent web sites without their knowledge. dr
A relevant connection to cybesaftey is password management. Many times people select passwores that are very easy to help them remember the password. However, in some instances password combinations that are too easy can allow hackers to sail into information that should be personal.
The use of password manager items such as video reminders to occasionally change the password, testing the password strength and use of encryption for sensitive information can serve as a preventative measure to ensure cyber information safety.
Sykes, A.
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