Privacy Policy 

Sail() Platform Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes the data protection practices of the Sail() Platform, ("Sail()," "we," "us," or "our"). This Privacy Policy applies to information that we collect and use about you when you access or use the Sail() Platform — including the Sail() Portal, Sail() Projects, the Open Learning Initiative (OLI), and the Data Pipeline and Sail() Dashboard. We refer to these products and services collectively as the "Services."

What and How Data Are Collected

  • Azure subscription email: In order for us to issue you an Azure Classroom subscription, we collect the email address you use to create an account on Microsoft Azure, the cloud service provider with which you will complete hands-on projects.
  • Student Contact and Course Information: Via learning management system (LMS) integration, institutions or instructors provide us with a list of students to invite to use the Services, in which case we collect students’ email addresses, and pertinent university and course or group information.
  • Websites. When you use our website, we collect and analyze information such as your IP address, browser types, browser language, operating system, the state or country from which you accessed the Services, software and hardware attributes (including device IDs) referring and exit pages and URLs, platform type, the number of clicks, files you download, domain names, landing pages, pages viewed and the order of those pages, the amount of time spent on particular pages, the terms you use in searches on our sites, the date and time you used the Services and upload or post content, error logs, and other similar information.
  • Education Records. When you submit an assignment on Sail(), a score is automatically assigned to you for that particular assessment/assignment and stored in our databases. The scores will be sent to your institution or instructor(s) through the LMS.
  • Background and Frame of Mind Surveys. In some cases, surveys are included in the course syllabus that ask questions about your background, opinions, and attitudes.  Your individual responses are not shared with your institution; they are anonymized and then used by Sail() staff to understand and improve how the courses can best support different kinds of people. We will share only a summary of the responses with your institution, with your identity removed.

How Data Are Used

We use the information that we collect through our Services for a variety of purposes, including the following business and commercial purposes:

  • provide you with the Services;
  • notify you in the Services about Events and that may be of interest to you;
  • enable users to communicate and interact;
  • manage and remember your preferences;
  • analyze and improve the Services;
  • as required or permitted by law;
  • as we determine to be necessary or required to ensure the safety and/or integrity of our users, employees, third parties, members of the public, and/or our Services;
  • help prevent fraud and enforce our legal terms; and
  • administer and troubleshoot the Services.

Education records. Any education record generated by your learning activities is sent to your instructor for evaluative purposes, along with personally identifiable information.

Behavioral records. Any behavioral record generated by your learning activities is sent to your host institution to assist monitor student progress, identify learning patterns, and reflect on teaching methodologies, along with personally identifiable information.

Background and Frame of Mind Survey responses. Responses to these surveys are anonymized and used by Sail() staff to improve Sail(). An overall, aggregated summary may be shared with your instructor or institution, but individual responses will not be shared.  

Aggregate/Anonymous Data. We may aggregate and anonymize any information collected through the Services so that such information can no longer be linked to you or your device. We may use such information for research purposes and only with your explicit consent.

Research consent. When first logging into the Sail() course, each learner is asked for their consent to participate in research.  You may withdraw that consent at any time. Data from students who do not consent to research will still be available to instructors, but will be completely omitted from the data sets available to academic researchers.

Cookies Notice

A cookie is a small text file stored by a website in a user’s web browser that helps us in many ways to make your use of the Services more efficient and meaningful to you. Among other things, cookies avoid you having to log in every time you come back to the Services. They also allow us to tailor the Service to better match your needs.

A session cookie is stored only in your computer’s working memory and only lasts for your browsing session. When you close all your browser’s windows, or when you shut down your computer, the session cookie disappears forever.

A persistent cookie remains on your computer after you close your browser so that it can be used by your browser on subsequent visits to the Services. Persistent cookies stay on your computer until either they expire or are overwritten with newer cookies, or you manually remove them. Most browsers can be configured not to accept cookies; however, this may prevent you from having access to some site functions or features.

How We Use Cookies

We use Cookies for the following purposes:

  • To provide and improve the Services;
  • For user authentication and enabling you to remain logged in;
  • To remember your preferences and settings;
  • For analytics and research, including to understand how you use the Services and which content users prefer;
  • To personalize the Services for you; and
  • To assist with security and administrative functions.

We do not use any advertising Cookies in our Services or place advertisements in our Services.

What are your choices about Cookies?

You can learn more about how Cookies work and how to turn them off in your particular browsers. Please remember that if you replace, change or upgrade your browser, or delete your Cookies, you may need to use these opt-out tools again. Additionally, if you turn your Cookies off, some features of our Services may not function properly.

For information about Cookies used by the developers of these browsers, please visit the “Help” section of your browser for more information (e.g., Internet Explorer; Google Chrome; Mozilla Firefox; or Apple Safari) or visit:

Links to Other Websites and Services

The Services contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the content or practices of those websites or services. The collection, use, and disclosure of your information will be subject to the privacy policies of the third-party websites or services, and not this Privacy Policy. We urge you to read the privacy and security policies of these third-parties.

How to Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or the Sail() Platform’s practices, please contact us at support@sailplatform.org.