Tracking technologies are tools—like cookies, pixels, and local storage—that allow Embery Harborly Canvas to understand how our platform is being used, improve your experience, and deliver essential functions. When you access our educational resources, these technologies might be set on your device, either by us or by carefully selected partners, to help us remember preferences, analyze how lessons are accessed, and personalize your learning path.

Simply put, these technologies work by placing small files or identifiers on your device (such as your laptop, tablet, or phone). Some remain only for the duration of your session, while others may persist to recognize returning users and remember settings. Their main job is to make sure the educational platform runs as intended and to help us continually make your experience better.

• Essential Tracking for Core Website Functions: Certain tracking technologies are absolutely necessary for the basic operation of Embery Harborly Canvas. For example, when you log in to access your courses, a session cookie keeps you authenticated as you move between lessons. Without these, features like saving your quiz progress, accessing your personalized dashboard, or submitting assignments wouldn't function reliably. These essential technologies are always on, ensuring you can participate in classes, receive grades, and communicate with your peers.
• Functional Trackers for Personalized Experiences: To tailor content and present lessons that match your interests or grade level, we use functional trackers. These might remember your language preference, theme settings, or last-viewed topic. If you leave in the middle of a math exercise, for instance, these technologies remember your spot so you can resume later without retracing your steps. In my experience, this kind of personalization makes studying less frustrating and more engaging.
• Analytical Technologies for Understanding and Improving: We also employ analytics tools to understand how users interact with our educational materials. For example, if most learners spend extra time on a specific module or drop out at a certain quiz, we can spot those patterns and adjust the curriculum or provide extra support. These insights help us create more effective lessons and ensure no one gets left behind. Analytical tools might collect information like page visits, time spent on activities, or device types—always in a way that respects your privacy.
• Targeting and Customization Features: While advertising is not our focus, we occasionally use technologies that allow us to offer more personalized recommendations—like suggesting a new course based on subjects you’ve shown interest in, or highlighting study groups that fit your profile. These features never share your personal information with external advertisers, but do allow us to enhance your learning journey by making relevant content easy to find.
• How Data Collection Benefits Both Users and Embery Harborly Canvas: The information we collect through tracking technologies allows us to continuously refine our platform. For students, this means more intuitive navigation, timely reminders for assignment deadlines, and quicker support when issues arise. For educators, it means being able to track class progress, identify struggling students, and adapt teaching methods to class needs. For Embery Harborly Canvas, these insights enable us to allocate resources efficiently and ensure our platform remains responsive to the real-world needs of our educational community.

Without these technologies, many of the features you rely on—like resuming progress, adjusting accessibility settings, or receiving personalized study tips—would not be possible. We are committed to using tracking technologies in a transparent, responsible way that genuinely supports learning outcomes.

Your privacy matters to us, and you always have rights when it comes to your data. Depending on where you live, you may be protected by regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), or similar rules. These frameworks guarantee your right to access, correct, restrict, or erase personal data collected via tracking technologies, and to decide which categories are activated on your device.

• Managing Tracking in Major Browsers: You can control most tracking through your web browser settings. For instance, in Chrome, navigate to Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data to manage cookies. Firefox users can use Settings > Privacy & Security to block or allow tracking. In Safari, go to Preferences > Privacy. Each browser usually offers options to clear stored data, block third-party trackers, or set exceptions for trusted sites like Embery Harborly Canvas. It’s worth exploring these settings if you want more direct control.
• Using Our First-Party Management Tools: Embery Harborly Canvas provides its own privacy controls through our preference center. You can access this at any time while logged in, and it allows you to accept or reject different categories of tracking technologies. For example, you might allow functional cookies for a smoother experience but turn off analytics if you wish. Changes take effect immediately, and you can revisit your choices whenever you like.
• Consequences of Rejecting Tracking Categories: If you decide to reject certain types of tracking, some features won’t work as intended. Disabling essential cookies means you might not be able to log in or save your progress in courses. If you block functional trackers, you’ll lose things like language preferences, theme settings, or reminders about upcoming assignments. Turning off analytics may limit our ability to spot technical problems or improve course materials based on real user feedback. In short, while you remain in control, some conveniences or learning supports may be unavailable.
• Alternative Privacy Protection Measures: Some users prefer more advanced privacy tools, like browser extensions or privacy-focused browsers. These can block or mask tracking technologies while still allowing access to basic site functions. If you choose this route, we recommend testing key features—like assignment submissions or live class sessions—to make sure everything works smoothly. We also recommend enabling only the essential trackers needed for authentication and session continuity.
• Making Informed Decisions: Balancing privacy and usability can be tricky. We encourage you to review your options and choose settings that match your comfort level. If you’re an educator guiding younger users, consider which features are most important for learning outcomes and adjust accordingly. Our goal is to provide enough flexibility so you can enjoy Embery Harborly Canvas’s educational resources while keeping your personal data as private as you wish.

