Remote Learning One Year into the Pandemic

It’s been a full year since the world as we know it has shifted due to COVID-19. A year of working from home, social distancing, and a year of remote education for our children. 

Teachers, students, and their parents have had to adapt to many changes over the past year. Students have had to learn to collaborate and communicate remotely to continue their learning. Technology has played a massive role in allowing students to continue their education from their homes, but additional security measures and technology updates may be necessary to keep everything running smoothly.

How Remote Education Has Affected Technology

For many students, handing in an assignment on paper is something they haven’t done for an entire year. Assignments are done digitally, and students have had to learn to operate several new software programs, including video conferencing and cloud tools, in order to participate in their classes.

Many software companies have shifted their focus more towards education and becoming classroom-friendly.  Google’s former G Suite for Education is now Google Workspace for Education. They have implemented updates to Google Meet and Google Classroom to better meet educators and their classes’ needs. 

Teachers now have access to more data and analytics around their curriculum, and classes and students can collaborate and communicate outside of classroom walls.

To compete in the digital learning space, these software and technology companies must keep evolving to meet students, teachers, and parents’ demands to keep digital learning safe, effective, and easy to use. 

Needed Security Measures

With so many students logging into these digital spaces, additional security measures are necessary to keep students and teachers safe online. 

Some of the available supplementary security measures include: 

• Resetting all passwords and implementing a password strength policy
• Requiring multi-factor authentication
• Monitoring for phishing activity and enabling anti-phishing safeguards
• Securing home Wi-fi networks
• Implementing firewalls to prevent unwanted intrusions
• Create employee and student security training
• Monitor logins within the shared network

This list can seem daunting, and depending on your own network’s current state, there may be additional security measures to take to ensure safety. Keep reading to find out how IITG can help. 

Technology Updates and Why They Matter

To meet the demands of the above-mentioned security needs, along with the increased user volume, technology updates are a necessary means of the changing education system. 

While parents and teachers can do their best to secure their home wi-fi networks, use strong passwords, and two-step verification in order to combat cyber-attacks and data breaches, technology upgrades are the most effective measures. 

IITG offers technology upgrades for K-12 education and provides the most up-to-date security tools. Whether you need updated anti-phishing or anti-virus software, intrusion detection, or an audit to assess the gaps in your network’s security, we will work to create a plan that protects your students and teachers.

How Schools Will Change Moving Forward

This shift towards a more technology-driven classroom is likely not going anywhere. Even if students return to in-person learning full time, many of the tools they’re using now will still come into play. We may see some schools favor the flexibility of e-learning and continue a hybrid approach, and we may see some schools stay remote for the foreseeable future.

Regardless of how each school moves forward after Covid, digital collaboration and remote communication will still be a large part of student’s lives, which means security issues will continue to be a big concern. 

IITG can address all of these concerns and ensure that your school’s network is secure, safe, and protected. For more information and to discuss the best solutions for your school’s needs, please contact us.