FreshGrades Privacy Policy

On October 28, 2018November 7, 2018 By michellecherylshieldsIn blogging, intellectual property, privacy, safety, social media, tech inquiryLeave a comment

I have finally looked into FreshGrades Privacy Policy. As you can guess, it is extensively long. Thankfully, you have me to summarize it for you. So lets begin!

Some of the basic general statements at the beginning of the document read: A) FreshGrade collects, stores, processes, and shares student personal information for the purposes of our services as authorized by a school or parent B) FreshGrade does not own the content collected (meaning that users own their content and data) C) FreshGrade does not sell student information unless with explicit parental consent D) FreshGrade does not use student data for advertising purposes E) FreshGrade has a comprehensive data security program called “FreshGrade Education, Inc” F) FreshGrade will delete information at the direction of the school.

All of the above points seem reasonable right? Now let me impart some information with you that occurs towards the middle of the document (Normally where you would stop reading, am I right?)

One major point that is reiterated throughout this document is the difference between personal information and aggregate information. Personal information includes names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, etc. Aggregate information is data collected from which individual user identities have been removed. This type of information can pertain to how you use the application which helps the providers understand trends and user needs.

So… why is this distinction so important?
Basically, personal information cannot be sold but aggregate information is completely fair game. Once your personal identifiers are gone all of your personal information can be sold and shared to third parties.

One statement that sums this up quite well: “we consider student data to be highly confidential and use this data solely to provide our services to the school and to the parent, and in limited ways, for our internal purposes in accordance with our Terms of Service or specific agreements with schools.” Although it seems like things are 100% safe and for the sole purpose of students, parents, and the school, it is clear with further reading that their Terms of Service allows them to use aggregate data for whatever purposes they please. Further, if you interact with FreshGrade through other social media sites (such as, Twitter & Facebook) they will also collect that data. (Although that particular data is dependent upon your privacy settings with the other social networking sites.) As you can see, like most other websites FreshGrade automatically collects usage information once you visit their site. This information is collected through cookies. Depending on your mobile device you may not be able to reject cookies. Additionally, if you do not accept FreshGrades cookies, you may not be able to use some of the network’s features or services. On a side note, once an account is deleted aggregate information can still be utilized!

Further Privacy & Safety Acts Utilized:
PIPA, PEPEDA, and FOIPPA for Canadian users
FERPA for United States users

FreshGrade also has an extensive liability clause that basically protects them from everything. By agreeing to use the application you are also waiving the right to a trial by jury, the participation in a class action, collective action, private attorney general action, or other representative proceedings of any kind. You should also be checking the Privacy Policy periodically incase there are changes. FreshGrade does try its best to provide at least 30 days notice of a Terms of Service change that involves collecting, using, storing, or sharing Student data in a different way than was disclosed in the previous Terms of Service Agreement. The last change took place on November 1st, 2017.

So what does this mean to you?

From my perspective (aka. someone who always skips past the Privacy Policies) this is a tad creepy to read. There is so much information that I am willingly giving up on a day to day basis when using specific applications. But can I really blame FreshGrade for its extensive Privacy Policy? Not really, we do live in a consumer culture…

One thing that I will be taking away from this post is that I really should start reading Privacy Policies and become aware of my privacy options as a client. I think its time that I finally update my Facebook, Instagram, & Snapchat accounts.

Here is a link to the Privacy Policy: https://www.freshgrade.com/privacy-policy/#top
Here is a link to the Terms & Conditions: https://www.freshgrade.com/terms-and-conditions/#top
Further, if you have any questions pertaining to these areas you can email care@freshgrade.com directly.

Inquiry Idea: K-5 + Technologies Learned in the Classroom

On October 26, 2018November 26, 2018 By michellecherylshieldsIn blogging, classroom observations, edtech, image editing, intellectual property, leadership, Learning design, multimedia, open pedagogy, social media, tech tools, video editingLeave a comment

Hello,

Unfortunately I have been putting this class on the back burner. But, not to worry I will be catching up this weekend! Get ready for at-least 2 new blogs this weekend.

Specifically, today in class we were asked to develop a k-5 appropriate inquiry using some of the technologies that we learned in class. The technology that I will be sharing with you is Google Photos, Screencastify, and Jing.

One important thing that I learned today when collecting photos from google is to go to “tools -> usage rights -> labeled for noncommercial reuse with modification. This now allows us to use photos that are copyright safe. (Something that I have never done in the past.. Yikes)

Screencastify is super cool as it is an extension from Google Chrome that allows us to record our screen activity. Jing is also a screencasting computer program but it allows us to take a photo of our screens and edit them (ie. creating arrows or descriptions).

For my Inquiry idea I will be creating a Grade 1 Guided & Controlled Science Inquiry based on foxes! This topic fits into the BC curriculum as some of the content that must be covered includes the names of animals, the structural features of animals in the local environment, and the behavioural adaptions of animals in the local environment.

To start off the class inquiry I will most likely present a fox gif. tumblr_p3lgz4Tz561uocsx1o1_500

Once this is shown to the class I will ask: “What do you see? What do you know? & What do you wonder?” The answers to these questions will be the basis for the inquiry.

