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Apps are playing an increasingly important role in schools.
“Edtech apps are very popular. Part of it was the pandemic,” said Kris Astle, education strategist at SMART Technologies. The company grows technology that helps teachers collaborate with students.
However, with this increased use comes some security concerns.
According to Internet Safety Labs, a recent study found that 96% of K-12 edtech apps share children’s personal data with third parties. For the December 2022 report, we sampled 663 schools in all 50 states.
About 78% of this personal information was shared with advertising and monetization entities, according to the report.
“When you think about introducing an app into a kids’ classroom, it’s really about understanding what data is being collected, where this data is going, and what the potential risks are that you’re opening up your kids to. to do it,” says Astle.
She said there is a balance between using the app to maximize the learning experience and learning about the app itself.
“One of the things we can do to protect this data and protect our students is to think about the tools being used and make sure they don’t overlap functionality. Multiple apps doing the same thing. Whenever there is more information in more space,” Astle said.
According to experts, parents and school administrators should consider the following when it comes to data privacy:
- Data shared
- where is it stored
- is it encrypted
- How long is it stored
“Can you wipe the data? If I leave the district and my students are no longer using this tool, do I have the ability to do that?” Astle says.
Next time you download an educational app, be sure to ask about privacy.
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