Cybertraps Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Should Schools Install Cameras in Classrooms Cybertraps 106 Jan 10, 2022

Show notes

Show Notes
- News Item:
  - Florida representative from Naples, FL files HB 1055, which would require schools to consider and vote on a plan to install cameras at the front of every classroom
  - Any installed system would have the ability to record audio and video throughout the classroom, except any area in which children might change clothing.
  - Schools would be required to maintain video archives for at least three months, after which the video could be destroyed unless a request to review was made, or other legal proceeding.
  - Schools would required to blur the faces of any children not part of an "incident" under investigation.
  - Video may not be used to evaluate teachers
  - No provision for funding
- Motivations for Camera Proposals
  - Student Safety
  - Teacher Safety
  - Parental Surveillance of Teaching Methods and Curricula
  - Teacher Evaluations
- Potential Downsides
  - Financial and Logistical
    - Installation of Surveillance Systems Can Be Expensive
    - Video Storage Requirements Can Be Large
  - Legal
    - New duty of care for schools
      - Was video system properly installed?
      - Was video properly archived?
      - If system was not running, why not?
    - Possible evidence in myriad proceedings
    - Further temptation for obstruction of justice and spoliation
  - Privacy
    - Once Data Has Been Collected, It Is Very Difficult to Limit Its Use and Misuse
    - We Should Always Be Reluctant to Collect Data in the First Place
    - Will video be used to evaluate which students are friends or dislike each other?
    - Will cameras be powerful enough to read papers, notes, passwords being entered into devices, etc.
    - Risk of voyeuristic misuse
  - Mission Creep
    - Use of video to evaluate teachers
    - Will Students Be Graded on Attentiveness?
    - Anti-cheating tool?
  - Broader social issues
    - Trust in teachers and the educational system
    - Over-empowering small but highly vocal groups within the community
    - Furthering the culture of surveillance
    - Training children to accept surveillance as a constant fact of life (corporatist approach)
  - Has Dystopia Already Arrived?
    - Extensive surveillance already in schools (but typically not in classrooms)
    - Classrooms are already filled with potential "surveillance" cameras
    - Remote instruction has emboldened some parents
- Resources
  - Florida HB 1055 https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1055/BillText/Filed/PDF
  - #2021-12-30 Proposal Would Lead to Surveillance Cameras in Every Classroom, and Teachers to Wear Microphones https://flaglerlive.com/171423/florida-gop-bill-cameras/
  - #2021-07-20 The Absurd Proposal to Put Bodycams on Teachers Is ... Feasible? https://www.wired.com/story/the-absurd-proposal-to-put-bodycams-on-teachers-is-feasible/
  - #2021-07-08 Tech Companies Are Already Building Tucker Carlson’s School Surveillance Fever Dream https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvzyaa/tech-companies-are-already-building-tucker-carlsons-school-surveillance-fever-dream
  - #2021-07-08 Tucker Carlson calls for teachers to wear body cameras to prevent critical race theory teaching https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tucker-carlson-teachers-race-theory-b1879886.html
  - #2021-06-11 ‘Watchdog’ group wants teachers to wear bodycams to assure they don’t teach Critical Race Theory in Nevada district https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-bodycam-school-teachers-critical-race-theory-nevada-20210611-3zqbbhzmprbqxpbwk6mbsjjxvy-story.html
  - #2021-06-11 Nevada group is pushing for teacher BODY CAMERAS to make sure they're not teaching students critical race theory https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9677295/Nevada-group-wants-teachers-wear-body-cameras-stop-CRT.html
  - #2017-02-09 I would never wear a body camera while teaching in school. Here’s why https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/09/never-wear-body-camera-in-school-teaching
  - #2017-02-08 Should schools give teachers body cams? https://nypost.com/2017/02/08/should-schools-give-teachers-body-cams/
  - [n.d.] Calla Body Worn Cameras https://www.calla.co/

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Simplify and streamline technology
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Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
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🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

We All Live in One Small Town with Dr. Paul Shaw Cybertraps 105 Jan 06, 2022

Show notes

Paul Shaw received his doctorate from University of South Carolina.

He has served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, Dean of Men at St. Leo College, assistant superintendent, and superintendent.

In 2000, he Was recognized as State Superintendent of the Year in South Carolina and State Superintendent of the Year in Georgia in 2010.

