Humans are always on the hunt for knowledge, which they apply to create effective ways of carrying out tasks. Technology gets better with time and is applied in every aspect of our lives. The educational sector isn't left out in the application of technological advancements, as over the years, schools continue to implement new and innovative solutions to improve learning both in and out of the classroom. The year 2020 is set to be no different, and prepare to witness the following 5 trends in education through the year.
The Redefinition of a Classroom
In the past, the traditional definition of a classroom setting involves the use of physical books. Now a modern classroom features more digital devices such as laptops being the main tool of learning. Smartboards and Smartdesks have all but replaced the use of the traditional boards and desks.
Digital transformation in education changed the definition and setting of a classroom, alongside the features of a learning space. Last year Google reported that the number of Chromebook users around the world was over 30 million.
In a bid to improve education, tertiary institutions aren't limiting learning to the classroom. The definition of a learning space continues to expand with the help of technology. Now one doesn't necessarily have to be physically present with a tutor during their lessons. Digital innovations such as video conferencing help students get in on learning sessions even in remote regions.
The use of IoT
Prepare to see more applications of the Internet of Things (IoT) in schools in 2020. The close connection IoT offers can help schools in the following ways.
- Save costs
One of the main reasons for implementing IoT is cost-effectiveness. IoT delivers this function for academic institutions, as they get to save on lighting and energy.
- Improved security
By detecting regions of an academic institution where there's a high populace of students and commonly used routes, one can easily improve lighting and security around the identified areas.
- Improved parent-child and parent-teacher relationships
The intricate relationship circle between parents, teachers, and students will see an improvement in communication. Parents and guardians will be able to monitor the activities of their ward while in school. They are notified when their ward skips classes or receive details on assigned homework and more.
Effective Personalized Learning
Students learn at different paces, with some being more receptive to a form of learning than others. Not all students do well with auditory, some would prefer kinesthetic learning, visual aids, or other forms of learning. Achieving personalized learning was difficult in the past, especially with those in public educational institutions, which is why technology focused on customized learning is fast becoming the norm.
Tutors can make use of apps and software to help students understand lessons better, as the technology provides educational content based on the student's preferences. Through the use of AI (Artificial Intelligence, VR (Virtual Reality), and complex algorithms, this software can detect, analyze, and develop contents most appropriate for an individual. The software would provide learning content such as videos, interactive games, modeling, and more.
Parents should expect to see educational institutions make use of software that offers customized learning more often. These programs would serve as a secondary tutor helping out with different aspects of a lesson.
Parental Control
The internet serves as a vital tool for learning. For instance, when tasked with essays, the internet is invaluable, as it provides an avenue for students to get help with them. Often scholars rely on essay maker and other writing services to assist with their essays. Though one fact remains, not all the internet has to offer is appropriate. And there's also the issue with security to worry about.
We will see more software garnered at governing what scholars are exposed to online while learning. The application of blockchain and other authentication methods will prominently feature in online education.
Rise of Interactive Games
The current technology trends in education all point to the fact that interactive gaming will be a crucial tool of learning in 2020. Smartphones have also contributed to this growing trend as they offer a high level of convenience and flexibility in running such applications.
It was inconceivable to think someone could learn a new language from a game, but now it's a norm. For centuries humans have tried to incorporate fun and learning with successful results. Now with the advancement in AI and machine language, no method embodies fun and education than interactive games.
Final Thoughts
Learning has seen unprecedented success due to the digital transformation trends educational institutions schools now employ. Improvements in technology are set to influence changes in these trends. Customized learning alongside the incorporation of AI is some of the trends to expect in the educational sector in 2020. Overall, learning will become more effective and offer a high level of accessibility and convenience.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).