October is NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October is an excellent reminder to maintain and protect your hardware and software.

Serious threats to personal data are at an all-time high. Everyone, including individuals and businesses of all sizes, needs to remain diligent in their protecting themselves from hackers and privacy breaches. Scammers of all sorts bombard us through pop-ups, viruses, e-mails, phone calls, and even the businesses we visit every day. Take steps to protect yourself.

• Create secure passwords and don’t share them.

• Avoid common words, phrases, and personal information when creating passwords.

• Keep your anti-virus, software, and operating system up to date.

• These updates keep your computer as current as possible with the latest viruses and patches to protect your computer.

• Never give personal information over the phone or in e-mail. Scammers love to call and claim to be someone they are not. Verify their authenticity by contacting the company directly.

• Don’t click on links in e-mails. Links are an excellent way to get a virus. The same goes for pop-ups.

• Turn on the pop-up blocker on your anti-virus. If you still receive a pop-up, do not click on it.

• Never visit unfamiliar websites and beware of look-a-like links. These links will have a similar spelling or will end in .net versus .com will be an infected link attacking your computer.

• Laptop owners should install software to ensure the laptop can be tracked if stolen or remotely accessed to erase files or transfer files securely.

• When using social networks, use the privacy settings to protect your personal information.

• As with e-mail, clicking unknown links within social networks places your devices at risk. This includes strange friend requests, messages, and even innocent-looking videos.

Apple Learning Coach Opportunity

Announcing Apple Learning Coach, a free program that trains an instructional coach or other educator to be the in-house expert who can help your teachers get more out of Apple technology. We’re excited to invite you to name an educator from your school or district to apply to the upcoming cohort of Apple Learning Coach.

The coaching program includes an online certification course, self-paced lessons, and two days of virtual workshops with Apple Professional Learning Specialists. The course results in the creation of a Coaching Portfolio, including an action plan to support your teachers as they take learning to a deeper level with Apple technology. Watch the video to learn more.

Download and explore the Apple Learning Coach Program Overview. Once you’ve identified the instructional coach, digital learning specialist, or other educator who you feel is the best fit for this opportunity, please forward this email and encourage them to apply. There’s no cost to participate.

Educators can apply now for Apple Learning Coach.

Regular Decision Deadline:

October 26, 2021

This is the final date applicants may apply.