Learning Analytics Guiding Principles

How we use data collected in ECoach

As with most digital tools (Canvas, Twitter, and so on), when you use this tool we collect data. Sometimes we’ll directly ask you questions and collect your responses, and other times we’ll look at how you use the tool itself. Here are a few things we’d like you to know:

• We take our responsibility for protecting your data very seriously. Whenever possible we use anonymized, de-identified, or aggregate data for our analyses. This protects you from being connected directly to your answers or tool usage. We follow all key laws and policies and our systems are approved for storing sensitive data.
• We follow the rules set for us by the University of Michigan, the state of Michigan and the federal government -- through laws like FERPA and the University’s Institutional Review Board -- on how we collect, store, analyze, and disseminate learning analytics data.
• We’re diligent about asking your permission for research studies. Sometimes the data we collect is to help us improve a tool or a course. Other times, the data we collect is for a research study. If we use data for research where we need permission from you, we will ask for your consent to participate. In these cases, if you want to opt-out, you’ll have a way to do that -- and with no penalty to you in any way.
• Learning analytics is good for us and good for you. As we collect and analyze data, we make improvements to courses, deliver more personalized content to you, and help you succeed by studying what works (and what doesn’t).

If you would like to learn more, read our Learning Analytics Guiding Principles document.