Served on the Executive Board for the American Association of School Administrators, teach part-time for Piedmont University, and currently serve as Director of Educator Ethics for the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

Paul is married to Cindy and we have a son (Brian), daughter (Ashley) and 4 grandchildren-Madison, Rogers, Keegan, and Shaw.

1/2 a percent of teachers are reported for teacher misconduct
Just a few educators that put a black eye on Atlanta public schools and teachers
Better monitoring now than before.
Difference between model code of ethics and a code of conduct.
Georgia code of ethics is a list of “thou shalt not’s”
The experience of COVID–19 has helped us be prepared.
Worked with a lot of HR people in the state to help make better guidelines.
Teachers should be professional at all times.
Ethical behavior is doing what’s right even when nobody is looking.
Teach the kids, protect the kids, conduct ourselves appropriately.
If in doubt, at least talk it over with someone.
Teachers are quick to go to social media.
You could lose your effectiveness in the classroom because of your political view, and so you need to be careful when they’re known as a teacher rather than something else.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance.

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Learn more about Renaissance:

How can Schools Deal with Copycat Threats Cybertraps 104 Jan 03, 2022

Show notes

The Problem
https://twitter.com/kalane99/status/1471847077810515972
In the wake of virtually every school shooting, dozens (if not hundreds) of copycat threats are made to schools around the country.
Thanks to prevalence of mobile devices, threats are being made by students in virtually all grade levels
Such threats can initially be anonymous, although law enforcement has resources that can often reveal the initial poster
Threat can originate from anywhere in the world
A significant problem is ease with which such threats are reshared
School districts face problem that they cannot be wrong once about seriousness of threat
The intent of the poster (“just a joke”) or the poster’s inability to carry out the threat are NOT defenses
Vectors for Threats
Phone / Voicemail
Email
Social Media
- Facebook
- Instagram
- Snapchat
- WhatsApp
- TikTok
- Etc.
Why Is This Happening?
Makers of copycat threats seek notoriety and enjoy the chaos they cause
Correlation between size of tragedy and number of copycat threats
Parents have a responsibility to supervise their children and warn about the potential consequences of making threats of violence
Effects
Disruption of routine
School cancellations
Mental health Issues
How Can We Reduce This Behavior?
Culture of cybersafety
Teachable Moments
- Students
- Parents
- School Community
Cooperation between schools and law enforcement
Increased police presence?
What Are Social Media Platforms Doing?
https://twitter.com/TikTokComms/status/1471572096111239175
Algorithms and Human Inspection of Possible TOS violations
Automation to take down content that violates guidelines
Safety teams that coordinate with law enforcement
Can social media respond quickly enough?
Consequences for Children Who Make Threats
School sanctions
Counseling
Criminal proceedings
- Fines
- Jail Time
Resources

