Read the Terms of Service and Privacy Policies on products that you use with your students, especially if you are a K-8 educator.
What is a “Terms of Service Agreement?”
Terms of service (TOS) tell the consumer, what they are allowed to do with a Web 2.0 product and what they are not allowed to do. The TOS spells out specific legal obligations that the consumer and the company have to each other and third parties. Usually, the TOS is provided when you first begin using a software or hardware. Often people agree to the “Terms of Service” by checking a box and clicking a button. How often do you read the agreement?
Terms of Service Agreements are especially important to educators. When we allow our students to use Web 2.0 Applications they may be required to sign up for an account or they may be required by their school to have an email account to activate the Web 2.o products. Do we have the right to require our students to sign up for these types of accounts? Or is our legal obligations to have students avoid these accounts?
If you are under the age of 13, you are not allowed to sign the Terms of Service, a responsible adult is required to sign the agreement.
Privacy Policy
Is a statement of the Web 2.0 Product/Application that tells the consumer about the kind of information a company will collect when you use their product.
Examples of products with Terms of Service Agreements:
Web 2.o Applications: Google Apps for Education, Voicethread, GoAnimate, Glogster for Education. Are just a few that require students to sign up.
So, how do we keep our students safe?
Avoid Web 2.0 Applications that require a sign up?
Create a Generic Accounts to allow students to use the Web 2.0 Service?
Have the parents sign agreements that allow students to access these Web 2.0 Tools? Educators are not lawyers, yet districts often allow parents to sign away student rights to Web 2.0 products, is this ethical.
Other schools use these products, so it’s ok?
Litmus Test of Web 2.0 TOS Applications
1. Does your school have an Acceptable Use Policy which clearly informs students and parents about the use of
Web 2.0 products?
2. Does your school have both your parents and students sign your acceptable use policy, do your parents understand the AUP?
3. Do educators at your school examine each Web 2.0 application for student safety issues?
4. Does your school have a vetting system in place for web 2.0 products?
5. Does this Web 2.0 application or third party affiliates collect personal information about your students?
6. Does the web 2.0 application use advertisements in it’s product?
7. Have you read the privacy policy for each Web 2.0 product that you use?
8. The web 2.0 application is appropriate for which grades?
9. Does this Web 2.0 application request personal information from your students?
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