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Mancha Johannes Sekgololo, Undergraduate Teaching Assistant at University of Johannesburg observes, Much of the focus is on how technologies will change the world of work and education, but students are just as likely to use them for other objectives. If not regulated they can undermine upward mobility and the academic project.
Much of the focus is on how technologies will change the world of work and education, but students are just as likely to use them for other objectives. If not regulated they can undermine upward mobility and the academic project.
Photo: Alberto Buzzola/LightRocket via Getty Images
Like most of 2020, the year 2021 is not academically friendly. Millions have had to suddenly migrate to online education because of Covid-19. The pandemic broke out in the context of pre-existing financial strain, symbolised by the #FeesMustFall protests. What’s emerging is a unique set of challenges for the sector: students’ protesting for free education, and academic institutions having to manage cybersecurity threats as all institutions are forced into e-learning and teaching by the pandemic.
E-learning on its own challenges the Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure for both academic institutions and learners. The latter must speedily acclimatise to new technologies and modes of learning; the former faces cybersecurity threats capable of undermining its system’s confidentiality, integrity and availability (CIA).
Cybersecurity is the protection of computer systems and networks, using technical means, policy and organisational capacity, to mention but a few. Denial of unauthorised access to any cyberspace facility is its bread and butter.
E-learning posits relocation of traditional modes of learning and teaching into cyberspace...
Universities have to contend with various cybersecurity breaches, chief among them being Denial of Service (DOS) through hacking of online classes. In such a scenario, the Availability component of the CIA is compromised, and the rightful users cannot enjoy the benefits of the system. This can be done by disgruntled students or their proxies when they believe that their demands are not being sufficiently considered or met.
Source: Mail and Guardian
