Currently, the majority of public schools in Catalonia use digital educational platforms from technology corporations such as Google or Microsoft. The expanding use of these platforms has intensified in the context of the accelerated digitization of education caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Given this reality, it is essential to analyze the consequences of this phenomenon, especially as a foundation to promoting the design of educational policies that guarantee aspects such as the protection of the privacy of users of digital platforms in schools, or the protection of children’s rights.
Objectives
Within this framework, the edDIT project “Technology corporations, digital educational platforms and the guarantee of children’s rights with a gender approach” aims to explore and analyze the policies, concerns and use practices of these digital platforms in schools that provide compulsory education in Catalonia. Based on this exploration and analysis, the project will investigate the potential effect of these transformations on the rights of children, and especially on those of girls and young women.
Methodology
The research is based on a mixed design that is developed in two phases.
The qualitative phase incorporates document analysis of regulations and public policy at the international, supra-state, state and regional level; interviews with experts (policymakers, stakeholders, academics and activists); interviews with the principals of public primary and secondary schools; and discussion groups with teachers and students.
The quantitative phase incorporates the distribution of a survey to families of primary and secondary school students in Catalonia.
Results
It is expected that the results of the project will deepen the knowledge about the possible consequences of the expansion of use of educational platforms owned by technological corporations on the rights of children. On the other hand, it is also expected to spread this knowledge to the entire educational community, public administrations with competences in the educational field, universities and social actors at a national and international level.
Participating institutions
Esbrina — Subjectivitats, visualitats i entorns educatius contemporanis (2017 SGR 1248)
Universitat de Barcelona
aFFaC-Associacions Federades de Famílies d’Alumnes de Catalunya
Research team UB
- Pablo Rivera Vargas (Coord.)
- Judith Jacovkis (Coord.)
- Raquel Miño-Puigcercós
- Cristina Alonso Cano
- Katia Pozos
- Lluis Parcerisa
- Geo Saura
- Gustavo Herrera
- Sónia Folguera
- Ezequiel Passerón
- Xavier Giró Gràcia
- Ainara Moreno
- Diego Calderón Garrido
With collaboration from ACCD
Agència Catalana de Cooperació al Desenvolupament (ACCD) (subvencions a projectes de desenvolupament i d’educació per al desenvolupament, convocatoria 2021 ACC145/21/000103). 2022-2023