If I wish to present more photos to the class I can select some noncommercial rights images from Google and edit them using Google Photos. The process is uploaded below.

Here is the edited photo

Here is the original photo

As you can see I lightened up the photo and cropped it.

Here is a photo of me using the application Jing. As you can see I am using Google Photos to edit this photo. I have added an error to the edit button so that I don’t forget how to use this application once I get home and add it to my own computer.

FreshGrade Implementation

On October 15, 2018November 7, 2018 By michellecherylshieldsIn assessment, blogging, classroom observations, social media, tech inquiryLeave a comment

Although I was going to look into FreshGrade’s privacy settings this week, there was a surprise visit in one of my classes from a teacher who actually uses FreshGrade with her students! Because of this, I am going to post what I have learned about FreshGrade from this talk. So here we go…

The teacher who talked to us gave us examples of the guidelines for reporting using FreshGrade that are used in her school district. Some of these guidelines revolved around student progress reports. During these reports teachers in their first year of using FreshGrade will continue to use formal progress reports at defined reporting times during the school year. On the contrary, teachers in their second year of using FreshGrade may provide summative comments at key times during the year rather than providing progress reports. These summative comments will appear as part of the FreshGrade portfolio. All students will receive a final written report that summarizes their learning over the course of the school year. Additionally, the final written summative report will include a student self-assessment of the core competencies.

Some of the portfolio requirements include a minimum of one piece of evidence of learning each month in the key areas of reading, writing, and numeracy. Additionally, a minimum of one post per year in other required areas of study. Lastly, summative information for reading, writing, and numeracy should be reported in the student portfolio at least two times per year.

With regard to letter grades and performance, neither letter grades nor percentages are used to indicate student performance in all elementary grades (k-5). Although, student progress may be communicated using language consistent with the Ministry of Education Performance Scales in areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. For grades 4 and 5 letter grades may be communicated verbally to parents who request them but letter grades are not to be communicated via electronic portfolios.

Some of the forms used by the school included a electronic portfolio checklist for teachers new to FreshGrade, a parent informed consent form, a web-based tools consent form, a parent letter for mid-year student progress reports for teachers in their second year of FreshGrade use, sample student progress reports using FreshGrade, a core competency self-assessment form, prompts for student self-reflections, examples of documentation, and guiding principles and beliefs about reporting.

Some other key attributes included attendance information, which should be posted two times per year and as part of the final summative report. Further, an indication of the school name must be included on student progress reports and summative reports.

Some cautions discussed about using e-portfolios included:
-Less is more: We want to ensure key areas of learning are shared and that we don’t overwhelm parents.
-Carefully choose evidence that demonstrates and shows student learning.
-Make clear assessment decisions: Decide which key assessment matter most and avoid overwhelming the portfolio.

This is only some of the information that was discussed in class. I hope, with permission, to include more information later in the week. For now I will be adding this information to my word document that holds my tech inquiry assignment.

Thanks for reading!

^ Pro of FreshGrade ^

Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry

On October 8, 2018November 7, 2018 By michellecherylshieldsIn assessment, blogging, classroom observations, collaboration, distributed learning, edtech, gaming, Learning design, network literacy, open pedagogy, social media, trello, virtual realityLeave a comment

Last Friday my class visited the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry. Although I had never heard of this school before I was pleased to find out that it is a high school that personalizes education through a formal inquiry process where learners create projects and activities that take them through the curriculum on their own. Seeing this type of learning environment in person was very eyeopening for me.

Previously, I had loved watching the documentary “Most Likely to Succeed” in class. Although there are differences between HTH and PSII, both schools are doing some pretty different stuff compared to the traditional model of education. Plus, watching a movie barely compares to physically visiting a school. While walking around PSII I could feel the energy of the students and see how well that type of learning environment can work. Every single student was engaging with something throughout the hour that I was there. While talking to different students I felt like I was having a conversation with my own peers. I could see each student light up when talking about their current project. They were genuinely interested in the material that they were learning about and they loved talking about it. To me, it is without a doubt the future of education.

One thing that I would like to learn more about at PSII is assessment. Jeff Hopkins briefly described this process stating that students and teachers work together to discuss evaluation and grading. I got the sense that there is a lot of formative assessment during the year where teachers are working one-on-one with students, although there is still summative assessment where student learning needs to be compared to curriculum standards.

On another note, I really liked the integration of technologies like WordPress and Trello into the classroom, as I didn’t start using these technologies myself until taking this course. In fact, many of the students Trello accounts were much more creative and better organized than my own. It’s super awesome that students are getting acquainted with these sites as I believe that the internet provides a vast amount of entrepreneurial opportunities. If students are already starting to explore some of their ideas online they could have a successful business already built by the time that they graduate high school.

It was also interesting to hear how students are using virtual reality in the classroom in different ways. For instance, some students were using it for building, others gaming, and others art (I have mostly viewed virtual reality as a type of 3D gaming device, but it can be used for so much more!)

Although I can’t describe everything that I loved about this school, because there simply is too much, I encourage you to browse the schools website https://learningstorm.org/ and watch Jeff Hopkins TED talk about an inquiry approach to education.

Michelle Shields

Author: michellecherylshields