- #2021–12–18 At least a dozen students are ARRESTED nationwide following ‘school shooting TikTok challenge’ after copycat Ethan Crumbley massacre threats “https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article–10324583/A-dozen-students-ARRESTED-nationwide-following-Michigan-copycat-school-shooting-TikTok-challenge.html” - #2021–12–17 Copycat threats after Oxford school shooting leave juveniles facing drastic consequences “https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/12/17/oxford-school-shooting-copycat-threats/8932506002/” - #2021–12–17 Threats of school violence on TikTok spur educators into action “https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2021/1217/Threats-of-school-violence-on-TikTok-spur-educators-into-action ” - #2021–12–17 Amid alleged TikTok school shooting threats, here’s what we know about app’s response “https://www.recordonline.com/story/tech/2021/12/17/tiktok-alleged-school-threat-guidelines/8937761002/” - #2021–12–16 School threats and their impact on students’ mental health “https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/michigan/school-threats-and-their-impact-on-students-mental-health” - #2021–12–16 School threats posted on TikTok deemed not credible; security beefs up across nation “https://www.recordonline.com/story/news/nation/2021/12/16/tiktok-violence-threats-schools-united-states-security/8933323002/” - #2021–12–13 Extra officers at JL Mann high school after threatening Snapchat post “https://www.wyff4.com/article/greenville-county-school-district-responds-to-threatening-post/38496240” - #2021–12–10 What’s behind all the ‘non-credible’ school threats in Virginia? “https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/law-enforcement-responds-to-school-threats” - #2021–12–08 Multiple students charged in string of copycat threats after Oxford High shooting “https://abcnews.go.com/US/multiple-students-charged-string-copycat-threats-oxford-high/story?id=81623370” - #2021–12–08 Two people in custody, charged with threatening metro Atlanta schools “https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/loganville-high-school-atlanta-public-schools-student-arrested-threats/85–23e5e8ec–3f51–499b-b361–45ddd5109579” - #2021–12–08 Richview Middle student arrested over threat posted to social media “https://clarksvillenow.com/local/richview-middle-student-arrested-over-threat-posted-to-social-media/” - #2021–12–08 Police arrest 13-year-old after second threat on Maple Valley Schools this week “https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2021/12/08/police-arrest–13-year-old-after-another-threat-maple-valley-schools/6431790001/” - #2021–12–03 Since Oxford Shooting, At Least 519 Schools Have Closed Nationwide Due to Threats “https://www.newsweek.com/since-oxford-shooting-least–519-schools-have-closed-nationwide-due-threats–1655897” - #2021–12–03 13-year-old in custody after threat on Holt Junior High School “https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2021/12/03/13-year-old-custody-after-threat-holt-junior-high/8855537002/” - #2021–12–02 Copycat threats of violence force some school districts in Michigan to close Thursday “https://www.wtvr.com/news/national/copycat-threats-of-violence-force-some-school-districts-in-michigan-to-close-thursday” - #2021–11–20 Threats against school were hoaxes to create ‘fear and panic,’ Wayne County officials say “https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wayne-county-news/threats-against-high-school-were-hoaxes-to-create-fear-and-panic-wayne-county-officials-say/” - #2018–02–20 Copycat school threats boil over following major shootings; how do we stop them? “https://www.cleveland19.com/story/37552106/copycat-threats-following-school-shooting-web/” - #2018–02–16 Copycat Threats and Jittery Nerves Force School Shutdowns Across the U.S. “https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/16/us/school-threats-closings.html” - Safe Kids Inc. “https://safekidsinc.com/”

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance.

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Learn more about Renaissance:

The Untethered Guy with Sini Ninkovic Cybertraps 103 Dec 16, 2021

Show notes

Sini Ninkovic, who is today better known as “The Untethered Guy”, is a Berkeley MBA, and Silicon Valley professional turned digital wellness guru.

After a lifelong struggle with digital dependency, Sini quit his job at Apple to live in a van and untether from tech. Along the way he learned that the key to inner harmony wasn’t found in removing tech, but in redefining his relationship with it. The tools he discovered for himself were so transformative that sharing them with the world has become his personal mission.

After releasing his book Untethered, Sini started traveling globally as a speaker and digital wellness educator. In his engaging talks he teaches our tech dilemma and shares a long term future where we overcome distraction and truly embrace our devices without becoming tethered to them.

How Sini arrived in Austria as a refugee.
As an adult while still playing games roommates said there was something wrong.
At 24, finally realized that he was addicted to technology.
Games are no better now than they were, but they are better at sucking you in.
Working at Apple - but not knowing what he’s doing afterwards.
Silent meditation retreat.
Redefining your relationship with technology.
Inner voice told me what to do: 1. learn language. 2. write a book 3. combine those two.
Huge financial loss
How to have a healthy relationship with technology
Mindset upgrade - what if the smartphone is our first relationship with a piece of technology?
What would it be to be a 10!
We are all seeking an emotional connection.
Reduce the effects of algorithms.
Mindset upgrades
Smartphone is the average of our 5–10 most used apps.
Drained of willpower by the end of the day.
Use peers to help you do better.
Tristan Harris - The Social Dilemna

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance.

