One of the concepts from week 1 that stood out to me the most was FIPPA as it relates to the legal responsibilities of educators. In a world where many of us blindly check off “I agree” on dozens of Terms and Conditions agreements per year, it is easy for data storage and other considerations to slip our minds. However, this can cause many issues, particularly legal, when it comes to data storage as educators.

The main point factor of FIPPA as it relates to educators is that we are not allowed to store any personal student data on servers outside of Canada. There are ways around this, including anonymizing student information or having students/parents/guardians sign a waiver, but the most common solution is to use services that store Canadian data in Canada. This can sometimes block our access to significant educational resources, such as some google products.

FIPPA is something that educators need to be aware of. If there is ever a doubt, it is best to err on the side of caution and talk to an administrator for guidance when uncertain. Online educational tools are a phenomenal resource, but it is important to ensure we are following the the law in order to protect students (and protect our employment).