Frequently Asked Questions

The Applied Research Learning Network on Poverty and Human Rights (LEPnet.org) is a project of The University of Winnipeg Global College. The network stems from the work of the UN Commission on the Legal Empowerment of the Poor which issued its final report in June, 2008 entitled "Making the Law Work for Everyone." The network has been developed to serve as a portal through which a diversity of organizations’ contributions to the field of poverty and human rights are channeled, as well as to be a collaborative space where researchers and practitioners can collaborate on the development and publishing of new research and learning materials.

Following two successful conferences on the Legal Empowerment of the Poor in November 2008, with support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), The University of Winnipeg Global College committed to developing this network to support the growing community of practice in the field of legal empowerment. By bringing together researchers, practitioners, and students in a common collaborative space, the network portal aims to foster sharing, collaboration, and the development of new research on poverty and human rights.

Much of the LEPnet.org site is set up to make educational materials that are used in the teaching of undergraduate and graduate subjects available on the Web, free of charge, to any user anywhere in the world. This venture continues the tradition in higher education and communities of practice, of open dissemination of educational materials, philosophy, and modes of thought, and will help lead to fundamental changes in the way we utilize the Web as a vehicle for education.

We believe one of the simplest ways of reducing poverty is openly sharing information between educational institutions, researchers, students, activists, and practitioners. LEPnet.org has been developed to facilitate this exchange using unique technologies centered on communication, collaboration, and sharing of educational material. By empowering the global network of individuals and organizations working towards the legal empowerment of the poor we hope to become a significant factor in the reduction of poverty worldwide.

Information about our site visitors is an important part of understanding and extending the impact of LEPnet.org in the global community. Individual personally identifiable information about users (name, email address, etc.) will not be made available to third parties (except as outlined below) nor will it ever be used for commercial purposes. We share user information only as described below

• Agents: We employ companies and individuals to perform functions on our behalf. Examples include compiling and categorizing user feedback, analyzing survey data or data about your use of the site, and providing customer support. These agents have access to user information needed to perform their functions, for example, but may not use this information for any other purposes. These agents are bound by non-disclosure agreements.

• LEPnet.org Sponsors: We may work with philanthropic organizations that provide the funding that makes LEPnet.org possible. These sponsors are interested in evaluating access, use, and impact of the LEPnet.org Web site in order to determine if LEPnet.org is achieving its objectives. We will provide information on a regular basis to these sponsors for evaluation purposes. We will not share any personally identifiable information such as name or email address unless you have given us explicit permission to do so.

• Institutions interested in the "openprojectware movement": Part of LEPnet.org's mission as an organization is to encourage educational institutions to openly share their project materials with the world, as LEPnet.org is doing. In order to accomplish this objective, we are committed to sharing what we learn in public forums, at educational conferences, and with other educational institutions. This may include aggregate data about usage of the site, feedback we have received, and the impact of LEPnet.org on people throughout the world. However, in no case will we share any personally identifiable information, such as name or email address, unless you have given us explicit permission to do so.

[See Also Privacy Policy]

LEPnet.org aims to be the premiere site for gender-sensitive news, information, research, collaboration, and educational content on the subject of the Legal Empowerment of the Poor, with acknowledgement that the face of poverty world-wide is usually a woman’s.

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) and an aggregator allow you to subscribe to discussion forums, blogs and other websites in order to receive timely, organized updates of posts, news, and other information you care about. For an explanation of how RSS works see CommonCraft's "RSS in Plain English."

LEPnet.org is firmly committed to open systems and will share its approach and the open source eduCommons software with those who may want to launch similar efforts. eduCommons has a dedicated team of developers focused on extending the platform, features and functions to meet LEPnet.org and other institution's needs.

It is particularly generous of you to offer a financial contribution to support LEPnet.org. This is a wonderful endorsement of what we hope to achieve. If you wish to make such a donation, please make your check payable to "The University of Winnipeg" and enclose a note indicating that the contribution is for the LEPnet.org Fund. You can mail your check to:

The University of Winnipeg Global College
515 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E9
CANADA

LEPnet.org uses "cookies" in a limited way. Cookies are alphanumeric identifiers that this Web site transfers to your computer's hard drive through your Web browser to enable our systems to recognize your browser when you make return trips to the site. This allows us to track your use of the site (anonymously), and to analyze patterns in site use, such as repeat visits, length of visits, and breadth of content used, for example). Cookies also allow us to conduct periodic, online, voluntary user surveys where we can gain more insight into what demographics of people are actually using the site, how they are using the site, and what the educational impact of the site is on these users.