Remember, you can revisit your tracking preferences at any time. We’re committed to ensuring that your choices are respected and that your learning experience remains secure and rewarding, no matter what settings you choose.

Embery Harborly Canvas’s approach to privacy goes beyond just tracking technologies. We maintain a comprehensive privacy framework that encompasses how we store, protect, and integrate data—always with an emphasis on the needs of the educational community. Below are additional points that may help clarify how we treat your data throughout its lifecycle.

• Data Retention Schedules and Deletion Protocols: We retain different types of data for set periods, depending on their purpose. For example, essential login data is kept as long as your account is active, while analytics data is typically aggregated and anonymized after 12 months. When you delete your account or request erasure, personal identifiers are promptly removed from active databases and scheduled for secure deletion from backups within 60 days. This process ensures your information doesn’t linger unnecessarily.
• Security Measures and Safeguards: Protecting your information is a priority. We use secure encryption for all data transfers and employ strict access controls—only authorized personnel can view sensitive information. Our systems are regularly audited, and we conduct staff training to spot and avoid security threats. In addition, we use network segmentation and endpoint protection to safeguard your data against unauthorized access or loss.
• Data Integration in the Educational Context: Sometimes, we combine data collected through tracking technologies with information you provide directly (like course enrollments or quiz results). For example, combining analytics about lesson completion rates with survey feedback helps us create better courses. However, we never merge or share your data with third parties for unrelated purposes. Our integration always stays within educational boundaries.
• Regulatory Compliance: Embery Harborly Canvas strictly follows all regulations relevant to online education and data privacy. This includes the GDPR for users in Europe, FERPA for students in the United States, and other applicable local laws. We keep detailed records of all data processing activities and regularly review our practices to stay compliant with changing legal requirements.
• Special Considerations for International Users: If you’re learning from outside our primary region, your data might be transferred across borders. We use secure transfer mechanisms, such as Standard Contractual Clauses and approved data protection agreements, to ensure your rights are upheld wherever you are. For users in regions with unique privacy rules, we provide customized privacy notices and adapt our practices as needed to meet local expectations.

Our commitment is to treat your data with respect, keep it secure, and always use it in ways that benefit your educational journey. If you ever have questions about how your information is handled, our privacy documentation and controls are always available for review.

In addition to cookies and standard tracking tools, Embery Harborly Canvas may use a variety of other technologies to support our educational platform. Each serves a specific purpose, whether it’s measuring engagement, enhancing performance, or supporting accessibility features. Here’s a closer look at the additional technologies we might use and how you can manage them.

• Web Beacons and Pixel Tags: These are tiny, often invisible images embedded in our web pages or emails. When a user opens a page or email containing a beacon, it sends a signal back to our servers, letting us know that the content was viewed. For example, we might use pixel tags in assignment reminder emails to check if the message was opened. These tools help us measure the effectiveness of communications and ensure students receive timely notifications.
• Local Storage: Embery Harborly Canvas sometimes stores information directly in your browser’s local storage. This method is used for things like remembering accessibility settings, storing temporary quiz answers, or keeping your session active during long study sessions. Unlike cookies, data in local storage isn’t sent to our servers automatically and usually remains on your device until you clear it. This makes it a useful tool for enhancing functionality, especially in complex, interactive learning modules.
• Device Recognition: We may use device fingerprinting or similar techniques to recognize returning devices, helping prevent fraud and support secure logins. For example, if you frequently switch between a tablet and a laptop, device recognition helps us keep your session secure without forcing repeated authentication. This is done using non-invasive methods that gather hardware or browser characteristics without reading unnecessary personal data.
• Other Technologies: Occasionally, we experiment with newer tools, such as service workers for offline access or custom scripts that enable real-time collaboration between students. These technologies are always tested to ensure they align with our privacy standards and that you remain in control of your data. We also monitor how these tools affect performance and accessibility to make sure everyone benefits equally.
• User Control Options: For each of these technologies, we provide clear guidance in our help pages and privacy settings. You can clear local storage from your browser, opt out of marketing-related pixels in your account preferences, or use browser settings/extensions to block beacons. Our aim is to give you as much choice as possible, without making it complicated or overwhelming.

As technology evolves, so will the tools we use to support learning. Our promise is to keep you informed, provide choices, and always prioritize your privacy and educational experience above all else.