LAST UPDATED August 16, 2023
Below is a copy of the researcher data use agreement that researchers must agree to to use CourseKata data for research. If you have any questions regarding this agreement, please contact us at info@coursekata.org
...
Data Use Agreement for Researchers
This Data Use Agreement for Researchers (the “Agreement”) is entered into by and between CourseKata Statistics, part of the Better Book Project at UCLA (“CourseKata”), and the individual who has executed this Agreement on the last page hereof. The goal of the Better Book Project is not only to create high quality online interactive textbooks, but also to use student response data and targeted research studies as a means of continuously improving the effectiveness of the textbook. We are grateful for your interest in joining the CourseKata R&D community as a researcher. As a condition of accessing certain data and information from CourseKata, you agree to abide by the terms of this Agreement.
Preamble
CourseKata is a recognized project under the National Center for Civic Innovation (“NCCI”), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. CourseKata’s association with NCCI and UCLA, among other things, require that CourseKata operate consistent with properly organized non-profit, non-commercial, and/or academic research purposes (collectively, the “Charitable Purpose”). In addition, CourseKata’s rights in and to the data, platform, and content provided to you under this Agreement are subject to and qualified by, both now and in the future, certain superior ownership and license rights held by UCLA and/or other third parties (the “Senior Rights”).
Accordingly, you agree (a) to use the rights and access granted under this Agreement (including your access and use of any other platform, content, and database provided by CourseKata) consistent with the Charitable Purpose and that CourseKata may, in its sole discretion, alter or terminate your rights under this Agreement to ensure compliance with the Charitable Purpose, and (b) that your access and use rights under this Agreement are subject to and limited by the Senior Rights.
General Terms of Use
As a researcher, you will have non-exclusive access to CourseKata’s large database of student responses to embedded questions and R coding exercises, as well as such data as time spent watching videos, time spent on each page, and so on. You also will have access to any supplemental data that have been provided by the course instructor (such as final course grades).
...
The CourseKata platform supports testing different versions of the materials against each other in random-assignment experiments in which students within classes get different versions of the book. If you are interested in running such an experiment, you should contact the core team at CourseKata for more information.
Permitted Uses & Confidentiality
We encourage the innovative and scholarly use of the access and rights provided under this Agreement. However, you understand and agree that you may only use the data, information, platform, and content provided hereunder for the following permitted uses and purposes (the “Permitted Uses”):
...
As long as we are credited as the source of the data, CourseKata is flexible on how and where this attribution is presented. It could be done in the methods or introduction section of a report or publication, or wherever the data are described.
Example Citations (feel free to copy and paste!)
Participants used an online interactive statistics and data science textbook developed by CourseKata (https://coursekata.org ; Son & Stigler, 2017-2022). [update 2022 to current year]
The version of the textbook used in this study has twelve chapters and covers material typically covered in an introductory statistics course (https://coursekata.org ; Son & Stigler, 2017-2022).
The book emphasizes the concept of statistical modeling as a means of making the content more coherent for students and instructors (Son et al., 2021), and is based on a pedagogical approach referred to as practicing connections (Fries et al., 2021).
The CourseKata materials were developed as part of a larger project (the Better Book project) that is exploring new ways of using research to improve teaching, learning, and curriculum development (Stigler et al. 2020).
All data presented here were collected and shared with the authors by CourseKata (https://coursekata.org).
References
Fries, L., Son, J. Y., Givvin, K. B., & Stigler, J. W. (2021). Practicing connections: A framework to guide instructional design for developing understanding in complex domains. Educational Psychology Review, 33(2), 739-762.
Son, J.Y. & Stigler, J.W. (2017-2022). Statistics and data science: A modeling approach. Los Angeles: CourseKata, https://coursekata.org/preview/default/program . Currently available in 5 versions.
Son, J. Y., Blake, A. B., Fries, L., & Stigler, J. W. (2021). Modeling first: Applying learning science to the teaching of introductory statistics. Journal of Statistics and Data Science Education, 29(1), 4-21.
Stigler, J. W., Son, J. Y., Givvin, K. B., Blake, A. B., Fries, L., Shaw, S. T., & Tucker, M. C. (2020). The Better Book approach for education research and development. Teachers College Record, 122(9), 1-32.
Reporting Back
Because CourseKata is based on continuous improvement, we expect researchers to provide us with feedback, observations, suggestions, and ideas for improvement as they review, analyze, and study the data and platform. You agree to promptly notify us of any such matters, along with any errors or omissions you may perceive, to help us ensure our core mission and purposes are achieved.
Data Sharing Policy
As students work through CourseKata Statistics, they will answer a number of questions and complete many R coding exercises. During the course, students’ data are available only to their instructor (as defined within the local Learning Management System), who can see their responses and track their progress via the “My CourseKata” page.
...
Other than the uses outlined above, we will never share students’ data with anyone, and will always protect the confidentiality of students’ data. If you have any questions about students’ data and how they are used, feel free to contact us at info@coursekata.org.
Additional Legal Obligations
To the extent required by applicable law, including without limitation the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, including rules and regulations issued thereunder (“FERPA”), you agree to:
Fully comply with all reasonable procedures and requests from CourseKata that are necessary to comply with applicable law, including those relating to recordkeeping, notification, parent access, confidentiality, data retention, and correction procedures under FERPA;
Use reasonable precautions to secure usernames, passwords, and other means of gaining access to student data (or services incorporating student data);
Immediately notify CourseKata of any known, unauthorized access to student data, provide any information reasonably requested by CourseKata related thereto, and cooperate with any efforts by CourseKata to investigate or respond to any such unauthorized access;
Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to student data and privacy;
Never attempt to re-identify de-identified data;
Promptly delete and/or transfer student data, if any, within your possession, custody, or control upon request by CourseKata; and
Use reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect student data from unauthorized access, disclosure, acquisition, destruction, use, or modification.
Miscellaneous
Choice of Law. This Agreement, including any claims or disputes relating to or arising from this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
...
The disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability provided above shall be interpreted in a manner that, to the extent possible, most closely approximates an absolute disclaimer and waiver of all liability.
User Acknowledgement
By executing this Agreement below or otherwise accessing the data provided hereunder, you are hereby agreeing to the terms herein. If you do not agree to these terms, you may not use the data.
...