Web cookies (also called HTTP cookies, browser cookies, or simply cookies) are small pieces of data that websites store on your device (computer, phone, etc.) through your web browser. They are used to remember information about you and your interactions with the site.
Purpose of Cookies:
Session Management:
Keeping you logged in
Remembering items in a shopping cart
Saving language or theme preferences
Personalization:
Tailoring content or ads based on your previous activity
Tracking & Analytics:
Monitoring browsing behavior for analytics or marketing purposes
Types of Cookies:
Session Cookies:
Temporary; deleted when you close your browser
Used for things like keeping you logged in during a single session
Persistent Cookies:
Stored on your device until they expire or are manually deleted
Used for remembering login credentials, settings, etc.
First-Party Cookies:
Set by the website you're visiting directly
Third-Party Cookies:
Set by other domains (usually advertisers) embedded in the website
Commonly used for tracking across multiple sites
Authentication cookies are a special type of web cookie used to identify and verify a user after they log in to a website or web application.
What They Do:
Once you log in to a site, the server creates an authentication cookie and sends it to your browser. This cookie:
Proves to the website that you're logged in
Prevents you from having to log in again on every page you visit
Can persist across sessions if you select "Remember me"
What's Inside an Authentication Cookie?
Typically, it contains:
A unique session ID (not your actual password)
Optional metadata (e.g., expiration time, security flags)
Analytics cookies are cookies used to collect data about how visitors interact with a website. Their primary purpose is to help website owners understand and improve user experience by analyzing things like:
How users navigate the site
Which pages are most/least visited
How long users stay on each page
What device, browser, or location the user is from
What They Track:
Some examples of data analytics cookies may collect:
Page views and time spent on pages
Click paths (how users move from page to page)
Bounce rate (users who leave without interacting)
User demographics (location, language, device)
Referring websites (how users arrived at the site)
Here’s how you can disable cookies in common browsers:
1. Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
Choose your preferred option:
Block all cookies (not recommended, can break most websites).
Block third-party cookies (can block ads and tracking cookies).
2. Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
Under the Enhanced Tracking Protection section, choose Strict to block most cookies or Custom to manually choose which cookies to block.
3. Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top-left corner of the screen.
Go to Preferences > Privacy.
Check Block all cookies to stop all cookies, or select options to block third-party cookies.
4. Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions.
Select your cookie settings from there, including blocking all cookies or blocking third-party cookies.
5. On Mobile (iOS/Android)
For Safari on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security > Block All Cookies.
For Chrome on Android: Open the app, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies.
Be Aware:
Disabling cookies can make your online experience more difficult. Some websites may not load properly, or you may be logged out frequently. Also, certain features may not work as expected.
We believe in creating communities where all students read and write meaningful texts; all teachers engage students’ strength to address specific needs; all instruction integrates reading, writing, and language in all its forms; all curriculum includes the ethical assessment of development over time; and all educators engage in sustained professional learned about a range of instructional practices so that educators are fully equipped to teach all students.
Literacy Graduate Programs
For educators seeking to expand their careers in literacy support positions, the Neag School offers two program options:
Complete your Literacy Specialist master's degree or sixth-year diploma in just 18 months to earn institutional endorsement for both of Connecticut's 102 and 097 certifications.
Apply to the Graduate Certificate in Literacy Leadership if you already have your 102 and hope to only complete coursework toward your 097.
Both programs are predominantly held online, with one in-person Saturday a month at UConn Hartford. Apply by December 17, 2025, for Spring 2026 enrollment!
Complete your Literacy Specialist master's degree or sixth-year diploma in just 18 months, and also earn institutional endorsement for both of Connecticut's 102 and 097 certifications. This hybrid program is also built to accommodate your busy schedule — engage in weekly online discussions and attend one in-person Saturday a month at UConn Hartford.
UConn's graduate certificate program in Literacy Leadership is designed for educators interested in obtaining Connecticut's 097 Reading and Language Arts Consultant certification. Those who already hold a 102 license can apply for this advanced certificate focused on leadership that includes coursework leading to the 097. This hybrid, 12-credit program can be completed in two semesters (approximately 6 months).
The Graduate Certificate in Literacy and Deaf Education is a 12-credit graduate certificate designed for educators who support the literacy development of deaf and hard of hearing students. Courses primarily meet online with several opportunities for face-to-face experiences throughout the year.
Engaging students in a summer reading program can be a challenge. Summer is an important and exciting time in students’ literacy development, but it can be tricky to fund, staff, and design exciting and engaging summer reading programs.
For creative strategies and fresh ideas you can use in designing your summer reading program, explore the top recommendations compiled by UConn’s Reading and Language Arts Center in collaboration with literacy leaders from across Connecticut.
The Reading and Language Arts Center would like to share this memo during Dyslexia Awareness Month. It summarizes Neag School alum David Colberg's dissertation on inclusive teaching in higher education for students with dyslexia.
Adapted from Colberg, D. C. (2023). A Case Study on Enhancing the Equity, Engagement, and Academic Achievement of Dyslexic Learners in Higher Education (Doctoral dissertation, University of Connecticut).
Engaging students in a summer reading program can be a challenge. Summer is an important and exciting time in students’ literacy development, but it can be tricky to fund, staff, and design exciting and engaging summer reading programs.
The Reading and Language Arts Center would like to share this memo during Dyslexia Awareness Month. It summarizes Neag School alum David Colberg's dissertation on inclusive teaching in higher education for students with dyslexia.
