ERIC Number: ED585281
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Feb
Pages: 14
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Protecting Student Privacy While Using Online Educational Services: Requirements and Best Practices
Privacy Technical Assistance Center
Today's classrooms increasingly employ on-demand delivery of personalized content, virtual forums for interacting with other students and teachers, and a wealth of other interactive technologies that help foster and enhance the learning process. Online forums help teachers share lesson plans; social media help students collaborate across classrooms; and web-based applications assist teachers in customizing the learning experience for each student to achieve greater learning outcomes. Early adopters of these technologies have demonstrated their potential to transform the educational process, but they have also called attention to possible challenges. In particular, the information sharing, web-hosting, and telecommunication innovations that have enabled these new education technologies raise questions about how best to protect student privacy during use. This document addresses a number of these questions, and presents some requirements and best practices to consider, when evaluating the use of online educational services. Additionally this document addresses privacy and security considerations relating to computer software, mobile applications (apps), and web-based tools provided by a third-party to a school or district that students and/or their parents access via the Internet and use as part of a school activity. Examples include online services that students use to access class readings, to view their learning progression, to watch video demonstrations, to comment on class activities, or to complete their homework. A list of additional resources and a glossary are included.
Descriptors: Privacy, Information Security, Online Systems, Internet, Computer Software, Computer Oriented Programs, Student Records, Best Practices, Educational Legislation, Parent Rights, Disclosure, Student Rights
Privacy Technical Assistance Center. Tel: 855-249-3072; e-mail: PrivacyTA@ed.gov; Web site: https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) (ED)
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act 1974
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A