Mobile Learning: A Handbook for Developers, Educators, and Learners

CHAPTER 15

Balancing Power: Data Use, Privacy, and Digital Citizenship

Educational data, whether it comes from school systems, mobile applications, or other technology-based resources, has immense power to transform our education system for the better. The more we understand how students learn new concepts, retain information, and apply it in the future, the better able we are to prepare students for success. Rich, high-quality data is necessary for this transformation. In fact, a recent report estimates that the appropriate use of educational data could result in an annual added economic value of $1.2 trillion worldwide.¹ Educational data can be used to improve instruction, ensure more efficient management of administrations and financing, and match students to programs and employment, all resulting in positive economic outcomes. What's more, the high number of data points, often called Big Data, allows for statistical sampling to be a thing of the past; using all the data to analyze trends and make decisions is the new normal.² Data has become, in almost all sectors, an asset that holds the power to improve all aspects of operation.

The outstanding benefits of educational data are more than just hypothetical. For example, through the use of student data, New York City school districts learned that nearly four out of five high school graduates were not sufficiently prepared when beginning community college.³ This insight allows the district to make changes to its practices in ...