Rules for online studies

To confirm your place on the study module you must attend the first face-to-face or online meeting of the course implementation or, for example, submit a pre-assignment.

Otherwise, contact the teacher.

Some studies are such that you can complete tasks at your own pace. However, note that you should be able to progress with your group and enable smooth progress of your team in group work.

The teacher may also define the order and schedule of progression for a course. Check that the “Notifications” function is on in the learning environment so that notifications sent by the teacher are received.

Prepare for online meetings well in advance

• Prepare for the online meeting according to the teacher’s instructions.
• Reserve a quiet space and headphones. Take care of an ergonomic working environment.
• Join the online meeting in good time. This gives you time to check that audio works and to share your presentation if you have a speaking slot.
• Join the session using your own name (first name + last name). Preferably add a profile picture of yourself.
• If you have to leave an interactive situation, inform your group and the teacher.
• Presentation content is owned by the creators, so as a participant you may not record presentations without permission. You may take screenshots only for your own use.
• You may also organize online meetings with your team. Use, for example, Teams or Zoom for this.

Active participation in online meetings advances your learning

• At the beginning of each course, interaction practices are agreed upon. In addition, specific ground rules related to each online meeting can be agreed at the start of the meeting.
• Please familiarise yourself with the course materials before the online meeting and prepare to ask questions and comment on contributions.
• In Laurea’s online meetings it is customary to keep the video connection on if network connections allow. Practices for using the camera are agreed in more detail at the start of each course. The implementation of a course may include oral presentations and recordings where the camera is expected to be on.
• You are more present when you keep the camera on during the meeting. You can see your fellow students and they can see you. You do not necessarily have to point the camera at your face the whole time. You can also turn the camera off occasionally and rest your gaze elsewhere. If you do not want to see your own image, you can use the “Hide-self-view” function, which is available at least in Zoom. You can blur your background or use a virtual background if you prefer that your home environment is not visible on camera.
• Request a turn to speak in the agreed manner at the start of the meeting. Do not interrupt others.
• Use the communication features of the meeting platform in a versatile way (e.g. Chat, raise hand, thumbs up, yes/no)
• If the meeting is recorded and you do not want your image in the recording, participate by speaking and via chat. Note that audio will be recorded.

Complete assignments on time and read the instructions carefully

• Keep a copy of your submitted assignments
• Submit assignments by the deadline
• Take into account your group’s study progress
• Please note Laurea’s citation guidelines. Embedding media clips published elsewhere as part of your assignment submission is allowed if the service provider allows embedding.

Familiarise yourself with the exam instructions in advance

Online exams are most often either remotely proctored sessions or tasks tied to a specific date and time.

Note the exam timing specified by instructors:

• The date of the exam
• The time window for taking the exam (e.g. 9:00–14:00)
• The time allowed for completing the exam (e.g. 90 minutes)

If you need more time to take an exam for justified reasons (e.g. dyslexia), you can apply for it from your teacher.

Remote proctoring can be implemented in Zoom, Teams, or by using the exam proctoring tool on the Canvas learning platform.

You can find assignment-specific feedback and grades in the “Grades” section of the learning platform.

If you have not passed the course assignments or exams, you can complete or retake your performance in the manner and within the time specified by the teacher.

Questions related to course content, assignments or learning methods

Before asking, read the instructions. Post your question on the course discussion area. Another student may have the same question, or the answer to your question.

Technical questions related to the use of the learning platform

Click the question mark (Help) on the left in the learning platform menu, which takes you to the “Student instructions” page.

If you don’t find what you need there, submit a support request to the Service Desk at servicedesk@laurea.fi. When contacting them, describe as clearly as possible what your problem is or what went wrong. A screenshot can help resolve the issue.

For personal matters, use Canvas’s “Messages” (Inbox) mailbox.

Respect copyrights – including your own

You hold the copyright to your study works (e.g. thesis, essays and assignments) when they exceed the threshold of originality. The threshold is exceeded if the result of your work is original enough that someone else could not produce exactly the same.

