Digital platforms in primary education in Catalonia: A question of ethics

Abstract

The use of educational platforms has grown exponentially in schools, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, accelerating digital transformation and the increase of data on pupils. This situation poses several questions regarding security and ethics. In this study, we seek to identify the presence of proprietary and open-source digital platforms in the educational context of Catalonia, the production of significant changes in the post-Covid-19 period, and the consequent challenges, on the basis of primary school teachers’ opinions. As tools for data collection, a validated questionnaire answered by 491 teachers and 19 interviews were used. The results of the questionnaire show a large evolution in the use of digital platforms in the wake of Covid-19, almost 90% of which are proprietary platforms belonging to major technology companies. Considering the increase of private platforms in education, the teachers’ opinions pose several ethical questions involving the adaptation of the business model to education, the control of educational agents, the existing ignorance and lack of awareness, and the role of social networks. Therefore, it is important to consider the sustainability of these digital platforms and the commodification of minors’ data, which are aspects connected with the imposition of commercial logic on educational ethics.