How you can support NCSAM
The Internet is a critical resource to K-12 education. As a school administrator, you can play an essential role in ensuring your students, faculty and staff stay safe and secure online. A great place to start is by participating in National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) this October. Whether you are able to show your support for just one day or every day this October, consider the following ways you can make a difference to raise cybersecurity awareness.
What you can do…
…in one minute:
- Send a school or district-wide email announcing October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Encourage faculty and staff in their interactions with students, parents and other school personnel to integrate messages about “Our Shared Responsibility” to strengthen cybersecurity. More information is available at http://www.staysafeonline.org/ncsam/about/.
- Promote NCSAM on your school website and social networks. Find Web banners to post and social media messages to share here.
…in one hour:
- Ask your PTA, school board or superintendent to issue a formal proclamation in support of National Cyber Security Awareness Month in October, recognizing the importance of cybersecurity to your school district.
- Schedule a meeting with your school’s resource officer to discuss ways to better educate your students about being safe and secure online. The Federal Trade Commission has an excellent guide for talking to kids about online security:
…in one day:
- Hold a cybersecurity in-service training for school faculty and staff during the month of October. Have your information technology personnel give presentations on smart computer practices and online security measures.
…all month long:
- Work with your computer sciences teachers to incorporate cybersecurity into lesson plans. Find age-appropriate, easy-to-use materials from the National Cyber Security Alliance.
- Hold a school poster contest in which students create public service announcements to educate their peers using the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Display the winning entries in school hallways or common areas to raise awareness. Review tip sheets, as well as online safety posters and videos, here.
…all year round:
- Review your school’s acceptable use policies for consistency with current online technologies and revise as necessary. Click here for guidelines on acceptable use policies.
- Link to the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. tips on your school website and share them in school/district newsletters and other communications to parents.