Opened Culture, LLC (“Opened Culture,” “OEC,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy of the educators, learners, and partners who engage with our work, including through the Opened Learning Alliance (“OLA”). This Privacy Statement explains how we collect, use, share, and protect information when you visit our websites, register for or participate in our learning experiences, or otherwise interact with us (together, the “Services”).
By using our Services, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Statement. If you do not agree, you should not use the Services.
Scope of This Privacy Statement
How We Share Information
Cookies and Similar Technologies
Data Retention
Data Security
Your Choices and Rights
International Data Transfers
Children’s Privacy
Third-Party Sites and Services
Additional Information for Certain Jurisdictions
Individuals in the EEA, UK, and Switzerland
California Residents
Changes to This Privacy Statement
How to Contact Us
This Privacy Statement applies to:
This Privacy Statement does not apply to websites or services operated by third parties that are simply linked from our Services. Those sites are governed by their own privacy policies.
We collect information in three primary ways: (a) information you provide directly, (b) information collected automatically when you use our Services, and (c) information we receive from third parties.
You may provide information to us when you:
This information may include:
Contact details – such as name, email address, job title, institution or organization, country, and time zone;
Account and profile information – such as username, password, and professional role or interests;
Registration information – such as selected courses, enrollment status, cohort or session choices, and any accessibility needs you choose to share;
Payment-related information – such as billing address and transaction details. Payment card information is typically processed directly by our payment processor (for example, Stripe) and is not stored by us;
Learning data – such as discussion posts, reflections, assignments, project work, and feedback you provide within courses or events;
Communications and correspondence – such as emails, support requests, or responses to surveys and research invitations.
When you submit a form on our site (for example, a contact form, course inquiry, or waitlist form), the information you provide may be checked by an automated spam detection service before it is delivered to us. This process helps us reduce spam and protect the reliability and security of our communications.
When you use our Services, we and our service providers may automatically collect certain information about your device and how you interact with the Services. This may include:
In connection with our forms and other interactive features, we may also collect technical details—such as IP address, user agent, and timestamps—that are used by automated spam detection services to help identify and block unwanted or malicious submissions.
We may receive information about you from::
Your institution or employer, if they sponsor or coordinate your participation in an Opened Learning experience;
Partners and collaborators who co-host programs with us;
Service providers that support our Services (for example, D2L Brightspace as our learning management system, Stripe as our payment processor, Zoom for virtual events, an automated spam detection service, or an email service provider).
The information we receive in this way will depend on the nature of the relationship and the permissions in place between you, the partner, and us.
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
Creating and managing accounts and enrollments;
Delivering courses, workshops, and learning resources;
Issuing badges, certificates, and other recognitions;
Facilitating communications and collaboration within courses and communities.
Responding to inquiries and support requests;
Providing technical and instructional assistance;
Communicating about changes to courses, schedules, or policies.
Analyzing how our Services are used to inform design and quality improvement;
Developing new courses, resources, and features;
Conducting research and program evaluation, often using aggregated or de-identified data.
Sending service-related messages (for example, enrollment confirmations, course updates, or reminders);
Sharing information about new offerings, opportunities, or events you may be interested in. You can opt out of non-essential communications at any time.
Ensuring the security and integrity of our systems, including the use of automated tools to detect spam, abuse, or malicious activity;
Detecting and preventing misuse, fraud, or violations of our Terms of Use;
Complying with legal obligations, responding to legal requests, and protecting our rights and the rights of others.
Where required by applicable law (for example, in the European Economic Area or United Kingdom), we rely on specific legal bases for processing personal data, such as: performance of a contract, legitimate interests, compliance with legal obligations, and consent where appropriate.
If you have questions about this Privacy Statement, our privacy practices, or your rights, you may contact us through our online form:
If you are located in a region with specific data protection rights (such as the EEA, UK, Switzerland, or certain U.S. states including California), you may also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection or consumer protection authority. We would, however, appreciate the chance to address your concerns first.