In a lecture given by Dr. Michael Paskevicius in the course”Technology and Innovation in Education,” we discussed the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and its implications on the way educators interact on social media1.
Educators must be conscientious about where they record information about their students. Organizing grades on a Google slide might seem harmless, but a simple data leak or hacked Google account can leave the student’s information compromised.
Educators need to be aware of their actions on social media. Adding a pupil as a ‘friend’ can blur the boundary of the relationship between the student and teacher. This also puts both the student and teacher at risk, as an ‘off colour’ post can lead to awkwardness and discomfort for both parties.
Even utilizing social media to engage students can be risky. Imagine a teacher has just set up an assignment where the students will make a TikTok video to demonstrate their learning. For the teacher to view the assignments, they must have some visibility to the students’s personal TikTok accounts. To the student, this could feel like an invasion of privacy. If a student doesn’t already have a TikTok, the teacher (in general) is required to receive permission from the student’s parents along with a notice of purpose. If the student does not want to join the social media, the teacher must provide an alternative to using the social media2.
It is important for educators to take the opportunity to educate students about privacy, datafication, and surveillance.
Dr. Michael Paskevicius, Slides from week two (link)
Personal data is the currency of big-tech companies3. As educators, parents, and knowledge holders, it is our duty to inform others about how our data is being used.