At a workshop on Friday I discovered that many districts are unable to use cloud-based software such as Scratch and TinkerCad due to the new student data privacy regulations (FERPA) -http://www.ct.gov/ctedtech/lib/ctedtech/StudentDataPrivacyToolkit_V1.pdf  

It appears as if districts must BEGIN to have written contracts protecting student data with each company starting in July of 2018, though some districts have already implemented the privacy regulations for student data.

I noticed at least one district has listed Scratch as an approved software (https://sites.google.com/a/bethel.k12.ct.us/bethel-blended-learning/home/httpssitesgooglecomabethelk12ctusbethel-blended-learninghomet/bethel-software-services-contracts)

An alternative to using the cloud-based version of Scratch is to use the older downloadable version. There does not seem to be a downloadable version of TinkerCAD.

Are you in a district that has come up with a solution to this problem?

Do you have an alternative (besides Sketchup) to TinkerCad for 3-D design software that is not cloud-based?

What other cloud-based software are you no longer able to use?

Please reply to me directly and if I get enough feedback that might help others, I will share the responses.

Thanks!

Bill

Bill Derry

Playsultant - Tinkering, Making, Life-long Learning