How Lecture Companion handles your data
Lecture Companion is a learning aid, not a confidential messaging service. Do not enter names, student IDs, grades, passwords, health information, or other sensitive information.
What is sent to the AI
Your question, a short recent conversation, the lecture title, player timestamp, and relevant lecture excerpts may be sent to OpenAI to generate feedback. Guided reviews send the current response and rubric, not your earlier chat. The application requests that API responses are not stored for later retrieval. This does not eliminate OpenAI’s abuse-monitoring retention or create a zero-retention arrangement.
What this application stores
The private link posted in Canvas is a shared class key, not proof of your identity or enrollment. Anyone who receives the full link can use it until it expires or your instructor revokes it. No Canvas name, email, or student ID is passed to this application. Do not post the link publicly.
The access key is removed from the address bar before it is exchanged for a session. The server keeps a hash of the key and the lectures unlocked for that session, not the original key. Links may remain in Canvas or browser history/sync outside this application’s control. Expired or revoked links stop authorizing subsequent page loads and AI requests; material already loaded cannot be recalled.
An essential, HTTP-only cookie identifies a pseudonymous browser session for up to seven days. Server records track its expiration and guided-review step so quiz codes are released only after the review is complete. They do not identify you as a Canvas student or verify that you watched the lecture.
Security counters limit automated requests and AI usage. For network limits, the server uses a keyed, daily-changing IP pseudonym rather than saving your raw IP in the application database. Expired records become unusable at expiration and are deleted in bounded batches as new sessions are created; physical deletion may be later. Hosting, video, and AI providers may keep their own operational and security logs.
Chat messages are held in the open page, not saved in the application database. Playback position and practice-check answers may be saved in this browser. “Start lecture over” resets this lecture’s review progress and playback state, but does not erase provider logs or security counters. Clearing site data removes the local playback records and session cookie.
Your choices
Ask your instructor for an alternative if you cannot use the AI tool or its cookie. If the guide cannot reconnect inside Canvas, open the lecture in its own browser tab. AI feedback can be incorrect; use the lecture and your instructor to resolve uncertainty.
Research participation
This notice is not research consent. Any research use of student information requires a separate, institution-approved process and an explanation of voluntary participation, alternatives, access, and retention before collection begins.