I do online learning scool, at my home but my school keeps logs of my history is that legall?

Question

Online chooling is like homescooling, except I get my assignments online, and I do online tutorials. The tutorials are like my classes for the day. My mom just found out that they keep a log of my history, and they know exactly which website ive been to etc. Is that even legall, I mean isn't that an invasion of privacy or something. Are they allowed to just find out everything ive been on, on all 3 of our computers. Or is it only legal if they do it while on a tutorial, or while I'm logged into D2L. If it is legal, how is it legal. Apparently they keep it for, "education, and effort Purposes". Ive been with it for 2 months. They just gave my mom a copy of websites, documents etc, of my history. She was shocked, and she was wondering, because it is right at my house that im doing this is it legal. I mean I understand that they keep track of history in schools, and on computers etc there. Will it only record information while i'm logged in to D2L.
Thanks, all answers are appreciated.

Answer 1

Some public schools have recently been in the news because of cases where the school-provided computers were actually filming the student at home.



Did the school provide the computer(s)? If so, it is probably still considered their property and they would likely have the right to see how it is being used. A lot of online schools have problems with students cheating; perhaps this is their way of checking to be sure that doesn't happen.



Schools are legally considered to be a child's guardian while the child is at school, giving the school the right to do things like search lockers and such. So, the school might claim this covers keeping track of your history. Personally, I'd say that it is probably one of those areas where the law hasn't caught up with technology and so it is probably unclear. If you don't like it, I'd suggest dumping the online school and having you and your mom keep your own records. When you are in charge of your own learning, then other people can't do this sort of thing to you...

Answer 2

Not only websites but documents, too, huh?



Employers are allowed to monitor employees' movements online; I imagine that the online school would attempt to use the same justification.



Most of these people who like to monitor others will take it just as far as they possibly can:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/19/tech/main6412871.shtml



My guess is you're making a VPN connection to the school/site or they've installed software on a computer you've been issued.



As you can see, a lot of this is legally still up in the air. Welcome to the era of Big Brother. Have you noticed that almost every traffic interchange, on ramp, off ramp, etc. has a camera on the light poles?



We're all being watched. Just ask AT&T. (Illegal wiretapping, anyone?)

Answer 3

Some online schools take precautions so they know their students are not cheating their way to their diploma. Reread the contact your parents signed for the program, read the small font too. It might have something in there about it!

Answer 4

there will be tracking software on the computer they gave you that reports back to the school.



it probably isn't legal though I dont know the law in the USA, it would certainly not be legal in the European Union (article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights).