I calculate it would take someone over an hour to read all of the OU privacy policy and related documents (around 2,000 words).

In your learning journal, note the issues reported in the paper that were raised by students and that you consider to be the most important.

Several issues are raised by the answers given to the research questions:

The most important concern in my opinion is : No informed consent opt out is available.

“Do you think the OU makes clear enough how and why it collects and analyses data?“ I think there was some mention of this when ticking a box during the orientation but I didn’t read it.

The report shows that many students are angered by the nature of the data stored about them and why it is needed.

Some students were concerned that the data gathered may lead to assumptions and generalisations about them.

The nature and targeting of the emails coming from OU did not seem to be relevant to one of the students giving feedback which they felt devalued all the emails coming from the OU.

False positive flagging and to possible offering of a service were noted as concerning.

The idea of the university plucking information from around the web about a student were seen to be too far.

Over reliance on data models was also a concern where algorithms may be used to decide whether a core or service should be offered to a student.

 

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References:

Slade, S. and Prinsloo, P. (2014) ‘Student perspectives on the use of their data: between intrusion, surveillance and care’ in Challenges for Research into Open & Distance Learning: Doing Things Better – Doing Better Things, European Distance and E-Learning Network, 8th research workshop, Oxford, 27–28 October, pp. 291–300 [Online]. Available at http://oro.open.ac.uk/ 41229/ (Last accessed 25th July 2020).