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Learn more about Renaissance:

School Board Cybertraps 102 Dec 13, 2021

Show notes

Some recent examples of school board cybertraps
AZ – Google Drive with “dossiers” on parents
- Great example of a classic cybertrap – unintended disclosure of Google Drive URL
CA – Board president arrested for possession of child pornography
MA – Hostile text messages
NJ – Anti-Muslim Facebook posts
TX – Alleged “doxxing” of parents
VT – Sharing of sexist and racist memes
WA – Transphobic comments by board member
CA – School board mocks parents during COVID, entire board resigned
Issues Raised
Relationship with Constituents
- Most boards have policies requiring board members to treat the public with dignity and respect.
Relationship with Educators and Staff
- Criticism of specific individuals is highly inappropriate, given board’s role in disciplinary proceedings
First Amendment Issues
- Board members have greater protection than school employees because of political process
- At the same time, the social media comments of public officials are subject to greater scrutiny
- Tension between supporting legally-adopted district policies and free speech
Public Records Obligations
- Board members should maintain a clear boundary between personal and board resources (i.e., devices, accounts, etc.)
- Regardless of what platform or service is used, public officials have a duty to preserve communications regarding official business
Understanding How Technology Works
- Privacy Settings
- Retweets and re-sharing inevitably will be seen as endorsements
Discipline of Board Members
- Can a board remove one of its members?
- Generally, no.
- However, board may take other actions, including:
  - Censure
  - Removal from positions of leadership
- Even criminal arrest and conviction is not grounds for removal from office
- However, access restrictions can be put in place
Misuse of School Resources
- Misconduct involving the use of school resources may raise legal issues for the district and possible criminal consequences for board member
Cybertraps of Family Members
- Generally not a legal concern for board members
- May pose political liability
Resources

- #2021–12–08 Protesters demand Salem-Keizer board member Danielle Bethell resign after Facebook post “https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/education/2021/12/08/salem-keizer-lus-protesters-call-resignation-danielle-bethell-school-board-county-commission/6426974001/” - #2021–12–06 Parents demand Hispanic Fort Worth school board member be fired after she ‘doxxed’ white parents who sued over COVID mask mandate and left abusive voicemails for one mother “https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article–10280653/Hispanic-Fort-Worth-school-board-member-admits-doxxing-parents-sued-COVID-mask-mandate.html” - #2021–12–02 Scottsdale Police determine no criminal conduct committed by school board member “https://ktar.com/story/4792525/scottsdale-police-determine-no-criminal-conduct-committed-by-school-board-member/” - #2021–11–09 The Greenburg files: Is there a file on you? “https://www.yourvalley.net/stories/the-greenburg-files-is-there-a-file-on-you,270628” - #2021–06–07 After sharing racially charged texts about West Roxbury families in October, a Boston school official has resigned “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/07/metro/boston-appears-have-illegally-withheld-inappropriate-texts-after-career-ending-school-committee-meeting/”](

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance.

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Youth Protection with Dr. Joaquina Kankam Cybertraps 101 Dec 10, 2021

Show notes

Not only is Dr. Joaquina Kankam an expert in youth protection compliance and risk management, but her practical experience has made her a leader in understanding the needs of youth serving organizations. In addition to being an educator (K–12 & Higher Education), Joaquina has presented at several national association conferences and participated as a panelist in several discussions regarding youth. She is the founder of the School of Solutions.

First week of University - preparing for youth coming to campus.
All I saw were a bunch of liabilities.
Why cybersafety is so important right now.
Encouraging our employees on social media and interact with people.
Issues of accountability and transparency
Policies on any form of communication outside of educational programming.
Checks and balances in place
It’s important to involve our human element.
Parents should still be involved, as well.
Parents don’t abdicate responsibility to watch over child communication.
How to have proactive conversations.
Address school boards, becuase they have the power
Lifelong skills in dealing with online activity.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance.

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Missed Opportunities and Four Deaths in Michigan Cybertraps 100 Dec 06, 2021

