Manufacturers of the popular behavior tracking app ClassDojo used in American schools announced Tuesday that it would revise its way of keeping student information.
Starting in January, the company intends to keep a record of student behavior for only one academic year.
We are not a data company.
Therefore, there is no need for us to keep any data other than to allow communication between teachers, parents and students
The founder of ClassDojo wrote in an email to reporters.
We think a year will give busy parents a chance to have time to check this information.
An article in The New York Times on Monday covered the concerns of some educators that the software used by the school collected sensitive details of the students without giving full consideration to the impact of data privacy and fairness.
One of the questions they raised was the possibility of a third question. Party database
Collect and store details of students' personal behavior on a regular basis
Students may be labeled "problem children.
The new deletion policy for Class dojo addresses this issue directly.
The company says we want to help children succeed by identifying and sharing what they do well.
No permanent record is required for any part of the vision.
Privacy experts say the company's policies are a step in the right direction.
"Routine deletion is not a new idea, but it's a good idea," said Mark Rotenberg, president of the Center for Electronic Privacy Information at the Washington nonprofit research center.
He added that deleting student records every year should reduce the risk that their information will then be used for other purposes.
Free app class dojo allows teachers to choose behavior
Like the instructions or disrespect below.
They can reward students with points or minus points.
Teachers can use the system to create a virtual classroom, use the student's name, and give each of them a monster avatar.
Teachers can display scores on an interactive whiteboard, allowing each child to monitor their scores and class scores in real time.
The app beeps every time a student gets or loses one.
According to the manufacturer of the app, at least one of the three schools uses class dojo.
But for more than a year, class dojo has sparked a heated debate between teachers, principals and parents.
The method based on behavioral feedback and the option it gives teachers to publicly demonstrate student achievement, which some compare with public humiliation.
The article has caused a similar enthusiastic response on the Times readers and social media.
Many teachers who use class dojo say it helps them manage their classrooms better, promotes good behavior and communicates with parents who register their accounts.
"I love dojo classes and I was a little shocked by the hustle and bustle.
I use it almost entirely for positive reasons.
The grade teacher wrote in the comments section attached to the article.
She added: "It's much better to reward children who do the right thing than to keep yelling at misbehaving children.
"A parent in Vermont expressed concern that his child used class dojo in pre-kindergarten classes.
"I despise it," the parents wrote, adding: "It's all a big cartoon bribe system, you go to the website and there's no information before you sign up, this is just another gorgeous and colorful annoying waste of time that has sounded a huge alarm to me.
But the debate about class dojo has already started before this article gets attention.
Last week, educators on Twitter communicated on the app's public scoreboard and noise.
Children like Ding and people who don't like Ding very much, they will adjust them to register the progress@iplante)
It was also embarrassing and humiliating in November 13.
RT @ iplante: kids like Tintin and don't like Tintin very much, they will adjust them to register for the progress class. Brett Clark (@MrBrettClark)
November 13, Mr brettclark, you're as brave as oatmeal, aren't you? :).
Are you a CD supporter?
LMMS family resources (@ KimberlyDeRose)
November 13 @ Jin kimber Rock No.
If teachers use it forever, they use it the opposite way it is designed.
Brett Clark (@MrBrettClark)
14 @ MrBrettClark Hmmm, November 13
As a teacher in the eighth grade tutorial class, I can respect this idea.
How will you change?
LMMS family resources (@ KimberlyDeRose)
November 13 14 @ Jin kimber rock song/sound.
No more publicly displayed scores.
Scores can only be shared through meetings.
Brett Clark (@MrBrettClark)
On November 13, a version of the article appeared on Page B6 of the New York edition with the title: The school tracking app does not keep data.