Unit 5 explores the ethical responsibilities educators hold in protecting student privacy and maintaining confidentiality in both physical and digital learning environments. It examines legal and moral obligations related to handling student records, sharing information, and using educational technologies. The unit also addresses the complexities of recording lessons or student performances, highlighting the importance of consent and discretion. By the end of the unit, students will understand how to balance transparency and accountability with the need to safeguard sensitive information in ethically sound ways.
2. Student Privacy Rights and Teacher Responsibilities
Educators
are entrusted with safeguarding student privacy. This includes physical
records, academic performance data, and increasingly, digital footprints
created through learning management systems, emails, and digital assessments.
Legal frameworks such as FERPA in the United States outline clear boundaries on
who can access student data and under what circumstances. Key Points: ·
Teachers must store and share student data
securely. ·
Explicit consent is required for sharing
grades, personal information, or student work.
Breaches of confidentiality, even
unintentionally, can have serious consequences for student wellbeing and trust.