Show notes

Show Notes

Item – November closed with the news of a terrible tragedy in Michigan, as 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley used a Sig Sauer 9mm handgun to kill four of his schoolmates
This incident is remarkable for the role that social media and digital evidence should have played in its prevention, and the importance both will play in the subsequent investigation and trial of not only Crumbley but his parents as well.
Litigation is also likely against the school district and various school officials
Questionable Parenting
Black Friday present for dad or kid?
Stoking (or allowing unchecked) fetishism
Warning Signs
Instagram Posts
- Lots of Instagram images attributed to Ethan Crumbley (some probably spurious)
- Generally agreed that 4 days before shooting, he posted a photo of a gun on Instagram with the caption “Just got my new beauty today SIG SAUER 9mm. Ask any questions I will answer.”
Rumors Circulating Among Students (Some Stayed Home)
- Some number of students told their parents that they did not want to be in school because “something was going down.”
- This will require more investigation.
- How did they know?
- Where did they see the information or threats?
- What did they hear?
- Who posted it?
In-School Searches for Ammunition
- Crumbley told the teacher that he and his family like to visit shooting ranges and that was why he was looking at ammunition. The parents confirmed that shooting is a hobby.
Threatening drawing
- Crumbley told his teacher and counselors that he made the drawing for a video game he was designing.
Terrible Miscalculations
Earlier Warnings
- On two separate occasions in early November, the school sent out warnings regarding threats of violence. Not clear if one or both were related in any way to Crumbley but people were on edge.
School-Parent Conference
- The school met with all of the Crumbleys following the discovery of the teen’s drawing.
- Parents refused to take Ethan home.
Failure to Search
- Despite having clear reasonable cause, the school did not search Ethan’s backpack or locker.
Failure to Separate or Isolate
- A good argument can be made that there was sufficient evidence to isolate or suspend Ethan until a proper psych evaluation could be conducted
Digital Documentation of Tragedy
Surveillance Videos
- Investigators have been able to document Ethan’s actions using school video surveillance footage.
Witness Videos and Text Messages
- Increasingly, students in these situations are documenting what takes place using their mobile devices
- One chilling video shows students responding to a knock at the door. They believed that it was Ethan, although local law enforcement says it was one of their officers.
Digital Investigations
Devices
- Investigators have already discovered videos recorded on Ethan’s phone the night before the killings in which he talks about shooting students
Social Media
- Investigators have promised a “deep dive” into Ethan’s social media to look for planning, possible motives, etc.
- “Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said the shooting was “not just an impulsive act.” She said investigators had uncovered a “mountain” of evidence showing that the attack was premeditated.”
Potential Liability
Will the school or district employees be sued?
- Almost certainly.
- Michigan law may provide immunity to the school district if the school officials were “engaged in a governmental function”
- Individuals have immunity unless their actions constituted “gross negligence”
Will they be found liable?
- That’s a tougher question.
- Were all applicable procedures followed?
- If yes, then they made a judgment call that had a terrible outcome. That’s not the same as being “grossly negligent.”
Just two months ago, the Broward County school district settled 52 lawsuits in the Parkland shooting for a total of $25 million
Policy and Procedure Changes
“The challenge for administrators is properly identifying the one student who might act violently amid far more who display warning signs but never do any harm.”
School officials warn that pandemic stress and time away from school “has led to a surge in behavior problems and violence in schools, including a huge spike in gun incidents.”
Fallout
Fake Social Media Accounts
Copycat Threats against Schools
Resources

- #2021–12–05 After Michigan school shooting, experts question what could have prevented it “https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/12/05/michigan-school-shooting/” - #2021–12–04 In the Michigan Shooting, What Is the School’s Responsibility? “https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/04/us/oxford-high-school-responsibility-legal.html” - #2021–12–02 Oxford High School shooting: Everything we know about deadly Michigan attack and suspect Ethan Crumbley “https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/oxford-school-shooting-what-happened-b1968122.html” - #2021–12–01 Michigan suspect recorded video about killing students night before shooting, officials say “https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/michigan-suspect-discussed-killing-students-video-phone-authorities-sa-rcna7328” - #2021–11–30 4 dead, 7 injured in Oxford High School shooting; suspect is 15-year-old student “https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2021/11/30/oxford-high-school-active-shooter-victims/8810588002/” - #2021–10–20 Parkland victims’ families reach $25 million settlement with school district 3 years after massacre “https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/10/20/parkland-massacre-families-settlement-cruz/ ” - [n.d.] Principal Recovery Network, a project of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, which helps support education leaders who face these tragedies. “https://www.nassp.org/community/principal-recovery-network/” - [n.d.] Safe Havens International “https://safehavensinternational.org/”

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance.

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Gamification vs. Learning Through Games with Clarence Tan Cybertraps 99 Dec 02, 2021

Show notes

Clarence Tan (Co-Founder) is the Chief Executive Officer and a Co-Founder of Boddle Learning— a gaming platform for education. Clarence Tan graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. He started his entrepreneurial journey into educational games during his junior year at the university when he started a game development company in Colombia, South America in 2011. Clarence is a veteran in the games industry with over 10+ years of game design experience. He has designed engaging interactive experiences for schools, government institutions, and large corporations. He is also a speaker on classroom gamification at educational conferences such as KCPT(PBS), LearnFest (formerly iPadpalooza), and ISTE.

