The Expert Network Map allows users to visually identify Topic Experts in the Fab community. Topic Experts are Fab Academy students who are frequently referenced by peers. Fab Academy students often link each other's websites in their documentation, and mapping these connections creates a network intertwined across labs, years, and countries. The more times a student is referenced correlates with expertise level in specific subject areas. For current Fab Academy students, it can be extremely helpful to quickly identify Topic Experts to access their documentation for reference. Interacting with the Map can determine Topic Experts by year and specific labs. Once Topic Experts are found, clicking on their circle redirects the user to their Fab Academy Documentation Website.
The Expert Network Map allows users to navigate the massive web of interconnected students and highlights Topics Experts dating back to 2018. Each Fab Academy student is represented by a circle. Drag around different students to play with the data and gain insight into the interconnectedness of the Fab community.
The larger a student's circle, the more times they have been referenced. Hover over a circle to see the student's name, year, lab, and region, and click on it to open their documentation website. Click the tabs on the left to filter by topic area; click different years on the bottom left circle to highlight students from that year; use the dropdown on the top right to highlight students from certain Fab Labs; and use the dial on the bottom right to set a minimum number of references that a student must have, changing the Expertise Threshold.