Student data and the Library Course Materials page
About student data collection
As a University of Minnesota student, it is important for you to understand how your data is being collected and for what purposes it is being used.
University student data is governed by policies and rules that limit who can view and access it. Only instructors, staff, and researchers with a legitimate need can access student data and permissions granting access are tightly controlled.
The University Libraries are committed to keeping your data secure, respecting your privacy, and ethically using your data to help you be successful in your academic career. The Libraries collect data to conduct research, shape services, and assess the Libraries’ impact on student success (for example, students who use Libraries resources are more likely to graduate in 4 years). The Libraries collects data in accordance with University policy guidelines and license obligations.
Student data pilot project
The University Libraries collects student usage data through Library Course Materials page reading lists in Canvas. Since 2018, we have collected data regarding how many students click on the resources found in reading lists. Beginning in Summer 2023, we will also collect data regarding which specific students use which specific resources found in Library Course Materials page reading lists.
This individualized data collection will allow the University Libraries, and instructors and researchers with access to the data, to potentially analyze student usage of Library Course Materials resources alongside other Canvas usage data. We expect this will provide the following benefits:
- Examine and describe student reading list usage across campus populations (e.g., disciplines, student levels), in order to improve the tool, improve reading lists, and better allocate collection resources;
- Investigate any connections between reading list usage and student success;
- Create tools, such as a dashboard, for students and faculty to monitor/compare their own reading list usage and activity; and
- Combine Library Course Materials reading list usage data with other Canvas student usage data in order to improve reading lists, courses, and learning outcomes.
Opt out of data collection
The Libraries are excited about the potential uses of this data to help improve student success at the University of Minnesota. However, you may opt-out of data collection in regards to your usage of Library Course Materials resources if you don't want your data to be gathered in this way.
Opting out will prohibit library systems from collecting your usage data for this pilot project, and it will remove any of your already existing data from our systems. This will only opt you out of data collection regarding the Library Course Materials page in Canvas. Other Canvas usage data will still be collected.