Developing games in Colombia
Game-based learning vs. gamification
Games are the best medium to reach kids.
Clear goal, know steps to get there. Strong feedback loop.
Kinds of games that work well.
Rewards
Hogwarts competition
Gaming drives certain behaviors.
Leaderboard works poorly for kids on bottom half.
Use of random draws for raffle tickets.
Actionable Gamification
What actions will cause kids to be more motivated?
The process can always be painful.
Gamification lets you as the user know and track your progress.
My performance increased because I could see the improvement.
Why gamification is better and more scalable.
Dragonbox
Obviously, we got kicked out of all the schools for that!

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance.

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Cybersecurity Grants for K-12 Schools Cybertraps LIVE 98 Nov 29, 2021

Show notes

Show Notes The Problem The K–12 Cybersecurity Resource Center, tracked 408 cybersecurity incidents that hit K–12 institutions over the past year, an 18 percent increase from 2019 and an average of two cyberattacks per school day aimed at the nation’s education system. The most widespread cyber incidents were ransomware attacks, in which a hacker infiltrates a network and hold it for ransom, along with data breaches of student and staff personal data that included everything from bullying reports to Social Security numbers. Class invasions were also a significant trend, with these incidents involving a malicious actor gaining access to an online video conferencing system and disrupting it, often with inappropriate images or words. This trend was seen particularly at the beginning of the pandemic, and was used to interrupt classes on video conferencing platform Zoom in so many situations that the term “Zoombombing” was coined. News Items Passage of $1 Billion Department of Homeland Security cybersecurity grant program While the grants will technically be administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has long been DHS’s main grant-making unit, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act calls on CISA to serve in an advisory capacity — work that Wales said has already started. The infrastructure law requires each state to develop a comprehensive cybersecurity plan to qualify for the grants, and about 80% of the total funds will eventually make their way to local jurisdictions. Wales told Clarke that leaves CISA with several questions to answer before the money begins flowing, which is expected in 2022. Goal is development of “common baseline” – That’s likely to include some cybersecurity steps that are commonly described as fundamental — multi-factor authentication, limiting the number of privileged user accounts on a government network, patching vulnerabilities as soon as they’re identified and running regular risk assessments. But those are sometimes unaffordable for the small, local governments that stand to benefit from the new grant program. Signature of K–12 Cybersecurity Act requires the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to create cybersecurity recommendations and tools for schools to use to defend themselves against hackers after conducting a study on the cybersecurity risks facing K–12 institutions. What Should Schools Be Doing Now? Educate themselves about the grant process and information needed Educate teachers, students, and parents about the importance of cybersecurity Cultivate a culture of cybersecurity For K–12 IT Departments Check CISA Web site regularly Review lists of potential threats [from Ikon Business Group] Advanced Persistent Threat Attack [APT]: a network attack in which an unauthorized person gains access to a network and stays there undetected for a long period. Brute-force Cracking: a trial and error method used by application programs to decode encrypted data such as passwords or Data Encryption Standard (DES) keys, through exhaustive effort (using brute force) rather than employing intellectual strategies. Credential Reuse: Once attackers have a collection of usernames and passwords from a breached website or service (easily acquired on any number of black market websites on the internet), they know that if they use these same credentials on other websites there’s a chance they’ll be able to log in. Distributed Denial of Services [DDoS]: an attempt to make an online service unavailable by overwhelming it with traffic from multiple sources. Drive-by Download: a program that is automatically downloaded to your computer without your consent or even your knowledge. Malware: refers to various forms of harmful software, such as viruses and ransomware. Once malware is in your computer, it can wreak all sorts of havoc, from taking control of your machine, to monitoring your actions and keystrokes, to silently sending all sorts of confidential data from your computer or network to the attacker’s home base. Network-probe: a probe is an attempt to gain access to a computer and its files through a known or probable weak point in the computer system. Phishing: When internet fraudsters impersonate a business to trick you into giving out your personal information. Phishing Attacks are the primary vector for malware attacks and are usually comprised of a malicious e-mail attachment or an e-mail with an embedded, malicious link. Ransomware: a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid. Session Hijacking and Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: The session between your computer and the remote web server is given a unique session ID, which should stay private between the two parties; however, an attacker can hijack the session by capturing the session ID and posing as the computer making a request, allowing them to log in as an unsuspecting user and gain access to unauthorized information on the web server. SQL Injection Attack: uses malicious code to get a server to divulge information it normally wouldn’t. This is especially problematic if the server stores private customer information from the website, such as credit card numbers, usernames and passwords (credentials), or other personally identifiable information, which are tempting and lucrative targets for an attacker. 7 Steps for Better Cybersecurity [from Ikon Business Group] Get buy in from top administration – A good cybersecurity plan requires line items in the budget for people, hardware, and software – which means getting the principal, CIO, Operations Manager, and any other top-level decision makers on board. Perform live simulations and training exercises with students and staff – The best training today is one in which users undergo a simulated attack specific to their job or role. Follow up any training by testing how well the lesson was learned. Send out occasional phony phishing emails to check how many employees still fail to recognize the threat. Conduct evaluations – Don’t be afraid to perform evaluations of both employees and systems to find out how vulnerable your organization is to attack. Present users with a realistic type of cyber-attack and include a follow-up meeting for end users and IT personnel to discuss the results of the campaign and how to avoid scams in the future. Communicate – Don’t opt for scare tactics. The goal is to build a culture of cyber awareness. Start small with a few videos or infographics to kick things off. Don’t waste time sending out long memos that will only get ignored. Keep it fun, keep it short. Create a formal plan – IT teams should develop a formal, documented plan for cybersecurity training that is reviewed and updated often with the latest information on attack vectors and other risks. Stress the importance of security at school and at home – Tech leaders should help employees understand the importance of cyber hygiene not just in the workplace, but also at home, Pollard said. “Teach users about privacy, security, and how the lessons learned at work can apply at home and in their personal lives to give them a ‘what’s in it for me’ they can apply all the time, not just at work,” he added. Reward users – Reward users that find malicious emails, and share stories about how users helped thwart security issues. IT leaders should also empathize with people who make mistakes. Include posters, contests and other reminders to drive home an easy-to-understand message that security is everyone’s personal responsibility. Resources Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency “https://www.cisa.gov/” A Guide to Cybersecurity for K–12 Schools “https://www.ikonbusinessgroup.com/a-guide-to-cybersecurity-for-k–12-schools/” - #2021–11–22 Schumer: LI school districts should get ready to apply for funding to fight off cyberattacks “https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/cyberattacks-school-districts-infrastructure-bill–1.50430756” - #2021–11–17 Cy...

