Full policy

Introduction

Moodle is the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) used at The Sherwood Institute. Moodle is a free open-sourced software package designed using sound pedagogical principles, to help educators create effective online learning communities. Moodle is distributed under the GNU General Public License. Moodle 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 or upload.
  • Discussion forums and chat rooms.
  • Messaging tools.
  • Assignments.
  • Quizzes.
  • Monitoring of users' online activity.

Purpose of the Site Policy

The purpose of the Moodle Site Policy is to specify user responsibilities and to promote the appropriate use of Moodle for the protection of all members of the Sherwood Institute community. The Site Policy applies both within and out with Sherwood Institute premises.

Site Policy

Please note that users include ad hoc learners attending short courses at the Sherwood Institute.

Registration

• • All users must register to use Moodle.
  • All registered users must agree to the Moodle Sherwood Institute policies. These Policies cover the whole period that the user is a member of the Moodle community at the Sherwood Institute.
  • On registration, users must give their consent to Sherwood Institute's processing of their personal data via Moodle and to acknowledge the Sherwood Institute's Data Protection Statement.

Your Responsibilities

Users of Moodle must agree to:

1. Not use Moodle for anything else other than for the purposes of teaching, learning and research. However, incidental personal use, for example via the Moodle social forums, is acceptable.
2. Not use Moodle for personal commercial use, for example marketing.
3. Not use Moodle for uploading, storing, viewing or transmitting any material which is (or may be considered to be) defamatory, inflammatory, discriminatory, obscene or offensive.
4. Not misrepresent the Sherwood Institute or bring it into disrepute in any way through the use of Moodle.
5. Be responsible for moderating discussion forums which they may have created.
6. Always act in a professional manner. Be polite and courteous to others when using Moodle. Moodle is not to be used to libel, slander, or harass any other persons.
7. Report to the Site Administrator or a member of staff any content you consider inappropriate.
8. Not plagiarise in submitted postings or assignments.
9. Not breach the copyright of the Sherwood Institute or any third party by copying from Moodle without authorisation. Copyright of the course materials and content of Moodle are owned or controlled by the Sherwood Institute unless otherwise stated. Any copies of third-party materials will be clearly labelled with warnings about any copyright restrictions.
10. Not re-distribute the material downloaded from this site in any form.
11. Only attempt to access courses in which you are formally enrolled (i.e., those courses which you are attending as a registered or auditing student).
12. Always use your real identity, including your first and last name.
13. Not disclose other people’s personal information on a public forum.

Material not conforming to these requirements will be removed from Moodle.

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

You use Moodle 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 the Site Administrator or a member of staff.

Your Responsibilities and Data Protection

Users of Moodle must agree to:

14. Look after their own username and password. Do not share your password with anyone else and do not use the username and password of other users.
15. 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.
16. Not attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of Moodle.
17. Not post material which contains viruses or other programs which may disrupt the Sherwood Institute's systems.
18. Not upload private, confidential or sensitive material unless this is authorised.
19. Keep their own data up-to-date and secure.
20. Understand that The Sherwood Institute will not take responsibility for any loss of information, which has been posted on Moodle, once users cease to be formally associated with the Sherwood Institute.

Enforcement

Certain activities will be regarded very seriously by the Sherwood Institute and are subject to severe penalties for users, including suspension of use of Moodle.

These activities include deliberate interruption to the use of Moodle; gaining or attempting to gain unauthorised access to any part of Moodle or information stored therein; unauthorised disclosure of personal data; wilful or reckless infringement of any intellectual property rights of the Sherwood Institute 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.