Difference between revisions of "FERPA and educational technology"
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===Confidentiality requests=== | ===Confidentiality requests=== | ||
| − | Although sharing common | + | Although sharing common [https://www.winona.edu/registrar/dataprivacy.asp directory information] (e.g., mailing address, email address, major) might seem safe, some may have submitted a confidentiality request to {{WSU}} that extends to this type of information. |
===Group projects=== | ===Group projects=== | ||
When providing individual grades to students working on collaborative or group projects, there is a risk of revealing that information to the rest of the group. | When providing individual grades to students working on collaborative or group projects, there is a risk of revealing that information to the rest of the group. | ||
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==Solutions== | ==Solutions== | ||
| − | *''' | + | *'''Understand directory, private, and confidential information'''. Make sure you understand what student information is considered directory information versus private information. |
| − | *'''Identify | + | *'''Identify confidentiality requests'''. Even common [https://www.winona.edu/registrar/dataprivacy.asp directory information] about a student cannot be shared if that student has requested confidentiality. Make sure you know which students have made such requests. |
| − | *[[Brightspace grade book quick guide|Use your Brightspace grade book]] to provide students with online access to their grades. Brightspace grade books are already created for every class section. Just add your grade book columns and enter your grades as you would in an Excel spreadsheet. Your students select Grades from the Assessment menu in your Brightspace course to review them. | + | *'''Use your Brightspace grade book'''. [[Brightspace grade book quick guide|Use your Brightspace grade book]] to provide students with online access to their grades. Brightspace grade books are already created for every class section. Just add your grade book columns and enter your grades as you would in an Excel spreadsheet. Your students select Grades from the Assessment menu in your Brightspace course to review them. |
| − | *Use email | + | *'''Encrypt your email messages.''' Use email to share grade, DARS reports, or grade lists only when absolutely necessary. Always [[encrypt such email messages]] and ensure that you are sending the message to the right person. Encrypting your email message helps protect message content from being accessed inappropriately or forwarded without approval. This is appropriate to use when sending any private data that can’t be shared more securely through the Brightspace grade book or other secure online portal. This includes messages with student work attached. |
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| + | ==Things you should never do== | ||
| + | *Never share grade information in text messages. | ||
| + | *Never post grade sheets online that list all your students' grades on a specific test or assignment. | ||
| + | *Never engage in online conversation with any third party about a student's progress without that student's consent | ||
| + | *Never store a recording of a meeting with a student (e.g., in Zoom) in an unprotected, online location | ||
| + | *Never share any information about a student who has requested confidentiality before reviewing that request. | ||
| + | *Never share any information about a student to a third party without authorization | ||
| + | *Never include personally identifiable information about a student in another student's record without the first student's permission | ||
| + | *Never share grades or other FERPA-protected information over the phone without ensuring that you are speaking with the right person. | ||
| + | *Never snail mail grades to students unless consent is received and a self-addressed envelope (no post cards) is supplied by the student. | ||
| − | + | *Learn how to send Encrypted Email in Outlook. | |
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| − | *Learn how to send Encrypted Email in Outlook | ||
*If you are communicating via email, instant messaging/online chatting or speaking over the phone please verify their identities. Ask questions about your course content or other identifiable information that only the student and you would both know. Consider using video (Teams or Zoom) to verify the student is who they say they are and not a parent, sibling or other family member. You may also request to see a photo ID held up to their camera which is especially important during remotely advising and you don’t yet know them! | *If you are communicating via email, instant messaging/online chatting or speaking over the phone please verify their identities. Ask questions about your course content or other identifiable information that only the student and you would both know. Consider using video (Teams or Zoom) to verify the student is who they say they are and not a parent, sibling or other family member. You may also request to see a photo ID held up to their camera which is especially important during remotely advising and you don’t yet know them! | ||
*Contact TLT, WSU’s CISO, the Registrar’s Office or Legal Affairs if you have questions about FERPA and appropriate data handling. We are all standing by and willing to assist. | *Contact TLT, WSU’s CISO, the Registrar’s Office or Legal Affairs if you have questions about FERPA and appropriate data handling. We are all standing by and willing to assist. | ||
==Ask questions== | ==Ask questions== | ||
| − | Contact Lori Mikl (Legal Affairs), Tobias Schmidt (ITS), Tania Schmidt (Registrar's Office), Jami Kovisto (Registrar's Office), or Ken Graetz (TLT) | + | Contact Lori Mikl (Legal Affairs), Tobias Schmidt (ITS), Tania Schmidt (Registrar's Office), Jami Kovisto (Registrar's Office), or Ken Graetz (TLT). Contact {{TLT}} for assistance with using encrypted email or Brightspace tools. |
==More wiki articles== | ==More wiki articles== | ||
Revision as of 19:06, 31 March 2020
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REVISION IN PROGRESS: This article contains useful information, but is being revised to reflect recent updates. Direct questions to TLT (tlt@winona.edu). |
Potential pitfalls
Emailing and texting grade information
Although emailing student grades is permissible under FERPA, the Department of Education will hold Winona State University responsible for any unauthorized access to this communication. Unless you take specific precautions, your email and text messaging conversations with students are not secure. Private and confidential information can be intercepted and you might send the message to the wrong address.