Live your Values with Richard Shell Cybertraps 97 Nov 25, 2021

Show notes

Richard Shell is a global thought leader and senior faculty member at one of the world’s leading business schools, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He serves as Chair of Wharton’s Legal Studies and Business Ethics Department, the largest department of its kind in the world. His forthcoming book, The Conscience Code: Lead with Your Values. Advance Your Career. addresses an increasingly urgent problem in today’s workplace: standing up for core values such as honesty, fairness, personal dignity, and justice when the pressure is on to look the other way.

You’re not a bad person if you do a bad thing.
Misconstrued or perverse incentives
Deadlines, compensation, etc. are rewards for achieving a goal
Doing it, and covering up from it.
Rationalizations - People anchor their pride in their role and in moral identity
We do a lot to avoid admitting making a mistake.
No Child Left Behind forced people to cut corners.
Change incentives or strengthen people to resist them?
Incentives are creating a toxic culture
If you label it as something wrong, you’ll stand to the side of it.
You have to think of yourself as a person of conscience first?
What would a person of conscience do?
Violate your values or you quit.
Your values are what you’re willing to pay for them.
When people get to impasse, they get more creative.
How to stand and fight instead of quitting.
The five pressures: peer, authority pressure, incentives, role, systemic PAIRS.
Easier to implement a conscience
When people are arguing over their interests they are different than arguing over their beliefs.
Incentives don’t work when talking about beliefs.
George Washington story
3 sources for values: family, spiritual, education
Competing aspects of conscience
Move from person of conscience to process

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