Terms and conditions of use of the ViLLE system maintained by the Research Institute for Learning analytics of the University of Turku

Updated on 31 January 2025

ViLLE is an exercise-based teaching system and learning analytics tool.

The ViLLE system is maintained by the Research Institute for Learning analytics of the University of Turku. ViLLE allows teachers to create and share electronic exercises, courses and other teaching resources. With ViLLE, students can respond to automatically assessed and teacher-assessed exercises and perform other study-related tasks (e.g. learning diaries, peer reviews, etc.).

The service has three user groups: teachers, students (including school students) and administrators. Administrators are responsible for the development and maintenance of the ViLLE system. The teacher group includes all users with a teacher ID in the system. The students use the system through the virtual courses that their teacher has shared with them. A student ID is created in the system either when a teacher or an administrator registering a new student ID or when the person registers for the course themselves.

In connection with the registration, the user’s personal data are stored in the ViLLE system. A username and a password are stored for all users. In addition, the user’s name (first name, full name or nickname), institution, gender, language, email address and student number or other identifier, for example, may be stored. A teacher can also register students into the system without the above-mentioned data being provided.

In addition to logging in, the teacher’s email address can be used to send system-related notifications. Notifications can also be sent with services purchased from a third party. A teacher can prohibit the sending of notifications by adjusting the system settings at any time. In other cases, the user’s personal data are not shared with third parties without a separate agreement with the user or the authorities’ requirement based on the law or regulations.

The user is responsible for ensuring that their user account created in the ViLLE system is used responsibly and that the login details remain secure.

By accepting these terms and conditions of use, you confirm that you comply with applicable data protection legislation and exercise particular diligence when processing the users’ personal data in the ViLLE system.

When acting as a data processor, the administrator processes personal data in accordance with the customer’s instructions and for the purposes defined in the agreement concluded with the customer. More information about the processing and protection of personal data can be found in our privacy policy statement.

Teachers can create and link teaching resources to the system. These resources include, for example, courses, exercises, exams, materials, tutorials and all other content that runs in the ViLLE system. In the ViLLE system, new ViLLE exercises can be created using the system’s “New exercise” function.

All of ViLLE’s teaching resources are divided into two categories: public and private content. ViLLE exercises created in the ViLLE system are always public content. Public content is always visible and available to all other teachers registered in ViLLE. With the exception of ViLLE exercises, teaching resources can be defined as private, in which case they are not made available to other teachers or administrators.

Any private content that the user defines as public is then treated as public content. Please note that public content cannot be deleted or made private after it has been used by another teacher or administrators.

All copyrights to public and private content produced by teachers themselves in the ViLLE system belong to their creators. By accepting these terms and conditions of use, you authorise all other teachers using ViLLE to freely use all public resources in the system, either as is or further modified within the ViLLE system. The teacher does not have the right to transfer or copy the public teaching resources in the ViLLE system to other platforms or to an otherwise distributed format. The name of the creator of a ViLLE exercise is visible in the generated public ViLLE exercises. The administrator has the right to refer to these exercises and their creators in communications or other publications in accordance with good communication practices.

You should include a reference to the ViLLE system in any publication that is based, in whole or in part, on data collected using the system or other performance. The reference should be as follows:

Laakso, MJ., Kaila, E. & Rajala, T. ViLLE – collaborative education tool: Designing and utilizing an exercise-based learning environment. Educ Inf Technol 23, 1655–1676 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-017-9659-1

With this agreement, the user grants the University an unlimited license to use any content created in the system and defined as public without a separate agreement, notification, licence or other fees. This licence can be transferred to a third party without a separate agreement or notification if it is necessary for the development, maintenance of the service or the fulfilment of the contractual terms and conditions of a public administration organisation or comparable operator. The licence granted by the user to the administrator is irrevocable and valid regardless the termination or cancellation of the agreement.

The user is responsible for all the content they bring into the system and for ensuring that the content does not violate anyone’s rights or national or international legislation. The ViLLE system may not be used for commercial purposes without a separate written permission from the system operator.

Failure to comply with these terms and conditions of use may lead to a temporary or permanent suspension of access rights. The administrator is not responsible for any use of the ViLLE system contrary to these terms and conditions of use.

ViLLE stores data about users’ actions when using the system (content created, assessments, comments, return of assigned exercises, scores, times and evaluations, among other things).

Data about individual students’ study performance are always visible to course teachers only in the ViLLE system.

However, the administrator has the right to process all user data for the purpose of maintaining and developing the system.

The administrator acts as the processor of personal data files created in the ViLLE system, unless otherwise agreed on with the teaching organiser or another data controller who uses the ViLLE system.

The ViLLE system is used without warranty and at the user’s own risk. The administrator is not liable for any direct or indirect losses or damage, including loss of earnings or other benefits, arising out of the use, operation or downtime of the ViLLE system (including any related external services, websites and other teaching or instructional materials). This disclaimer also applies if the administrator has been informed of the possibility of losses and damage in advance.

This agreement is governed by Finnish law. Any disputes arising out of this agreement are settled in the District Court of South-West Finland, Finland.