Education Technology Has Come a Long Way During Pandemic, but More Work Required to Protect Privacy and Keep Students Safe

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — At present, the Heart for Democracy & Expertise (CDT) launched an replace to their survey report from last fall on trainer and dad or mum views towards training know-how (edtech), knowledge, and privateness. CDT’s analysis exhibits that help for continued on-line studying is robust, with 85 % of academics and 74 % of oldsters supportive of on-line studying persevering with as a part of classroom instruction when college students return to campus. The complete report might be seen here.

“As faculties start to reopen in-person across the nation, our analysis means that faculties are adapting, however work stays to handle the privateness and accessibility pitfalls that restricted instructional alternatives for too many college students throughout distant studying. We’re inspired by the progress being made by faculties and districts throughout the nation to handle safety and knowledge privateness as on-line studying turns into a permanent legacy of the pandemic,” mentioned CDT’s CEO Alexandra Reeve Givens. “CDT will proceed our work to assist be sure that applied sciences are utilized by faculties in ways in which meet households’ wants and maintain college students protected.”

CDT’s new report, titled “With Elevated Edtech Comes Elevated Accountability,” supplies up to date polling knowledge one 12 months after the U.S. shut down and lecture rooms moved from the varsity constructing to the house in a single day. Along with help for continued know-how use, academics report development in a number of key metrics for privateness preparedness, together with a 10-percentage level improve in faculties with a know-how plan that addresses pupil privateness and safety, an 11-point improve in faculties offering steerage for know-how use throughout COVID-19, and a seven-point improve in academics reporting familiarity with their faculty’s pupil knowledge privateness insurance policies and procedures.

“Pupil privateness is not only a security situation—it is an fairness concern as nicely,” mentioned Elizabeth Laird, CDT’s Director of Fairness in Civic Expertise. “Whereas our proof means that faculties have stepped up their efforts to shut the digital divide as academics report a 28 % improve in faculties offering units to all of their college students, slightly than simply some, it is necessary for faculties to have insurance policies and coaching in place to guard the info and privateness of those college students as they arrive on-line.”

Elevated use of training know-how additionally means elevated safety and knowledge privateness dangers, and districts and directors should be prepared to handle safety and knowledge privateness issues shifting ahead. Regardless of the rise in “Zoombombing” and cybersecurity assaults throughout the pandemic, CDT’s analysis revealed that three in 4 academics haven’t been skilled on preserving college students protected from these on-line threats. The report particulars a number of actions that may be taken to guard college students, like participating mother and father in privateness safety and embedding knowledge safety in efforts to shut the homework hole.

The Heart for Democracy and Expertise (CDT) is a non-profit group headquartered in Washington, D.C. that works to guard civil rights and civil liberties within the digital age. Based in 1994, CDT promotes democratic values by championing insurance policies, legal guidelines, and technical designs that empower individuals to make use of know-how for good and insisting on-line platforms be clear, accountable, and respect human rights. To study extra about pupil privateness, together with extra in-depth knowledge and extra COVID-19 implications, go to cdt.org/area-of-focus/equity-in-civic-tech/.

SOURCE The Heart for Democracy and Expertise