Jackie GrahamGlobal Online

Edinburgh Napier University

Connecting Students with the Global Online Map

Aim

• To enhance the student experience of students studying online (currently more than 1,000 students studying in Global Online Programmes worldwide)

• Enable students to identify their peers within their location and to make contact with each other to set up local networks of learners.

ConsiderationsEU General Data Protection RegulationsPrivacy Impact Assessment document required to be completede.g. • Will information about the individuals be disclosed to organisations or people who have

not previously had routine access to the information?• Are you using information about individuals for a purpose it is not currently used for, or

in a way that it is not currently used?

Information and services used• The Global Online Map has been developed utilising Bing Map technology. Microsoft

may collect an end user’s IP address, requests, time of submissions, and the results are returned to the user in connection with transaction requests to the Service.

• Uses information already held in student profiles, and already available to students within their programme.

• Uses email service already available in Moodle.

Requirements for use

If a student wishes to make use of this facility, then they will be required to:• Update their Moodle user profile details with their location (ie Country

and City/town). Moodle will not accept street addresses, thereby safeguarding a student’s specific location.

• Read and agree to the terms of the Bing Privacy Policy.• Read and agree to Terms of Use (student conduct regulations).

The student can remove themselves from the service at any time.

Initial view• Within the Programme Page, the map will be displayed within a block:

• If they have not completed the location in their profile, students will be prompted to update this:

Opting in• Initially the map will not show any

location information

• The student can click on ‘Display my location’ to opt in, with the following confirmation:

Location displayed• The map uses the location

information already held in their profile.

Once students ‘opt in’ the map will display their own location, and the location of other students.

Detail shown• The student can zoom in to see

the location in more detail and the name of the other students.

• Approximate location shown only. If their location is not found, or too specific, then the message below is displayed:

Contacting othersWhen the student clicks on a map marker, they are redirected to the Message page and can contact the other student.

Roll out• The project will commence as a pilot, to be tested on one online programme

during Trimester 1. • It will be evaluated in December, with amendments made prior to roll out in

Trimester 2 (January 2017)• Code will not be ready for release/sharing until the service has been deployed

and reviewed (few months after roll out).

Acknowledgements:Map tool developed by : Michael O’LoughlinVLE TeamEdinburgh Napier University