Education is increasingly big data-driven. Digitally-mediated education tools, social media data mining, and the Internet of Things generates a wealth of data about students’ actions both within and outside classrooms.
Elana Zeide (@elanazeide) on Student Privacy & Big Data: The Status Quo, Implications & Considerations:
With the rise of online learning environments, student records are no longer just basic academic and administrative information, but include data and metadata generated from student interaction with digital platforms as well as unexpected sources like student ID badges and social media. Applying big data analytics to this wealth of information has the potential to revolutionize education, but also risks unintended consequences that affect the core values of the education system as well as civil rights and liberties.
The current student privacy regulatory regime does not address the issues raised by modern information technology and data-driven decision-making in education. This presentation highlights key issues of the student privacy debate, proposed reforms, and emerging legal and ethical issues, as well as implications of data-driven education environments and decision-making that extend far beyond school settings.
Related Links:
http://www.techpolicy.com/Blog/Featured-Blog-Post/Parsing-Student-Privacy.aspx
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/13/education/schools-use-web-tools-and-data-is-seen-at-risk.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/technology/a-student-data-collector-drops-out.html
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/18/classdojo-adopts-deletion-policy-for-student-data/
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/31/technology/tools-for-tailored-learning-may-expose-students-personal-details.html
On November 27th, 2017, the Future of Privacy Forum held a special webinar with Elana Zeide, a student privacy expert and a visiting assistant professor at Seton Hall University School of Law. Professor Zeide presented on the Fair Information Practice Principles (FIPPs) in higher education and what the FIPPs do not cover.