WA - Personalized Learning (FINAL)

Personalized Learning: How Modern Education
Undermines Data Protection

By Shari Datu Tambuyung
Over the years, the rapid growth of technological advancements like big data and machine learning
has created a digital world that allows for personalized content and experiences. In the education
sector, big companies are capitalizing on the potential of these developments to escalate
improvements and help address existing skills gaps. For instance, the proliferation of digital devices
equipped with learning tools (e.g., cloud-based applications capable of reaching learners at their
individualized levels) has allowed schools to acquire digital resources and integrate them into their
respective educational programs.
One of the more distinctive products of this era is the modern educational approach of “personalized
learning”. It entails designing and/or adjusting educational programs to a student’s capabilities,
needs, strengths, interests, and learning rate. Typically, it makes use of digital platforms and cloud-
based computing technologies to collect student data which are then used by educators to monitor
and evaluate a student’s progress. With the endorsement of philanthropic supporters and big
technology organizations, the approach has gained considerable momentum, owing to its student-
oriented teaching strategy that has been proven to accelerate and deepen individual learning.
Its growing popularity, however, is not without hitches. Consumer watchdogs, privacy advocates,
and parent groups have expressed their apprehension regarding this mode of learning, which also
raises ethical issues, including data privacy concerns.
Privacy advocates fear that personalized learning is just a cover for the push by tech companies to
convert a student’s learning journey into a giant data-mining enterprise. The vast amount of data
being collected seems excessive for what is needed for educational purposes. In some cases, data
collection is no longer confined to basic information like grades and test scores, but also identify a
person’s religion, medical and psychological impairments, and behavior, just to name a few.
Then, there’s the issue of surveillance. With personalized learning, schools are able to monitor every
student’s actions when using the platforms they have been provided. Students can be tracked beyond
school premises because the devices are almost always online. Parents and privacy advocates find this
troubling and consider the pervasive surveillance as not only unwarranted but also exposes student
devices and home networks to cyber intrusions.
There are also concerns about the use by some systems of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms
when assessing a student’s academic aptitude. On occasion, their assessments can be misleading since
they are usually programmed to look favorably towards those students who frequently open
uploaded school materials, compared to those who do not. They may also produce faulty and biased
analyses, if the initial input data are wrong or if the systems themselves malfunction. So far, there is
no prescribed or standard methodology for understanding how such systems come up with their
assessments, or how they can be challenged for possible errors or biases. Algorithms, in particular, are
treated as trade secrets by the companies who own and develop them. In any case, many doubt the
possibility of developing an algorithm or system so secure and foolproof that it will actually work
better than a trained human.
Other oft-cited problem areas include student assessment reports which may be subjective because
interpreters or educators frequently have different ways of interpreting the data provided by
algorithms. Another would be databases containing faulty and inaccurate data and their impact on
the owners of the data. As things stand, there are enough reasons for parents to worry about the
fairness of school admissions processes. The last thing they need is to have such processes tweaked so
that they will rely solely on student profiles generated entirely via personalized learning systems.
To be fair, it’s not only schools that take the flak from critics. Big tech providers are just as culpable,
with many of them committing privacy violations, such as collecting and using student data for non-
educational purposes like targeted advertising, research, or even social engineering. Some allow
other third parties to access the data, while keeping the students themselves (and parents, in the case
of minors) in the dark as to the extent of processing their data are made to go through.
Despite these many red flags, governments and the tech industry are still pushing hard for
personalized learning. They are banking on the more common public perception that the benefits
promised by this modern approach seem outweigh the controversies and problems it causes.
It is actually for this very reason that the people themselves must contemplate on the issues
surrounding personalized learning. Advocates for changes in the way personalized learning is
currently being used is sorely needed. Perhaps a slower implementation pace is necessary to allow for
rigorous system reviews and enforcement mechanisms to be established first. Laws should be
amended (or introduced, in some jurisdictions) in order to protect students effectively without
undermining the ability of schools to assist them in their educational journey. Tech companies should
also be closely regulated and must not be allowed to interfere with State-sanctioned security
measures.
No one is denying that personalized learning systems have a lot potential in terms of improving the
education system. As a relatively modern creation, however, it still poses a lot of challenges and
could even leave a negative mark on the education sector if it’s not properly utilized, and/or there are
poor or nonexistent controls. Addressing these problems is not only a matter of data protection and
privacy, but also seeks to ensure the security and safety of all affected students. There is no silver
bullet to look for, but with sufficient thought and preparation, there are bound to be ways to make
this modern marvel work without having to cause significant harm.

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Personalized Learning: How Modern Education

Undermines Data Protection

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