Barley works unless my location is given out at all times
Each time after I return home from school, I receive notifications stating that my school has notified that “I’m not compliant.” When I go to the app and look through the settings, everything seems to be fine apart from the fact that the only thing which is not is the location services.
The app is required to use my location occasionally, such as when it is active. However, it always makes me think that it requires the location at any time. Unless I provide it with this information, the app states that “I’m not compliant” and my phone can still remain in school mode while I’m already at home.
This is totally absurd. I shouldn’t give The Commons App the location access all the time to let it operate properly. As the app is meant to operate only with location access occasionally, it should do this. And yet, it’s not merely a matter of irritation toward an application. Security of EdTech software products is a pressing problem right now.
According to the Netwrix survey results, 47% of educational institutions had been under a cyberattack against their cloud infrastructure within the year before the research. (PR Newswire) Additionally, The U.S. Government Accountability Office identified thousands of K–12 students that had been affected by data breaches, including the disclosure of highly sensitive information about the students. (Government Accountability Office)
However, how can students be required to grant such unnecessary, constant access to their locations when location data is the type of information that is meant to be secure? In case of any security breaches at all, I surely wouldn’t like to see the history of my locations in the hands of the company due to the inability of The Commons App to function with the required permissions.
“Not compliant” notifications worsen an already annoying system of school restrictions and requirements instead of helping students to navigate through those issues easier.
Make the system of location permissions work. Make the system of school restrictions work. Make the unnecessary compliance notifications work. The students shouldn’t have to suffer from violation
Bad
Response from developer
Thanks for sharing your concerns. We want to clarify a few inaccuracies here. The Commons does not track students’ location 24/7. Your phone’s operating system uses its built-in location functionality to monitor the school geofence. The Commons receives only when the device enters or leaves the school zone and the time. We do not receive or store GPS coordinates or movement history. The claim that an upcoming update will allow The Commons to access whether students are texting is also incorrect. The Commons does not read or access students’ messages or personal communications. If School Mode is turning on incorrectly or you’re experiencing unusual battery drain, please contact our support team so we can investigate the specific device and issue.
Terrible
Response from developer
Thanks for the feedback. Each school determines which apps and websites are available while School Mode is active, including educational tools. If something you need for class, like a math or academic resource, is being blocked, please let your school know so they can review whether it should be added to their approved access.
No calls available
Response from developer
Thanks for letting us know. The Commons does not block phone calls during School Mode, so if you're unable to make a call, something isn't working as intended. In some cases, we've found that other settings or apps configured on a phone can interfere with calling or messaging, and these issues are typically straightforward to resolve. Please reach out to our support team through the Commons app or our website so we can help troubleshoot your device directly. Schools determine whether text messaging is available during School Mode, but phone calls should remain available.
Sketchy school app
P.S. To apple please remove any app that asks for your VPN because it’s most likely trying to get your information Especially this one!
Response from developer
Thanks for raising these concerns. We want to clarify a few important points. The Commons uses location permission only so the phone can recognize when a student arrives at or leaves school and automatically turn School Mode on or off. The Commons and the school do not receive a student’s GPS location or location history. The VPN is used to block restricted online content during School Mode. It is not used to monitor browsing history or collect the content of a student’s internet activity. The Commons also does not install viruses or malware on a device. We take student privacy and security seriously and have undergone independent third-party security testing. More information about how our technology works and what data we do and do not collect is available in our Privacy Policy and support materials.
