STOP PRESS: The e-MapScholar team are looking for additional case studies that could be used to develop new Virtual Placements. If you have a data set or scenario that could be used, please contact the EDINA Helpdesk.
What is a Virtual Placement?
The E-MapScholar Virtual Placements provide real-life problems that can be addressed using geo-information. To solve these problems learners work in the context of a simulated virtual organisation. They use online resources, geo-information handling software and data provided via a web site. They develop work related skills such as data handling, problem solving, time management and effective communication and presentation of information.
What is the Nant Carfan case study?
The Nant Carfan case study is based on a real proposal for a wind farm in Powys, Wales. It draws on documents produced during the planning stages of this wind farm development which were produced by the Macaulay Institute. The learner 'works' for The Virtual Geo-Consultancy Company and joins a team of staff distributed around the world. They undertake a sequence of tasks to gather and prepare data, to perform visual impact analysis and produce appropriate reports. Work on initial tasks is fully supported by the online resources, but as the tasks progress the learner is encouraged to become more autonomous.
| Task | Description | Product produced by learner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Induction and introduction |
Induction questionnaire
Briefing report on wind farms |
| 2 | Site familiarisation | Maps from Digimap |
| 3 | Project planning | Draft project outline |
| 4 | Data preparation | Prepared data |
| 5 | Analysis | Methodology and results |
| 6 | Further analysis | Amended results |
| 7 | Reporting | Final report |
| 8 | Reflection | Comparison with official report |
| 9 | Debriefing |
Skills development questionnaire
Personal development questionnaire |
How can I use it?
The Virtual Placement requires about 10 days work from a third year undergraduate or postgraduate student. It can be used in three ways:
- as a stand alone work placement experience instead of the traditional work experience situation involving the student re-locating to a placement host
- as a problem based learning exercise used before or after a traditional work placement to help prepare learners for independent work in a real world situation, or to allow them to reflect on and further enhance skills developed outside their education establishment
- as a problem based learning activity within another module. For example the placement could be used as an individual or group activity in a course on GIS or geo-information handling, environmental management or renewable energy.
Learners' work and progress can be monitored after each task. The tutor sets submission dates for each of the products. Formal assessment of the final report is recommended, and assessment of interim tasks can also be undertaken if required.
We will be making a User Guide available shortly.
How do I get access to the Virtual Placement Application?
The software is available as open source under GPL licence at http://vplace.sourceforge.net/
Further Information
The Nant Carfan Virtual Placement has been used by students at the University of Glasgow in 2005 and 2006. If you would like to use it with your students, they must be registered to use the Digimap OS Collection and will need access to ArcGIS. To provide your learners with access please contact the e-MapScholar team at EDINA, via the EDINA Helpdesk. To have a closer look at the placement take a look at the tutor guide (PDF document).
Where can I find out more?
An article with further information about the Virtual Placement appeared in PLANET (December 2005).
If you have any further questions please contact the e-MapScholar team at EDINA via the EDINA Helpdesk.