Welcome to uWaterloo Connect IT! This blog and video series will provide IT service and event information and updates to the campus, while offering a collaborative environment for University community members to share their comments/feedback and help shape the future of IT at Waterloo.
University’s open data initiative is important resource for Waterloo Student Portal
Kartik Talwar wanted something more out of the University of Waterloo when he arrived as a student in 2010: information, and lots of it
It wasn’t that it didn’t exist; it was just in scattered digital nooks and crannies. Talwar, who graduates this year in math and physics, sought a single source from which to shape his student life, a giant repository of data about programs, courses, timetables and services.
Students in three faculties now have access to the student portal. Last month, Engineering students joined those in the Faculties of Environment and Arts, and student feedback has been very positive.
Math students will be invited to access the portal starting this month, followed by Applied Health Sciences (AHS) in March, and Science in May. Assuming the portal’s technical infrastructure continues to perform well, all students will have access to the portal by the end of May 2015.
Previous posts have talked about the Student Portal and several widgets, including Portal Now, Routes, Parking, and Food. Today we continue the series with a look at the Grand River Transit (GRT) widget. Please note that the portal is under development and these designs are subject to change over future iterations.
One of the first widgets created for the Student Portal was the Food widget. As you can see below, it shows users upcoming menu items for Food Services eateries on campus.
Additionally, users can click on many of the menu items and see nutritional details to help them make informed and healthy choices.
Our students have high expectations that uWaterloo will communicate with them in the ways they want. Sure, there is still a place for email in the hearts and minds of students (although they do expect us to follow some best practices) but there are other interesting and effective ways to connect with them.
In our last blog post, we took a deep dive into the Student Portal interface and explored the Routes Widget; one of the many widgets that the portal is comprised of. Today we continue the exploration with the Parking widget. Please note that the portal is under development and these designs are subject to change over future iterations.
In our last blog post, we framed the Student Portal as a digital assistant that helps users organize data that interests them. In this post we will review the interface that is currently under development and take a closer look at one of the many widgets that the portal is comprised of. Please note that the portal is under development and these designs are subject to change over future iterations.
Imagine if you had an assistant that supported your life here at the University of Waterloo. What would it look like? Many individuals rely on a human resource; a personal assistant. Unfortunately, this isn’t a practical solution for our campus community. What then is our light at the end of the tunnel? Digital technology. More specifically, a ‘portal’ that provides a gateway to multiple disparate channels of communications and information. The portal will help support you in your journey providing quick, easy access to the organized data you need, when you need it.
