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Uedu is a platform that combines teaching services and educational technology research. This page publicly discloses the Umbrella IRB research ethics framework, the scope of data use, and your rights, so as to safeguard the informed participation and choice of every teacher and student. Uedu is an educational technology platform serving both teaching and research purposes. This page publicly discloses our Umbrella IRB ethics framework, data usage scope, and the rights of every user, safeguarding informed choice for all faculty and students.
Collection · Service
Consent gate
Research use
The platform's research activities are consolidated under a single umbrella IRB protocol, covering both retrospective data analysis and newly collected research activities. All research activities on this platform are governed by a single umbrella IRB protocol, covering both retrospective analyses of existing data and prospective new data collection.
Not every activity on the platform falls within the scope of research, and not every research activity is covered by this umbrella. This framework classifies research activities into three tiers according to the researcher's level of access to data. Not every platform activity constitutes research, and not every research activity is covered by this umbrella. The framework classifies research activities into three tiers based on the investigator's level of data access.
Any Uedu-affiliated faculty researcher may carry out this framework directly, without filing a separate IRB. Data are always exported through the Uedu Lab system after automated de-identification. Any Uedu-affiliated faculty researcher may conduct these activities under this framework without filing a separate IRB. Data are always exported through Uedu Lab after automated de-identification.
Specific research activities involving individual-level access to sensitive data, reviewed item by item in this protocol. Only the PI of this protocol may conduct these; other researchers cannot invoke the umbrella. Activities requiring individual-level access to sensitive data, reviewed item-by-item in this protocol. Only the PI of this protocol may conduct these; other researchers cannot invoke the umbrella.
Activities falling outside the research activity types defined in A and B above, or experimental designs deviating from the standard SOP. The investigator must apply for IRB approval through their own institution. Activities falling outside Tier A / B, or experimental designs deviating from standard SOPs. The investigator must file an IRB application with their own institution.
Several features of the platform's research ethics framework differ from conventional IRB arrangements; they are implemented directly at platform level, providing uniform technical protection for all users and researchers. Several design features distinguish this framework from conventional IRB setups: they are implemented at the platform level, providing uniform technical protection to every user and researcher.
All Tier-A research data are exported through the Uedu Lab export interface. The system automatically removes direct identifiers such as name and student ID, and applies aggregation or k-anonymity according to data sensitivity. Researchers never receive data at an individual-identifiable level. All Tier-A data must be exported through the Uedu Lab interface. The system automatically strips direct identifiers (name, student ID) and applies aggregation or k-anonymity according to data sensitivity. Researchers never receive individually identifiable data.
For studies involving highly sensitive attributes such as gender identity (e.g., in-depth interviews on gender diversity), the platform uses a mediated recruitment mechanism: students must actively read the study information and explicitly tick "I consent to disclose my gender identity to the researcher" before the researcher may learn their identity. Before the student voluntarily discloses, the PI has no access to the sensitive attribute. For studies involving highly sensitive attributes such as gender identity (e.g., gender-diversity interviews), the platform mediates recruitment: students must read the study description and explicitly opt in to "disclose my gender identity to the researcher" before the PI can learn their identity. Until voluntary disclosure, the PI has no access to the sensitive attribute.
Highly sensitive data such as gender identity and sexual orientation are stored within the platform using Application Layer Encryption (ALE). Even the PI cannot directly decrypt individual-level data and can only analyse aggregate statistics at group level. Highly sensitive data such as gender identity and sexual orientation are stored under Application-Layer Encryption (ALE). Even the PI cannot decrypt individual-level records; only aggregate statistics are accessible for analysis.
Quantitative analysis results are presented as group-level statistics, not individual-level data. When the sample size for a particular category is too small, the system applies the k-anonymity principle and reports the categories in aggregate to avoid re-identifying individuals from quasi-identifiers. Quantitative results are reported at group level, never as individual data points. When a category's sample size falls below threshold, the system merges categories under k-anonymity to prevent re-identification via quasi-identifiers.
Research data are tagged with research codes and are not linked to course grades during analysis. Whether you participate in research, and whether your data are authorised for use, has no effect on your course-taking rights or grade assessment. Research data are tagged with research codes and never linked to course grades during analysis. Participation (or non-participation) in research has no bearing on enrollment status or grade evaluation.
Users may withdraw research consent at any time from their account settings. After withdrawal, their data are automatically excluded from future research exports; aggregate results already analysed and published cannot be retrospectively recalled. Users may withdraw research consent at any time from their account settings. After withdrawal, their data are automatically excluded from future research exports; aggregate results already analysed and published cannot be retrospectively recalled.
