How to...track logins for educational portals

Teaching Pre K-8, Jan 2001 by Lindroth, Linda

With more and more websites requiring a login procedure, I am finding it difficult to sort them out and keep all my usernames and passwords straight.

Using a username and password has many advantages. When I create a lesson or activity guide as part of an online service or subscription site I use, I want to be sure it is secure and will remain the way I designed it without someone else having unauthorized access to it. I also like having access to more content, or being able to get to resources online that I could not access from anywhere with older, more traditional methods. But...

The disadvantage of following a login procedure is the need to organize and keep track of all the user IDs and passwords. I make them the same when I can so they're easier to remember, but sometimes that isn't possible since the username or the password may be assigned by the online service.

LEVELS OF LOGIN SECURITY

Before talking about login procedures, it should be noted that my comments here only address educational web content which requires minimal security.

* Minimal security. A login used to identify a user as a paid subscriber, a valid member of a web portal or a licensed user for online database or software. The login is being used to see content without allowing access to change the content.

* Medium security. The login helps the company validate the use of the content in the site. The required registration and login often makes it possible to provide a web page or other individual content to the user that can be controlled personally by the user. This can include teacher-created quizzes or web quests, individual web pages or channels that include information selected by the user.

* Maximum security. The login allows a user to use an area such as the Intranet for the school system, a gradebook program or administrative records for students. These access areas must maintain an extremely high level of security to insure privacy.

TRACKING LOGIN INFORMATION

I've discovered several ways to keep track of these sometimes elusive keys to educational content.

* Keep the same username and password when possible. I often use my username from my e-mail. It's not a good idea to use the same password, since your e-mail is considered to be at least medium security.

* Combination of letters and numbers based on the same standard password. Unless security is a real issue, I use a standard password and just modify the letters and numbers as needed. Some login procedures will require the use of both alphabetic and numeric characters, so have a number to add if you need more characters. One of my favorites is to use the school initials. Remember: this is a suggestion for minimal security logins only!

* Keep a filebox with index cards by your computer. Use art index card to record the uRL, the username and password for any login for which you register. I write down the website, the

Continued on page 20 URL, my username and the password as soon as I finish any registration. I then verify that everything is correct after I get an e-mail confirmation from the website. Note: if your computer is in a public area, this box should be kept in a locked file cabinet or desk drawer.

* Keep a password-protected folder on your computer. If you are concerned about your computer being located in a public area with the opportunity for unauthorized access to subscriptions, keep your logins and passwords in a password-protected file. You can put this folder on the school server where security is high and access privileges are controlled.

* Make a folder in your e-mail to file all login confirmations. I always file the confirmation letter in a Password folder I create in the Inbox of my email, so I can go back and check my login information when I need to. It also gives me ready access to the company if I need to request a new login or password, or need to change my e-mail address.

* Click on "remember my username and password" when it is available. Unless you are using a computer that is shared with other teachers or students, check the option to remember your username and password when available. Not all websites offer this feature because of security reasons.

NEW INTERNET GENRE - ON-- LINE SOFTWARE

More and more software publishers are taking advantage of the ease of use and the immediacy of the Internet and electing to put their software programs online. Old favorites as well as new offerings are finding a home on the World Wide Web. Here are just a few reviews of this new genre of software.

1 www.system80.com Phonics and Reading from System8O was first used in my classroom as a 12 CDROM software program. Now, the online product has 12 consonants from the original CD and 24 new consonant blends. An added feature is Time and Money online lessons. $50 per class; 954-925-5634 2 www.edmark.com Select pieces of Edmark's software are now online, with lessons and class activities spanning all content areas. The edConnect service offers an easy-to-use management tool to assign online software to help reinforce student learning in the content area skills. $18 per student, annually, based on school enrollment; 800-691-2986