Sharing coded grade sheets online
Although it's easy to post a coded grade sheet (e.g., in an Excel spreadsheet or Word document) that does not identify students by name to your Brightspace course, a student's identity might be uncovered. StarID usernames and Winona State University Tech ID numbers are not private information and email messages that include students' secret codes can be intercepted.
Discussing grades in Zoom
When discussing grades or student progress in a Zoom meeting, someone else might join and see what you are screen sharing, read what was posted to the Chat tool, or overhear what you are saying. Recordings of these meetings might also be opened and copied.
Discussing grades on the phone
You may not know your students by voice and may be talking to the wrong person.
Confidentiality requests
Although sharing common directory information (e.g., mailing address, email address, major) might seem safe, some may have submitted a confidentiality request to Winona State University that extends to this type of information.
Group projects
When providing individual grades to students working on collaborative or group projects, there is a risk of revealing that information to the rest of the group.
Solutions
- Understand directory, private, and confidential information. Make sure you understand what student information is considered directory information versus private information.
- Identify confidentiality requests. Even common directory information about a student cannot be shared if that student has requested confidentiality. Make sure you know which students have made such requests.
- Use your Brightspace grade book. Use your Brightspace grade book to provide students with online access to their grades. Brightspace grade books are already created for every class section. Just add your grade book columns and enter your grades as you would in an Excel spreadsheet. Your students select Grades from the Assessment menu in your Brightspace course to review them.
- Encrypt your email messages. Use email to share grade, DARS reports, or grade lists only when absolutely necessary. Always encrypt such email messages and ensure that you are sending the message to the right person. Encrypting your email message helps protect message content from being accessed inappropriately or forwarded without approval. This is appropriate to use when sending any private data that can’t be shared more securely through the Brightspace grade book or other secure online portal. This includes messages with student work attached.
Things you should never do
- Never share grade information in text messages.
- Never post grade sheets online that list all your students' grades on a specific test or assignment.
- Never engage in online conversation with any third party about a student's progress without that student's consent
- Never store a recording of a meeting with a student (e.g., in Zoom) in an unprotected, online location
- Never share any information about a student who has requested confidentiality before reviewing that request.
- Never share any information about a student to a third party without authorization
- Never include personally identifiable information about a student in another student's record without the first student's permission
- Never share grades or other FERPA-protected information over the phone without ensuring that you are speaking with the right person.
- Never snail mail grades to students unless consent is received and a self-addressed envelope (no post cards) is supplied by the student.
- Learn how to send Encrypted Email in Outlook.
- If you are communicating via email, instant messaging/online chatting or speaking over the phone please verify their identities. Ask questions about your course content or other identifiable information that only the student and you would both know. Consider using video (Teams or Zoom) to verify the student is who they say they are and not a parent, sibling or other family member. You may also request to see a photo ID held up to their camera which is especially important during remotely advising and you don’t yet know them!
- Contact TLT, WSU’s CISO, the Registrar’s Office or Legal Affairs if you have questions about FERPA and appropriate data handling. We are all standing by and willing to assist.
Ask questions
Contact Lori Mikl (Legal Affairs), Tobias Schmidt (ITS), Tania Schmidt (Registrar's Office), Jami Kovisto (Registrar's Office), or Ken Graetz (TLT). Contact TLT (tlt@winona.edu) for assistance with using encrypted email or Brightspace tools.