LEPnet.org's use of cookies is designed to be unobtrusive, and we do not collect personally identifiable information through their use. However, if you do not wish to accept cookies, the "Help" portion of the toolbar on most Web browsers will tell you how to prevent your browser from accepting new cookies, how to have the browser notify you when you receive a new cookie, or how to disable cookies altogether. Disabling cookies will in no way affect your access to content on the LEPnet.org site. If you leave cookies enabled on your Web browser, you may be asked to complete a brief questionnaire that will help us gain a better understanding of the use and impact of LEPnet.org.

[See Also Privacy Policy]

The information we learn from visitors helps us improve the LEPnet.org site, and assists our sponsors in evaluation of usage, access, and impact of LEPnet.org on the global community. LEPnet.org collects the following information from visitors:

• Information You Provide: We receive and store any information you enter on our Web site or give us in any other way. You provide most such information when you submit feedback on the site, contact us by email, or agree to participate in a visitor survey. This information may include your name and email address, your academic status, your institution, your geographic region, how you are using LEPnet.org, and what you think of LEPNet.org. In all cases, any information you provide is strictly optional and voluntary and you may choose to use the LEPnet.org site without ever providing this information. If you voluntarily provide your email address or other contact information, we will not share personal information with anyone without first requesting your explicit permission to do so.

• Automatic Information: We receive and store certain types of information whenever you interact with the LEPnet.org Web site. Examples of the information we collect and analyze include the Internet protocol (IP) address used to connect your computer to the LEPnet.org site; computer and connection information such as browser type and version, operating system, and platform; and, content you viewed or searched for during your visit to LEPnet.org. During some visits we may use software tools to measure and collect session information, including page response times, download errors, and length of visits to certain pages. However, none of this information is personally identifiable or linked back to you individually.

[See Also Privacy Policy]

A small percentage of the PDF documents offered on the LEPnet.org Web site may be compatible only with newer versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you would like to view such a file, we recommend downloading the latest version of the Acrobat Reader from the Adobe Web site at http://www.adobe.com/products/reader.

Because LEPnet.org is not a distance-learning, or a degree-granting, initiative, there is no registration process required for users to view project materials. The projects offered on LEPnet.org are available on the Web, free of charge, to any user anywhere in the world.

While there is no automated way to ensure that a piece of content is entirely accessible, you can review and implement the accessibility guidelines as needed.

The fonts and style of the LEPnet.org Web site have been specifically selected to meet certain design and accessibility standards. The LEPnet.org Team has tested the site and these standards across a wide variety of browsers and platforms. However, some users may still find that their browser configurations continue to display the text too small. You can change the displayed font size using your browser's View menu:

1.  
   • Internet Explorer: View / Text-Size / Larger or Largest
   • Firefox: View / Zoom / Zoom in
   • Safari: View / Make text bigger
   • Opera: View / Zoom (120 or 150%)
   • Google Chrome: click on the page icon (top-right of the browser window) / Text zoom / Larger

We hope this helps you to more comfortably view the LEPnet.org project materials.

Metadata is, literally, "data about data." Metadata can be better understood as information that describes other information. For example, this Web page of FAQs for LEPnet.org has an author, a title, a date of creation, and a unique Internet address; this information constitutes the metadata about this page. Metadata enables sophisticated, powerful, and accurate searches across LEPnet.org project materials. As much as possible, contributors are encouraged to include as much metadata as possible in their contributions, in order to facilitate the searching, sharing, and re-working of content.

LEPnet.org is designed to work in modern Web browsers on the Mac, Linux, and Windows platforms. Although higher-speed connections are preferable, slower connections, such as modems, should allow users to view most materials on the sites (however, downloading or accessing materials may take somewhat longer). It is recommended to use a standards-compliant browser like Firefox, Opera, Chrome or Safari.

You may translate project materials in LEPnet.org if permitted by the license of the project materials you wish to translate. In most cases, including material licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license, you are required to provide proper attribution to the original materials. LEPnet.org asks that any LEPnet.org materials translated into other languages from the original language must be accompanied by the proper attribution of the original materials and include the following disclaimer:

"These LEPnet.org project materials have been translated into [YOUR LANGUAGE] by [YOUR INSTITUTION], and LEPnet.org makes no representations or warranties of any kind concerning the materials, express or implied, including, without limitation, warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, or the absence of errors, whether or not discoverable. LEPnet.org bears no responsibility for any inaccuracies in translation. Any inaccuracies or other defects contained in this material, due to inaccuracies in language translation, are the sole responsibility of [YOUR INSTITUTION] and not LEPnet.org."

[See Also How do I properly cite my reuse of LEPnet.org materials]

Yes inquiries will be answered. LEPnet.org encourages users to provide feedback on the site and published materials. The comments and constructive criticism of users will help the LEPnet.org staff improve the site and content as we continue to evolve.

Individual contributors may choose to list their contact information on their member profile page. In cases where the contributor has listed their contact information, inquiries related to specific project materials may be forwarded to the contributor for their consideration. In many cases, contributors will choose not to list their contact information. In such cases, logged-in users may send a message using the contact form on the contributors profile page.

