The hosts of this podcast cover various news stories related to technology in schools, including the ban on facial recognition technology in NYC schools and the concerns raised by the ACLU about surveillance technology in K-12 classrooms. They also discuss Google and Microsoft's claim to prioritize secure design but require paid upgrades for certain security features. The episode concludes with listener emails, a discussion on two-step verification, and a wild cell phone story.
Google is now charging for a previously free grade export feature, prompting discussions about the evolving pricing structure and its impact on educators and administrators' workflows.
The ACLU raises concerns about surveillance technology in schools, stressing the need for defining problems, seeking input from the school community, and carefully weighing the benefits against potential harms before implementing any surveillance measures.
Deep dives
Google Moves Grade Export Feature to Paid Tier
Google has announced that their grade export feature, once available for free, will now be part of the paid tier starting July 1st, 2024. This change has prompted discussions about Google's move to put certain features behind a paywall after initially offering them for free. Educators and administrators are reminded to be mindful of the evolving pricing structure and consider the impact on their workflows.
Concerns Over School Surveillance Technology
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has raised concerns about the use of surveillance technology in schools and its impact on student privacy. The discussion revolves around the issue of maintaining a balance between security and individual rights. While recognizing the necessity of certain surveillance measures, the ACLU emphasizes the importance of defining problems, seeking input from the school community, and carefully weighing the benefits against potential harms before implementing any surveillance technology.
Student Hacks Teacher's Phone and Personal Accounts
A recent incident shed light on the potential vulnerabilities within school settings when it comes to personal device security. In this case, a student stole a teacher's iPhone and proceeded to gain access to their personal email accounts and Venmo account. The situation highlights the need for educators to remain vigilant and take precautions, such as keeping personal devices secure, refraining from leaving devices unattended in classrooms, and educating themselves on potential risks.
NTp Offers Competitive Managed EDR Solutions
For organizations considering endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions or facing upcoming renewals, NTp offers managed EDR services at competitive prices. By contacting NTp, organizations can explore options for obtaining greater value from their EDR investments, potentially saving costs compared to non-managed EDR solutions. Reach out to David at NTp for more information and to assess the benefits of managed EDR.
Sorry for the delay. We had major audio/video issues with our recording platform. Also, due to that issue, only audio again this week.
In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss several news stories related to technology in schools. They start by covering the ban on facial recognition technology in NYC schools, as well as the concerns raised by the ACLU about surveillance technology in K-12 classrooms. The hosts also address a listener email regarding a student SIM card hijacking a teacher's phone. The main topic of discussion revolves around Google and Microsoft, who claim to prioritize secure by design but require paid upgrades for certain security features. For more information on these topics, check out the hyperlinked news stories: NYC bans facial recognition technology and ACLU sounds the alarm on surveillance technology in use in K-12 classrooms.