Learning Data

What is learning data?

Learning data is the data that’s collected through UBC’s online learning tools and can be broken down into two types of information, both of which can be referred to as learning data:

  1. Data that people create when interacting with a learning tool (such as Canvas). This includes course content, discussion posts, assignment uploads, and quiz submissions, as well as feedback and grades provided by the course instructor.
  2. Data that a learning tool logs about activity. This includes the date and time when people log in, what pages or files they view, which resources they use, and how often or how long they’re online.

Learning tools may collect both types of learning data as people interact with the system, regardless of their role at UBC.

Who has access to learning data?

Learning data is made available primarily to faculty members and their teaching teams, as well as to senior administrators, support staff, software vendors, quality assurance investigators, researchers, and students.

Where can I access learning data?

Many learning tools provide direct access to data. Authorization to access that data is based on a person’s role in a course.

How do I request learning data?

Some learning data is directly available, while some data may require a formal learning data request.

What if I need additional or different data?

If you need learning data in a different format or data that is not available within a learning tool, there may be options to access that data.

What are my responsibilities with learning data?

Learning data typically contains student personal information which is classified as high risk data.

How is learning data protected?

Learning data is collected and accessed according to best practices in privacy and security, UBC policy, and BC legislation, including BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).