Internet Security
 Reframing the Debate on Online Safety
The U.S. Senate recently passed the Protecting the Childen for 21st Century Act, which focuses on the educational strategies rather than locking up the access. The learning community represented by ISTE applauds Senate's new focus on education for online safety. (more)
Children’s
Internet Protection Act
The Children’s Internet Protection Act
(CIPA) is a federal law enacted by Congress in December 2000 to address
concerns about offensive content over the Internet on school and
library computers. CIPA imposes certain requirements on any school
and liberary that receive support through the “E-rate” program.
Some of the requirements are: to implement a filtering policy to
block inappropriate materials on the Internet, to monitor online
activities of minors, and to protect security of minors in any form
of electronic communications, and prevent unauthorized access (so
called “hacking”).
Link: http://ifea.net/cipa.pdf
NYS Cyber-Security Annual Conference
Each October, the NYS Office of Cyber-Security and Critical Infrastructure
Coordination holds a conference on Kids Safe Online. SED is a member
of the coordinating committee for this conference. CSCIC also compiles
a list of resources for kids, parents, and teachers that deal with online
issues: http://www.cscic.state.ny.us/
The State of School Security
A recent article from the T.H.E. Journal highlighted
a survey study, "Research: Benchmarks for School Safety" (July 2007), conducted of 381 public school district IT and security directors by CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G), with focus on the areas of "cyber safety" as well as physical safety. For
key findings from the survey study and key resources identified to address
the challenges of planning, developing and implementing effective security
and safety strategies in K-12 schools, follow the link: http://www.thejournal.com/the/schoolsecurity/state/
Assessing School Security?
How safe is your school? And what does it mean to be safe, anyway? CDW-G conducted a survey of schools using the school safety index survey and found a variety of vulnerabilities--some as a result of inadequate electronic safeguards but even more as a result of inadequate human safeguards, such as limited budgets, lack of resources, or insufficient training of staff and students. In many cases, schools were unaware of just how vulnerable they were. CDW-G hopes that using the School Safety Index--with sections on cyber security and physical security--will help to remedy that. For more information, follow the following link: http://www.thejournal.com/the/schoolsecurity/assessing/
Other Resources on Internet Security:
For Administrators and Technology Directors
- Safeguarding the Wired Schoolhouse
This program is the latest initiative from the Consortium for
School Networking (CoSN), designed to help school leaders understand
their technological options for managing the content students access over
the Internet.
- Internet
Safety Primer
Not sure what online safety is all about? Read this
quick overview of key online safety concerns and strategies ranging from
acceptable use policies to online supervision, from screening inappropriate
materials to balancing freedom and control. The TechCorps has developed
a much larger pool of resources on the Internet Security.
- Internet
Content Control Products
Shopping for a filter to install at home or at school? Try this short list of products that have been given top ratings by independent experts like PC Magazine.
- Cyber Security for the Digital District
This web-site offers helpful resources for District level leadership
such as Self-Assessment Checklist, and Cyber Security Planning Protocol.
- Web Wise
Kids
This web-site provides a useful list of statistics on cyber security and
Internet safety.
- NetFamilyNews.org: Kid-Tech News for Parents
This web-site provides a weekly newsletter that covers online safety,
new educational resources, research on Internet use, and Internet policies.
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For Teachers
- Kids Privac
This web-site is particularly informative on Children's Online Privacy
Protection Act.
- Web Wise
Kids
This web-site provides a useful list of statistics on cyber security and
Internet safety.
- NetFamilyNews.org: Kid-Tech News for Parent
This web-site provides a weekly newsletter that covers online safety,
new educational resources, research on Internet use, Internet policies.
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For Librarians and Media Specialists
- American Library Association (ALA)
The ALA compiled comprehensive information about The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Frequently asked questions and answers, articles from related professional associations, and legal history are available from this website.
- American Library Association (ALA) - Network Security
The issues of privacy and network security are
intertwined. Libraries have to take on the challenges to secure their networks
and protect users’ privacy. Resources on library network security are available
from this website.
- Balance between Internet Security and Intellectual Freedom
Relating to the CIPA, NY Library Association (NYLA) states commitment to Intellectual
Freedom.
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For Parents
- Get Net Wise
This web-site provides information about on-line safety tools such as
filtering inappropriate web-sites, monitoring children’s web-browsing,
and setting a time limit on Internet use. In the middle of this page, you
can use a database to find suitable tools for individual family conditions.
- NetFamilyNews.org: Kid-Tech News for Parents
This web-site provides a weekly newsletter that covers online safety,
new educational resources, research on Internet use, Internet policies.
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New York State Education
Department
Office of Curriculum and Instructional
Support:
Education Technology Programs
89 Washington Ave 315 EB
Albany, NY 12234 |