Information, ideas, theories and scientific results are not protected by copyright as such, but the form in which they have been expressed. Using them outside the course requires asking for your permission to use the material. By agreement between the student, the institution or the client, copyright can be transferred wholly or partly, or the student can grant the institution the right to use the work.

When you use materials made by others (images, text, video) in any of this work (online and elsewhere), respect for copyrights and referencing according to the university of applied sciences’ guidelines is required.

Plagiarism detection

Plagiarism is a violation of copyright. Turnitin is used at Laurea to detect it.

Act securely online

The most commonly used online meeting platforms at Laurea are Zoom and Teams. The teacher admits you to the online meeting from a so-called waiting room. This prevents outsiders from entering the meeting room. You are obliged to take care of information security by complying with legislation and Laurea’s information security rules.

Please note the following:

• In a remotely proctored online exam, keeping the video camera on is necessary.
• In some situations it is necessary to verify identity and you may be asked to show your ID card (e.g. certain official language exams).
• If you want to record the event, you must ask the presenter for permission. The recording may be shared only with those whom it concerns and as agreed. You may take screenshots only for your own use.

The use of AI and language models on a course is in principle permitted. Teachers will give instructions on how AI may be used, and you must comply with these instructions.

You are always responsible for the content of the text you submit. Various AI applications can write text that appears very expert but may contain factual errors. Language models do not process facts but words. A language model’s operation is based on manipulation of words.

AI should never be used to produce the final assignment or thesis text, and such AI-generated text or images must not be presented as the student’s own work. In cases of misconduct, Laurea’s degree regulations shall apply. The source must always be cited, including when the text has been produced with the help of AI.

Citation instructions for using AI

The use of AI must always be clearly indicated in the text whenever it has been used to produce or edit text and images. In addition, you must describe how it was used, for example in reading information sources and analysing material.

When AI is used to edit language and improve the fluency of text, this should be stated in the introduction to the text, for example: “This report has used ChatGPT to edit the language and improve text fluency.”

In addition, it should be noted at the end of the text’s reference list. For example: “The language editing of this text has utilized ChatGPT (or another AI program).”

More detailed source citation instructions related to AI are available in the Laurea source citation guide (pdf).

AI-based language models can be used for text editing. Using a language model for language and text polishing is justified, for example, to produce grammatically correct or structurally fluent text. A language model can be used to rephrase existing text or to get ideas for text you will write yourself.

Avoid unreferenced claims. AI can provide information that has not been verified, so you must ensure that the information provided by AI is reliable and can be justified, for example by citing a corresponding expert source.

It is advisable to learn to use the AI tools provided by the university. However, remember to take care of your privacy. Using AI may require disclosing personal information, such as your name or email address. Only provide information you are willing to share. Pay attention to data protection and the AI service’s terms of use. It is advisable to read the service’s privacy statement and terms before using it. Do not process confidential information in the services.

Use AI ethically. AI should not be used in an offensive manner or in a way that violates laws, rules or regulations.

The use of recording AIs during virtual teaching events, meetings, and other gatherings is in principle prohibited (so-called meeting bots). As a participant you can, however, negotiate with the meeting organizer and participants well in advance of the event about the use of a recording AI. The handling of meeting materials and recordings is subject to Laurea’s normal data protection practices, meaning they can be processed using AI and other applications defined as secure (for example, Microsoft product family and Zoom).

Misuse of AI is handled in the same way as other cheating. A performance can be deemed fraudulent if it is likely produced by AI or AI use has not been disclosed or cited properly. If a teacher suspects fraudulent use of AI on their course, they may arrange an alternative way for the student to demonstrate competence where AI cannot be used.

If the student refuses the alternative demonstration of competence, Laurea’s degree regulations’ fraud procedure will be followed. In fraud cases, Laurea’s degree regulation Section 28: “Fraud and plagiarism” applies. If you are found guilty of fraud in the use of AI, the performance will be failed. The teacher who detected the fraud informs the course responsible teacher and the head of the higher education unit. Fraud always results in failing the performance and loss of the attempt. Copying AI-generated materials as one’s own work is prohibited and results in the assignment being failed.

You can find more guidance on using AI on the page “Using AI in teaching and studying at Laurea University of Applied Sciences”