Quick answer: Safer online learning combines approved tools, maintained devices, strong accounts, and a clear way for children to ask for help. Keep conversations practical and age-appropriate.
Watch the original video
Originally recorded during pandemic-era remote schooling, this discussion remains a useful starting point for reviewing the tools and accounts children use for online learning. Adjust the advice to the school’s current platforms and policies.
Key Takeaways
- Do your best to take a proactive approach to your child’s new learning environment. Leverage the questions listed below to get started.
- If you haven't done so already, look into enabling parental controls everywhere you can (i.e., computer, Chromebook, router, phones, tablets, etc.)
- Make sure anti-virus is installed and up-to-date.
- Teach your kids about phishing, "Not all emails are real and people may pretend to be teachers and ask you to click on or download things that aren’t official. When in doubt, ask for help."
- Don’t assume the software schools and students are using has been vetted. (e.g. non-sponsored homework help sites)
- Be on the lookout for cyber bullying, which has always been a problem, but may increase significantly in an all-virtual classroom.
Questions For Your School District
- What general steps are you taking for security of the students?
- What software or learning platforms will the district be using?
- What security testing has been done on third-party software and sites?
- Is my child's email open to the world for anyone to contact them or is it restricted to just teachers and other students?
Questions For Your Child
- What applications are you using—besides Tik Tok :) ?
- How do you chat/collaborate with other students?
- What's the weirdest thing about going back to school this way? (it may be a weird message or application that someone sent them)
- Have you gotten any emails from people other than your classmates and teachers?
Practical next steps
- Confirm the school’s approved platforms and support contacts.
- Keep devices updated and review account recovery, sharing permissions, and parental controls.
- Practice checking unexpected teacher messages and reporting bullying or uncomfortable interactions.
Frequently asked questions
Should families assume every homework site is school-approved?
No. Ask the school which services are approved before sharing student information or creating accounts.
What is a useful first conversation with a child?
Ask which tools they use, who can contact them, and how they would get help with an unexpected message.
Further reading: Official guidance and reference
