Online learning is becoming the new normal

Learners will only start returning to school in June.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga confirmed that schools will reopen for Grade 7 and 12 learners on June 1.

In the meantime, parents have taken over the role of teachers.

Also read: Covid-19: Another month before Grade 12 learners return to the classroom

With lockdown forcing schools and tertiary institutions to take learning online, an overabundance of new risks face children, families and learning institutions.

Doros Hadjizenonos, a well-known figure in the SA information security arena, said distance learning may become the new normal – but there are new risks in this virtual environment.

Also read: Covid-19 Lockdown: 7 tips for parents to help them assist their children with schoolwork

Cyber security experts have put together a list of some of the risks and how to deal with them for parents and children.

For many institutions, the switch to remote learning was unexpected, leaving little time for them to mitigate against new cyber risks before their students went into the virtual environment.

Also read: Schools pushed to contingency plans

But as online learning becomes the new normal, there are certain risks to be aware of:

• Cyberbullying: Younger children who may not have had access to online social platforms are now entering online class chats and study groups. Teachers should moderate these carefully, and parents should monitor what is being said in these forums, and who has access to them.
• Phishing: Learners with unmonitored access to online gaming, email and social media can easily be tricked into clicking on unsafe links or sharing personal information. Parents and teachers need to educate young learners on phishing risks and the importance of keeping personal information private.
• Hacking the home: Children falling prey to cybercriminals can give hackers access to the family network, which is shared by parents working from home. In this way, attackers could potentially also access parents’ corporate data and networks.
• Hacking learning institution networks: Unsecured school networks present the risk of hackers accessing students’ personal data and results, as well as the financial systems of the institution.
• To mitigate these risks: Education and awareness are key. Learning institutions should host information sessions for both parents and learners about cyber risks and how to guard against them.

Also read:

1. Covid-19 Lockdown: Ponnie from Parenting 101 advises parents on home-schooling (Video)
2. Covid-19 Lockdown: Parenting 101 Tip 2 – Parents need to realise the importance of routine (Video)
3. Covid-19 Lockdown: Parenting 101 Tip 3 – Moodley gives advice on ensuring discipline
4. Covid-19 Lockdown: Parenting 101 Tip 4 – your child’s development
5. Covid-19 Lockdown: Parenting 101 Tip 5 – create an ideal study space for your child
6. Covid-19 Lockdown: Parenting 101 Tip 6 – target the basics and ensure consistency
7. Covid-19 Lockdown Parenting 101 Tip 7 – develop good work ethic

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