AiTS Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Policy

When you have read this agreement please scroll to the bottom of the page and click accept. If you choose not to agree, you will not be able to access your course.

What is Moodle
Moodle is the software used by AiTS to create our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Moodle is a free open source software package designed using sound pedagogical principles, to help educators create effective online learning communities. Moodle is distributed under the GNU General Public License.

The VLE provides a range of features for the delivery, support, administration and participation in teaching and learning activities. The features include content delivery and collaboration between tutors and learners, such as:

• Content creation and upload/download;
• Discussion forums and chat rooms;
• Messaging tools;
• Assignments;
• Quizzes; and
• Monitoring of users' online activity.

What information does the VLE store?

• To operate successfully the VLE stores the following personal information about you:
• Your user name and password
• Your email address (your email address is visible to other members of your course)
• The pages within the site you visit
• Any quizzes you complete including your score
• Your assessments and your results including feedback where given.

You may store the following optional information:

• Information about where you live
• A photograph and information about your hobbies and likes.
• Documents

VLE Site Policy
The purpose of this Site Policy is to specify your responsibilities and to promote the appropriate use of the VLE for the protection of all students, tutors and managers. The Site Policy applies wherever you are using the VLE.

Please note that the policy applies whether we register you or you register yourself.

Registration
All users of the VLE must be registered.

• These policies cover the whole period that the user is a registered user of the VLE.
• By accepting registration and logging onto the VLE you are agreeing to AiTS’s policies.

Your Responsibilities
By using the VLE you agree:

• Not to use the VLE for anything else other than for the purposes of teaching, learning and research. However, incidental personal use, for example via the social forums, is acceptable.
• Not to use the VLE for personal commercial use, for example marketing.
• Not to use the VLE for uploading, storing, viewing or transmitting any material which is (or may be considered to be) defamatory, inflammatory, discriminatory, obscene or offensive.
• Not to misrepresent AiTS or bring it into disrepute in any way through the use of the VLE.
• To be responsible for moderating discussion forums which they may have created.
• To always act in a professional manner. Be polite and courteous to others when using the VLE. The VLE is not to be used to libel, slander, or harass any other persons.
• To report to the Site Administrator or a member of staff any content you consider inappropriate.
• Not to plagiarise in submitted postings or assignments.
• Not to breach the copyright of AiTS or any third party by copying from the VLE without authorisation. Copyright of the course materials and content of the VLE are owned or controlled by AiTS unless otherwise stated. Any copies of third party materials will be clearly labelled with warnings about any copyright restrictions.
• Not to re-distribute the material downloaded from this site in any form.
• Not to disclose other people’s personal information on a public forum.

Where we find material that does not conform to these requirements will be removed from the VLE.

You agree that some material will not be provided via the VLE and that it is at the sole discretion of the individual tutor if they wish to post additional material to the VLE.

You use the VLE at your own risk. All material is posted “as is” without warranty of its accuracy. If you have any doubts about the veracity and accuracy of material posted on Moodle, you should consult your tutor.

Your Responsibilities and Data Protection
You agree:

• To look after your own username and password. Do not share your password with anyone else and do not use the username and password of other users.
• To keep physical access to Moodle secure. For example, do not login to Moodle and then leave your computer unattended. You must not allow any other individual to log-in using your username and password.
• Not to attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of Moodle.
• Not to post material which contains viruses or other programs which may disrupt the VLE.
• Not to upload private, confidential or sensitive material unless this is authorised.
• To keep your own data up-to-date and secure.

Enforcement
Certain activities will be regarded very seriously by AiTS and are subject to penalties for users, including suspension from the VLE. These activities include,

• deliberate interruption to the use of the VLE;
• gaining or attempting to gain unauthorised access to any part of the VLE or information stored therein;
• unauthorised disclosure of personal data;
• wilful or reckless infringement of any intellectual property rights of AiTS or third parties; and
• the viewing, transmitting or storing any material which is (or may be considered to be) defamatory, inflammatory, discriminatory, obscene or offensive.

By logging onto the VLE you are agreeing to this policy and consenting to AiTS processing your personal data.

Please read our data protection policy for more information on the way we store and use your data.