Technology+Report



Privacy Issues Related to Technology

Technology and its tools are a rapidly growing trend for educators’ use in their classrooms. There are numerous ways to use technology to enhance the educational experience our students receive today. The only problem with technology in classrooms is that it is very hard for educators to regulate the content that students see and post on the web, and to keep students private lives and information just that...private.

To combat this issue, the government has created the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). COPPA pertains to the collection of personal information by children under 13 years of age. CIPA is the bill that was passed in 1999 to restrict the viewing of inappropriate content (obscenities, pornography, bad language, etc.) on the internet by using content filter systems. Personal information about students should be kept confidential. It shouldn’t be posted on the Internet unless a parent or guardian has given permission for that information to be posted. When posting personal information, safety precautions should be taken. These precautions include not revealing telephone numbers, addresses, school location, their parents names, or the student’s full name. “Online predators do their homework. They check profiles…and they do searches on the names of students they’ve targeted to see what else is out there about them online” (Hitchcock, 2007). It is very important that we maintain our students’ safety and don’t allow them to post information that can end up being harmful to them. When posting to the internet, students should use a first name only, a code name, or a number to distinguish them from others. When using the internet, it is to be understood that while district’s have a content filter system in place, no software is foolproof, and there is still a risk that a student may come upon a site or page including inappropriate content. Because of this, it is important for educators to implement a training program about privacy concerns and online safety and to help “students meet the training program’s objectives relating to staying safe and being responsible online” (Adelman, 2004). Students should know how to react when they come upon content that is inappropriate, or how to act when an online predator tries to contact them through their emails, blogs, wikis, or other personal sites that are now being used in the classroom.

To help ensure that students understand the importance of their privacy, and our district complies with CIPA and COPPA, students under the age of 18 are required to sign an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) Form. These forms make sure that students are aware of “netiquette” in regards to safety and security on the Internet, and requires limits on the amount of personal information posted. Great strides have been made in the implementation of technology tools in the classroom. It is important for the District as a whole to actively monitor and regulate the content available to our students, and to educate and make them aware of the value of Internet safety and security.

Resources: Adelman, H. (2004). Teaching online safety. //Voices From the Middle//, //11//(3), 17-22. Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). [] Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). [] Hitchcock, J. A. (2007). Cyberbullies, online predators, and what to do about them. //Multimedia & Internet@Schools//, //14//(3), 13-15.