Nearly 30 percent of U.S. high school students admitted to using a connected device to cheat on a classroom exam or project, according to a recent survey.
And 31 percent of U.S. students accessed banned content on the internet, according to “Cybersecurity 101: Teens in the Classroom” a McAfee/MSI International survey of nearly 4,000 high school students in the U.S., Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom administered last June.
Cybersecurity education should start in kindergarten, when students should learn the basics of how to use devices, says Gary Davis, McAfee’s chief consumer security evangelist. “It truly takes an ecosystem” Davis says. “It takes teachers, parents and administrators to be in lockstep in working collectively to educate and inform and drive the right behavior.”
The company offers three general tips on cybereducation and device usage:
1. Create student contracts in the classroom. Develop device-usage guidelines that clarify “good behaviors.”
2. Commit to cybersecurity ed. Regular, relevant and timely online safety education teaches students to avoid digital dangers and respect others’ privacy. Districts can also block students from downloading new apps or accessing certain sites.
3. Keep parents in the loop. Schools should update parents frequently about how students are using technology in the classroom.