Contributors to LEPnet.org are responsible for reviewing all material prior to publication to determine the correct ownership of the material, and to obtain the appropriate licenses to make the material available on LEPNet.org. LEPnet.org will promptly remove any material that is determined to be infringing on the rights of others. If you believe that a portion of LEPnet.org material infringes on your copyright, please contact us using the contact page.

To file the notification, you must be either the copyright owner of the work or an individual authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner. Your notification must include:

• Identification of the copyrighted work or, in the case of multiple works at the same location, a representative list of such works at that site.
• Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity. You must include sufficient information, such as a specific URL or other specific identification, for us to locate the material.
• Information for us to be able to contact the claimant (e.g. email address, phone number).
• A statement that the claimant believes that the use of the material has not been authorized by the copyright owner or an authorized agent.
• A statement that the information in the notification is accurate and that the claimant is, or is authorized to act on behalf of, the copyright owner.

If you do not include an electronic signature with your claim, you may be asked to send or fax a follow-up copy with a signature.

The LEPnet.org site is designed to make the creation and sharing of educational materials as easy as possible. The simplest way to contribute your educational materials is to:

• Log in to LEPnet.org
  • Sign up for an account on the site by clicking "Create new Account" on the home page. Enter your real name, email address, and password for the site (see Privacy Policy for info on how we use your information); OR
  • If you already have a member account at LEPnet.org you can log in by entering your username and password in the login fields on any page;
• Join or create a group (see also "How do I Join a Group" and "How do I Create a Group")
• Once you are in a group you can create blog entries, bibliographic entries, collaborative documents, discussion topics, document folders (to which you can upload content), or events.
• Make sure you provide a detailed description for the content you are creating, and add relevant keywords so that others can find it through the site search and search engines.

To reuse or repost materials from LEPNet.org, confirm that the license allows for the use you intend. If the license permits reuse, you must give proper attribution to the original author(s).

Or you may chose to cite the resource in the following manner: "This material was created by or adapted from material created by a member of the International Applied Research Learning Network on Poverty and Human Rights (LEPNet.org), (Author), (Title), (Year). Copyright © (Year), (Author's Name)."

As an example, the citation for "Understanding Online Interaction" taught by Utah State University Professor David Wiley would read, "This material was created or adapted from material created by Utah State University faculty member David Wiley, Associate Professor. Copyright © 2004, David Wiley."

If you want to use the project materials on your Web site, and the materials are licensed using a Creative Commons license, you must also include a copy of the Creative Commons license, or clear and reasonable link to its URL (for example, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/), with every copy of the materials or the derivative work(s) you create from it.

A commercial use would involve the assessment of a direct or indirect fee for use of the LEPnet.org materials, or any derivation or modification of the LEPnet.org material, or any other commercial exploitation of LEPnet.org materials. All uses, reuse, and distribution of LEPnet.org material, including works derived from LEPnet.org material, must be attributed to LEPnet.org and to the original authors where identified on the LEPnet.org materials you distribute. If you would like to use LEPnet.org materials, but you are unsure whether your intended use qualifies as non-commercial use, please contact us using the contact page.

See the Terms of Use for more information.

If you would like to use LEPnet.org materials, but you are unsure whether your intended use qualifies as non-commercial use, please contact us using the contact page.

Prior to making any materials publicly available, contributors are responsible for determining the correct ownership of the material and obtaining the appropriate licenses to make the material openly available on the Web. We will promptly remove any material that is determined to be infringing on the rights of others [See also What do I do if I believe a portion of LEPnet.org material infringes my copyright?].

The intellectual property policies created for LEPnet.org are clear and consistent with other policies for scholarly materials used in education. Contributors retain ownership of materials prepared for LEPnet.org while granting a perpetual, non-exclusive license for the content to be published on the LEPnet.org web site. If student project work is placed on the LEPnet.org site, then copyright in the work remains with the student.

Each LEPnet.org Group is developed individually by the contributing author(s). It includes as much material as is available in a digital format, or can be cost-effectively prepared while free of Intellectual Property and copyright restrictions. Contributors participate voluntarily, and publish only as much content as they are comfortable having on a Web site that is freely accessible worldwide.

Links to LEPnet.org or to Groups or pages within the LEPnet.org Web site are permitted so long as the use of the materials associated with the link is permitted under the terms of the license associated with the particular content. Typically, materials are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License; however, individual materials may have a separate license. Please check the bottom of the page to view the applicable license for any particular item.

In addition to meeting the terms of the license, links to LEPnet.org are permitted as long as the link is freely accessible (e.g. no restrictions or fee for access), and there is no claim, appearance, or implication of an affiliation with or endorsement by LEPNet.org. LEPnet.org cannot guarantee the persistence of any specific link other than those to the LEPnet.org homepage.