The platform serves both teaching and research purposes, so the data retention strategy is split into two tracks to avoid teaching records being mistakenly deleted when a research project is closed. Because the platform serves both teaching and research purposes, data retention is split into two tracks to prevent teaching records from being erased when a research project closes.
| Data CategoryData Category | Retention periodRetention Period | ExplainNotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Platform Learning history AI dialogues, assignments, surveys, learner traits, etc. Learning records on platform AI dialogues, assignments, surveys, learner traits |
Permanent retention Permanent retention | Part of the user's personal learning portfolio; retained permanently as the user's own learning record and not erased when the research project concludes. Part of the user's personal learning portfolio; retained permanently as a learning record and not erased when a research project concludes. |
|
Research export datasets Export files after de-identification in Uedu Lab Research export datasets De-identified files exported via Uedu Lab |
Data may be exported within 5 years of creation Exportable within 5 years of data creation | Uedu Lab automatically manages the export time window; raw records beyond the time limit are no longer available for export. Uedu Lab automatically enforces the export window; raw records beyond the window are no longer exportable. |
|
Off-platform research materials Interview recordings, transcripts, exported research datasets Off-platform research materials Interview recordings, transcripts, exported datasets |
5 years after research closure 5 years post-closure | According to IRB regulations, the research team manually destroys these materials upon expiry. Per IRB regulations, the research team manually destroys these materials upon expiry. |
| IRB review documents IRB review documents | Keep permanently Permanent | Includes protocols, consent forms, and amendment tracking, retained for institutional record and audit. Includes protocols, consent forms, and amendment tracking, retained for institutional record and audit. |
This umbrella IRB covers both “retrospective” and “prospective” data: historical learning records already accumulated, and new records generated after IRB approval, both fall within the scope of the research. This umbrella IRB covers both retrospective and prospective data: historical learning records already accumulated, and new records generated after IRB approval.
Existing Learning history accumulated on the platform from launch up to the current IRB approval date. Snapshot on the approval date:
2,442 AI dialogue records and more than 3,000 platform users.
This is a fixed historical dataset and will not expand backwards. Learning records accumulated from platform launch until the IRB approval date. Snapshot on approval day: 2,442 AI dialogue logs and over 3,000 registered users. This is a fixed historical dataset and will not expand backward in time.
After IRB approval, the platform continues to operate and students continue to use it; newly generated learning records are likewise included in the research scope. This is the source of the study’s “continuous growth” — it is not that the retrospective data itself is changing, but that new data keeps being added. After IRB approval, the platform continues to operate and students continue to use it; newly generated learning records are likewise included in the research scope. The growing dataset reflects new additions, not modifications to the retrospective data.
Whether retrospective or prospective, all data undergo Uedu Lab de-identification before use. You may withdraw research consent at any time via account settings; the system then excludes all of your data (including both previously accumulated and future newly generated data) from subsequent research exports. Whether retrospective or prospective, all data undergo Uedu Lab de-identification before use. You may withdraw research consent at any time via account settings; the system then excludes all of your data — both accumulated and future — from subsequent research exports.
As a platform user, you hold the following rights over your own data. Exercising any of these rights never affects your platform access or course grades. As a platform user, you hold the following rights over your own data. Exercising any of these rights never affects your platform access or course grades.
If you need to sign or review the various consent forms, you can enter below. Sign or review any of the following consent forms and policies below.
So that you and your instructor can use Uedu for research with peace of mind, a whole long-term effort sits behind it. The ease of using Uedu for research is backed by long-term effort behind the scenes.
To enable every instructor and student on the platform to take part in research in compliance with regulations, we undertake the entire ethics review and legal work in the name of the Uedu research team: drafting the application, designing the consent form, corresponding with the review committee on revisions, and establishing de-identification and data tiering (A/B/C) mechanisms. We do not pass these costs on to users — as long as you use Uedu, you are automatically covered under the Umbrella IRB framework and do not need to submit for review yourself.
The research team shoulders the full cost of IRB preparation, legal review, and ongoing compliance so that any teacher or student on Uedu can participate in research without having to file their own submissions. Every learner is automatically covered by our Umbrella IRB framework.
If you believe this work is worth supporting, we warmly welcome you to join us throughindividual donations orcorporate sponsorship.
If you find this work meaningful, we warmly welcome your support.
We welcome direct discussions with the principal investigator, or feedback to the institutional ethics committee. Every question you ask helps make the platform more transparent and trustworthy. We welcome direct conversations with the PI and feedback to the reviewing IRB. Every question helps us make the platform more transparent and trustworthy.
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