INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SECURITY IN SCHOOLS A Research Agenda

In this position paper I discuss a research agenda for studying security issues particularly related to secondary and high schools. I argue that despite of its topicality and significance to successful functioning of schools, the issue of information technology (IT) and security in schools is not getting enough research input. In the educational environment, which includes various areas of computer-supported learning, the scope of security ranges from human-centred to technology-centred issues. Both of these deal with information security in a socio-technical educational context, the first emphasizing human activity and the latter IT. I present these categories as necessary research proposals here. The human-centred topics include end-user security behavior as intertwined with the use of technology while learning and teaching in socially embedded virtual worlds and information security culture in schools. The technology-centred topics include information security of pedagogical software and IT applications for the management of school security.