To reference LEPnet.org you must comply with the terms of the license associated with LEPnet.org and/or the specific materials. Typically you must give credit to LEPnet.org and the author(s) of the materials anytime you use LEPnet.org materials. Any reference to LEPnet.org (including the LEPnet.org name in any of its forms or LEPnet.org logos) that deliberately or inadvertently claims, suggests, or in LEPNet.org's sole judgment gives the appearance or impression of a relationship with or endorsement by LEPNet.org, is prohibited.

If you are uncertain as to the appropriate use of content, please contact us.

LEPnet.org has no relationship with, grants no special permission to, and does not approve, endorse, or certify any organizations, teachers, tutors, or other service providers who use educational materials available on the LEPnet.org web site in connection with their services. LEPnet.org does not authorize the granting of any kind of degree, certificate, or other recognition for participation in or completion of any project of study based on or using published LEPnet.org materials. However, accredited institutions are welcome to use content presented on LEPNet.org, following the creative commons license listed on every page.

LEPnet.org does not sell, offer vendor discounts for, or represent any vendor who may sell the software, books, or other materials that users of LEPnet.org may require to understand the materials offered on the LEPnet.org Web site.

You are free to use LEPnet.org materials following the Terms of Use of this site and the appropriate license listed on the group page. In most cases projects are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license, meaning you are free to share or re-develop the matierals, provided you provide appropriate attribution (see How do I properly cite my reuse of LEPnet.org materials?).

Yes. LEPnet.org is committed to keeping all educational content on the LEPnet.org site free and openly available to everyone and anyone who would like to read it, teach it, translate it, or re-work it (as long as they follow appropriate licensing guidelines as listed in the Terms of Use and "How do I properly cite my reuse of LEPnet.org material?").

LEPnet.org is a community-driven project. Unlike traditional distance learning programs which are often centered on a particular institution, The LEP Network draws its greatest strength from its members. Contributors to this site come from all sectors, and from around the world. Likewise, LEPnet.org is designed to be useful and easy to use for anyone, anywhere in the world. LEPnet.org provides our members with the tools to build a worldwide community of learning.

1. Log in to LEPnet.org
2. click on "My Profile" under your name, in the right-hand column
3. Update your personal information ("edit" > "personal information") to include the following:
   1. List at least two "interests" related to LEPnet.org
   2. Education (if applicable)
   3. Area of Research (or work)
   4. Afiliations/memberships
   5. Members are also encouraged to provide some information about themselves in the "Notes" section of their profile.
4. Click "Save" on your profile
5. On your Profile page, click on the "Apply for Role" tab, just above "Personal Information"
6. Click on "Apply"

See Also:

• What is a "Reviewed" Account?

New users are presented with the message "Your user account has not been reviewed. You will be able to view content and join groups, but you will not be able to contribute content to the site. Please consider applying for review."

In order to assist in connecting network Members and to assess site usage we ask all Members to provide some basic information when signing up for LEPnet.org.This information is made available in your Profile (see "My Profile" under your name, once logged in), and is visible to all Members of the site.

In order to prevent Spam, to ensure that contributed content is appropriate for this site, and to verify users' agreement with the Terms of Use, we ask that users provide additional information in order to be able to contribute content.

See Also:

• How do I Apply for A Reviewed Account?

Published content is a copy of the original, and may be deleted without affecting the original. To delete published content:

1. Log in to LEPnet.org
2. Navigate to the content via the Library or Search
3. click on the "edit" tab
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click "Delete"

To delete the original, navigate to the content within its Group, and follow steps 3 and 4 above.

See Also:

• How do I Publish Content to the LEPnet Library?
• How do I Retract Content from the LEPnet Library?

When content is published to the LEPnet Library a copy of the original is created and made available in the Library section of the site. The original is left in its' originating group for further editing.

The process for retracting published content is the same as deleting published content, as the copy is removed from the Library, while the original remains in the originating Group.

To Delete/Retract Published Content:

1. Log in to LEPnet.org
2. Navigate to the content via the Library or Search
3. click on the "edit" tab
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click "Delete"

The original will remain in the originating Group.

See Also:

• How do I Publish Content to the LEPnet Library?
• How do I Delete Content from the LEPnet Library?

content developed in Groups is not shown in the Library section of the site until it is "published." This alllows groups to develop content collaboratively, and with as many edits as they need, prior to the content being made available in the Library.

To Publish your Content:

1. Log in to LEPnet.org
2. Navigate to the item you wish to publish (you can publish individual items, not entire groups)
3. click the "edit" tab on the item
4. scroll down to just below the body/editing box and click the "Publish to Library" checkbox
5. scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Save"

A copy will be placed in the public library and the original will be preserved in the group for continued editing.

See also:

• How do I Delete Published Content?
• How do I Retract Published Content?