Privacy Policy
Last updated September 18, 2026
This policy explains what information GeoInquiries Lab web apps (such as A Nation Divided: Civil War Map Missions) handle when you use them, where that information goes, and what stays on your own device. The short version: the apps have no accounts, no server of their own, and never ask for your name or contact details. Your progress lives in your browser, and the only measurement is standard, anonymized web analytics.
What the app stores on your device
Each app saves your progress in your browser's local storage so you can close the tab and pick up where you left off. For the Civil War app this includes:
- your score, badges, and which section you are on;
- the answers you chose for each question, the states you identified, your distance measurement, and your battle-challenge results;
- the written argument you enter in the final "Act" section.
This information never leaves your browser. It is not transmitted to us or to anyone else. It stays until you press Reset in the app or clear your browser's site data, and it is not shared between devices or browsers.
The "Download my answers" and "Copy to clipboard" buttons generate a plain-text file or clipboard entry on your device. What you do with that file, such as turning it in to a teacher, is entirely under your control.
Information we do not collect
- We do not ask for, and the app has no field for, your name, email address, school, or any other personal identifier.
- There is no sign-in, no user account, and no server-side record of who used the app or how they answered.
- We do not sell, rent, or trade any information.
Web analytics
The apps and these pages use Google Analytics (Google tag, measurement ID G-HZWNB3WHS6) to understand how often the apps are used, on what kinds of devices, and which features get attention. Google Analytics sets cookies and records information such as pages viewed, time on page, browser and device type, screen size, and an approximate location derived from your IP address. We use this only in aggregate, for example "how many classrooms opened the app this month," and do not attempt to identify individuals.
Google's handling of this data is governed by the Google Privacy Policy. You can prevent Google Analytics from recording your visit by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on, by blocking cookies from googletagmanager.com, or by using a content blocker. The app works normally either way.
Third-party services the app connects to
To draw the map, the app loads code and data from other organizations. When your browser requests these resources, those organizations receive your IP address and standard request information (browser type, referring page) under their own privacy policies. The app does not send them your answers or progress.
| Service | What it provides | Policy |
|---|---|---|
Esri ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript (js.arcgis.com, arcgis.com, services.arcgis.com) | The mapping software, the basemap tiles, and the state boundary layer | Esri privacy |
A public ArcGIS Online hosted layer (services7.arcgis.com) | Civil War battle locations and attributes, published by a third-party ArcGIS Online account | Esri privacy (above) |
Google Fonts (fonts.googleapis.com, fonts.gstatic.com) | The typefaces used in the app | Google Fonts privacy |
Creative Commons (mirrors.creativecommons.org) | The license badge image in Teacher notes | Creative Commons privacy |
The app also contains links to outside websites, including the American Battlefield Trust, the National Park Service, and Creative Commons. Those sites have their own privacy practices, and this policy does not cover them.
Students and children
These apps are designed for classroom use by secondary students. The apps do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone, including children under 13. Because no student-identifying information is collected or transmitted, the apps do not create education records; a student's downloaded answer file is created and held only on their own device unless they choose to share it.
Schools and districts often have their own requirements for classroom technology and for analytics cookies. Teachers should review this policy, and the analytics section in particular, against local policy before use. This page is provided for information and is not legal advice.
Hosting
The apps and these pages are static files served from GitHub Pages. GitHub logs standard web server information, such as IP addresses, as described in the GitHub Privacy Statement.
Changes to this policy
If the apps change in a way that affects what is collected or stored, this page will be updated and the date at the top will change. Continued use after an update means you accept the revised policy.
Contact
Questions about privacy can be sent to Tom Baker through tbaker.com.