As Director of Quantitative Research and Data Science and Head of Data Privacy at Digital Promise, I aim to demystify the complex world of data privacy, especially in the areas of education and AI tools. Since my start as an Institutional Review Board (IRB) member during graduate school, I have been committed to upholding the ethical principles in data use outlined below. belmont report. Working with researchers to ensure that their research results align with these principles has been a rewarding part of my career. For the past decade, I’ve been working on the nuances of anonymous and anonymized data. This is a challenge shared by many in this field. At a time when student data is being collected and used more than we realize, understanding how privacy is maintained is critical to protecting learners.
Anonymity and anonymization
of Ministry of Education Define Anonymized data Information from which personally identifying details have been sufficiently removed or obscured to make it impossible to re-identify the individual. However, it may still contain unique identifiers that may re-identify the data.
Similarly, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) characterize anonymous data As information that does not relate to an identified or identifiable individual, or as data that has been anonymized to the extent that the data subject cannot be identified.
Although these definitions are similar at first glance, they often lack clarity and consistency in the literature and research.a Medical publication reviews We found that fewer than half of the papers discussing de-identification or anonymization provided clear definitions, and when definitions were provided, they frequently contradicted each other. Anonymized data can be considered anonymized if sufficient potentially personally identifying information has been removed. As suggested in HIPAA Data Anonymization Methods. Conversely, some argue that anonymous data is the source of the data. Identifier not collectedThis implies that anonymized data can never be truly anonymous.
Simplifying data privacy: 3 key strategies for educators
As AI tools become more prevalent in the classroom, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the nuances of these terms. Additionally, our newsfeeds are flooded with conversations related to student privacy, such as: Parents are concerned about data privacy, teachers reportedly don’t know enough about student privacy, and most school districts still lack data privacy officers.
At a time when the difference between anonymity and anonymization can be a big deal, what should educators do about data collected by the AI tools they might use? I’ve oversimplified 3 We propose one strategy.
1. Ask.
In 2020, Visual Capitalist Visualize fine print length in 14 popular apps And they shared that the average American would need to set aside nearly 250 hours to read all the digital contracts they accept when using online services.
If you don’t want to spend hours investigating whether and how a company collects and uses anonymous or anonymized data, you can always ask. Examples of these questions include:
- What data do we collect?
- Can we connect that data to the students themselves?
- How will my data be used?
- Can a student or parent request deletion of their data (If you live in California, the answer is often “yes.”), and how do they do it?
2. Give students choices.
The Belmont Report states: respect for humans In principle, individuals should be given the opportunity to choose what does and does not happen to themselves and, by extension, their data.Provide students with the opportunity to: choose Whether you want to use AI tools that utilize your own data whenever possible upholds this important ethical standard and gives students autonomy as they traverse this technology-rich world.
3. Grant parental consent.
A closer look at the principle of respect for persons shows that individuals with reduced autonomy have a right to protection. common rules, or the federal regulations that outline the process of ethical research in the United States, states that children are persons who have not yet reached the legal age of consent and are one of many groups entitled to this protection. In practical application, this means that in addition to the child’s consent, parental or guardian permission is required to participate.
Where possible, parents should also understand and have the opportunity to consent to the collection and use of their child’s data.
Let’s understand the nuances together
I’ve been thinking about how to best protect student data since before I could wear an iPhone on my wrist, and I’ve identified these three strategies to best protect the ethical principles that have guided my career. I use it regularly. Ask questions when you don’t understand, strive to give individuals choice and autonomy over their data, and ask for consent when additional protections are needed. These three practices won’t allay all the concerns people may have about using AI in the classroom, but they will help you gather the information you need to make better choices for your students. I am also confident that we can work out the nuances together. !
