By Roxy Mourant, CBEIgnited.org
Jessica Enderson, NDCDE
Sam Bourgeois, Make-IT-Secure
As a parent and grandparent, it’s mind-boggling to keep up with the changes in educational technology for my family. When COVID hit, we used that opportunity to do some homeschooling for a month before the local district put things into place for online learning. Now, with all the great resources available, my family enjoys a blended learning environment where much of what they are learning is both online and face-to-face. At the elementary and middle schools where I see the day-to-day routine happening, teachers utilize online resources, classroom laptops and tablets and many online resources seamlessly.
Even my family’s ‘playdates’ are on gaming apps and involve texting to each other. As a very protective parent and grandparent, my concern is no longer who their friends are, but who out there is NOT their friend and how we can keep them from harm.
I’m pleased to share a proactive approach that is happening in North Dakota! The North Dakota Center for Distance Education and Make-IT-Secure are providing students and their families with online cyber security content. Working in collaboration through non-profit, “Educating for Leadership, Inc.” agencies are able to maximize their resources and expertise to meet the needs of all learners. To see what E4L is doing, please visit their web site and the news for the latest projects! educating4leadership.org
This online program uses the CBE (Competency-based Education) philosophy, which means that learning is constant and time is the variable. Students must demonstrate mastery but how long it takes them can vary. Topics include: What is Cyber Security, Smishing Texting Safely, Protecting your Digital Identity, Knowing the Law, Strengthening Account Access. Students learn how to be safe using text, emails and other online communication. These lessons are useful, relevant, and fun for the students. They are allowed to move at their own pace, showing what they have mastered through examples.
By integrating these cybersecurity lessons into the curriculum, North Dakota Center for Distance Education (NDCDE) ensures that students not only excel academically but also become responsible digital citizens. The lessons are designed to empower learners with practical skills, helping them recognize threats such as phishing, malware, and online scams, while teaching them about the importance of secure passwords and two-factor authentication. With the increasing prevalence of cyber threats targeting young people, having a strong foundation in digital safety is crucial.
In addition, NDCDE emphasizes the importance of collaboration between families, schools, and the broader community to create a safer online environment. Parents and guardians are encouraged to engage with these lessons, allowing them to learn alongside their children and helping to reinforce safe online habits at home. By fostering an ongoing dialogue about online security, NDCDE creates a proactive approach to cybersecurity, ensuring that students remain protected while exploring the vast resources of the digital world.
In a world where technology is woven into nearly every aspect of learning and daily life, it’s more important than ever to equip students with the tools they need to stay safe online. North Dakota Center for Distance Education’s partnership with Make-IT-Secure offers invaluable resources through accessible, engaging content that teaches students to protect their digital identity and navigate the internet with confidence. By adopting a competency-based model, these lessons are tailored to each learner’s pace, ensuring mastery of essential cybersecurity skills. With the support of parents, educators, and community partners, NDCDE is leading the way in fostering a generation of digitally competent and security-conscious learners.
Comments