All posts in Google Apps

Sharing is Caring: How Massachusetts Districts Are Navigating YouTube Changes

Earlier in 2025, smack dab in the middle of the school year, Google made adjustments to its Additional Services, including a new parental-permission requirement for YouTube. In years past, students and staff had unfettered access to YouTube with Safe Search enabled, which still allowed significant non-academic video viewing. Continuing, Google wouldn’t sign a student data privacy agreement for these additional services, and kicked this back to school districts to get parental consent.

Google’s spring changes raised immediate questions for school districts, including my own: How should we manage student access to non-core services (like YouTube)? What role should teacher-embedded videos play, or is a complete block necessary? And how do we balance instructional needs with compliance and student safety? Read more…

Posted on:May 22, 2025 Comments: 1 Comment Categories: Digital Learning Google Apps

Why Simply Asking Parents for Consent Is Not a Fix for Student Data Privacy

As school districts adjust to Google’s updated terms for Additional Services, which significantly impact YouTube, Maps, Translate, and Earth, some educators may wonder aloud, ‘Why not just obtain parental permission and continue using it?’ I could curse Google, but I see an opportunity in what they have presented to school districts nationwide. On the surface, gathering consent for Google’s Addtional Services (i.e., YouTube) to market and collect data on students under 18 can be considered a reasonable workaround. Still, in practice, it is anything but ethical or straightforward. School leaders should focus on meeting strict privacy standards rather than requiring parents to forgo safeguards through a parental consent form. Read more…

Posted on:April 10, 2025 Comments: No Comments Categories: Digital Learning Google Apps iPads Professional Technology

Beyond the Device: Overlooked Pitfalls of 1:1 Programs…and What Schools Must Do First

As schools across the country race to equip students with Chromebooks, iPads, and laptops, a critical question often gets overlooked: Are we truly ready?

More importantly, do we have the vision, support, and systems to ensure these devices foster deeper learning rather than become another screen in an already (deeply) saturated digital world?

Like many educators, I’ve seen firsthand how introducing more screens into students’ lives, particularly without the proper guardrails, has unintended consequences. The research is catching up with what teachers have been feeling for years. Read more…

Posted on:December 20, 2024 Comments: No Comments Categories: Google Apps M.Ed. Program Professional Technology

Sample Post: A Smooth Transition: Helping Your Child Adjust to Middle School Life

Transitions to new offices, positions, and working with new colleagues (and much more!) are complex for everyone. Transitions can also be difficult for students moving from one of our two elementary schools to our regional middle school. With this in mind, I wanted to highlight our fifth-grade teacher team, a dynamic group of teachers who work tirelessly to support our students. I asked some of our teachers to share essential tips for parents as they help their children transition to middle school. Read more…

Posted on:November 15, 2024 Comments: 2 Comments Categories: Digital Learning Google Apps Technology

Protecting Student Data in the Age of EdTech: Best Practices for School Districts

Ensuring the privacy and security of student data in our schools is paramount. While public school districts can sometimes seem slow-moving, the pace of educational technology often accelerates faster than small teams can support. There is a temptation to move fast, purchasing software and diving into random professional development, without fully addressing strict data privacy measures. However, rushing deployment without proper privacy considerations can lead to significant agita for everyone involved.