Many students cannot afford the heavy data usage required by geofencing apps, for starters. Furthermore, at launch, Pokémon Go demanded users sign over a great deal of personal data and grant permissions to the app that, for a time , gave it access to a user’s entire Google account. Handing over data, often quite thoughtlessly, has become par for the course – in education and in society more generally. To data about students’ immigration status? MORE

Via New America : “Why Does Betsy DeVos think Federal Student Loan Debt has Grown by 1,000 percent?” was named in an investigation by The Associated Press last year for sharing racially charged content on social media.” Via The Guardian : “ Trump bans agencies from ‘providing updates on social media or to reporters’ ” This ban has been targeted at scientists at the EPA and USDA in particular. MORE

In 2017, just a week before Christmas, the New Media Consortium abruptly announced its immediate closure “because of apparent errors and omissions by its former Controller and Chief Financial Officer.” That being said, if you’re using a piece of technology that’s free, it’s likely that your personal data is being sold to advertisers or at the very least hoarded as a potential asset (and used, for example, to develop some sort of feature or algorithm). MORE

“Dean Dad” Matt Reed responds to Senator Alexander’s proposal to limit student loans. ” More on privacy legislation in the “privacy” section below. Here’s media reporter Mathew Ingram’s take (and there are lots of takes out there. Testing, Testing… “ Common Core testing group wages aggressive campaign against critics on social media,” according to The Washington Post’s Valerie Strauss. MORE

” (“…She’s unlikely to encounter local students when she’s there.”). Via NPR : “19 Years After Columbine , Students Walk Out To Stop Gun Violence.” More on NYC , from NY1 : “Student diversity push upsets some parents at UWS school.” I wonder if his words appeared in any pitches that student loan startups made to investors. ’” Online Education (and the Once and Future “MOOC”). MORE

There’s more Department of Education news – relating to student loans in particular – in “the business of financial aid” section below. Letting the police decide what students should and should not read – totally a sign of a healthy democracy. Via The Hechinger Report : “In 6 states, school districts with the neediest students get less money than the wealthiest.” Data, Surveillance, and Information Security. MORE

Via NPR : “ Hillary Clinton ’s Plan For America’s Students.” Via The Wall Street Journal : “The federal government is pumping $245 million into the creation and expansion of public charter schools across the nation with hopes of helping students in low-income communities.” ” Via the Data Quality Campaign : “ Student Data Privacy Legislation : A Summary of 2016 State Legislation.” MOOC hype deja vu.). MORE

Via KPCC : “ LAUSD may try again to give an iPad or computer to every student.” ” The Orlando Sentinel on what students are learning in some of Florida’s voucher schools : “Private schools’ curriculum downplays slavery, says humans and dinosaurs lived together.” Via The Atlantic : “The Confusing Information Colleges Provide Students About Financial Aid.” Via Inside Higher Ed : “How Textbook Rentals Undercut Students.” MORE