How to protect your district from ransomware attacks

It’s important to have a plan, because ransomware attacks are not an ‘if,’ but a ‘when’

As with almost every industry, COVID-19 has required educational institutions to embrace digital technology for remote learning and student, teacher, and internal administrative meetings and collaboration. Web applications are adapting the learning experience, and streamlining the way educational institutions work. K-12, college, and university campuses are increasingly reliant upon these … Read More

Bolstering cybersecurity with Zero Trust

As learning remains remote, it is imperative for schools and districts to remain vigilant when it comes to network threats—and a Zero Trust model can be a valuable asset

Like all other sectors, the pandemic expedited digital transformation in education. School districts and universities around the globe found themselves making years’ worth of changes rapidly, as the coronavirus shutdown resulted in a mad dash to a new, fully remote “normal.” As schools continue to make sense of distance learning … Read More

School’s (locked) out: Defending against the new ransomware threat

Preparations for the fall must include strategies to defend against the rising tide of ransomware and other security threats

With schools planning for the 2021-2022 school year, a threat already impacting districts across the country is on many district leaders’ minds. Ransomware is proving to be a thorn in the side of the federal government, healthcare institutions, IT organizations, and school districts.   Since December of last year, many of … Read More

6 strategies for better K-12 cybersecurity

Renee Tarun, deputy CISO, Fortinet

The education sector has had to rapidly adopt and scale new technologies to enable remote and hybrid learning as a result of the pandemic. This has created an expanded threat landscape, and malicious actors have taken this opportunity to target academic institutions to an even greater extent. In mid-March, the … Read More

4 steps to combat ransomware in schools

The rise of ransomware is increasingly troubling, but a few smart steps can help educators keep their schools protected

Walking through the parking lot, your office manager sees a USB flash drive labeled “Teacher Cutbacks” on the ground. Your lead teacher receives an email that appears to be from your IT person requesting a password reset. Your custodian sees a flyer advertising a free meal for school employees and … Read More

5 edtech tools that take personalized learning to the next level

In Putnam County Schools, students use a variety of carefully chosen digital resources to meet them where they are

On day one of math class, about one-third of school students are ready to master grade-level standards while others aren’t yet able to complete basic skills. Indeed, it’s not uncommon that students’ abilities span not just one grade level, but several grade levels. And while whole-class instruction may meet the … Read More

Personalized learning: A 50-year-old “trend” worth exploring

As it becomes more mainstream, educators should look for tools and resources that support personalized learning

Any teacher who has spent more than a few years in the profession will be exposed to a variety of educational trends. Innovative interventions, burgeoning buzzwords, and ambiguous acronyms are often touted as the next best thing, only to be replaced a short time later with a new trend. For … Read More

All learning is personalized learning

Digital reading can increase a school’s personalized learning efforts, while also boosting student achievement

When personalized learning came on the scene, some found it challenging to get a grip on what it meant for instruction. A beloved retired master teacher colleague mused, “Personalized learning – isn’t that a little redundant? Isn’t all learning personal?” Shouldn’t personalization be the first thing we think about when … Read More

How to employ a differentiated mindset when teaching STEM

Differentiated instruction is a vital component of STEM education--here's how to maintain a differentiated mindset while teaching

When we facilitate professional development events, there’s often a common theme: teachers understand the importance of active STEM teaching and learning, but don’t always know how to implement it in a way that supports the diverse needs of their students. In our work with TGR EDU: Explore, a partnership between … Read More