Writing a footprint finding with evidence

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which finding is clearer?

A The school app collects home addresses. This is not essential because it only sends notices, so I recommend removing it.

B The app asks for too much stuff and that is bad.

2. Which sentence starter helps you name the system and the data item?

A The library website collects...

B I just think that...

3. Which finding gives a reason using 'because'?

A Birth date is not essential. The quiz is fun.

B Birth date is not essential because the quiz only needs a year level.

4. A club form collects a phone number, but you only email members. What should your finding recommend?

A Make the phone number optional or remove it because it is not needed to send emails.

B Keep the phone number required because more data is always useful.

5. Which finding uses 'generalise' correctly?

A The survey collects exact ages. I recommend making ages more exact because it looks neat.

B The survey collects exact ages. I recommend using age bands like 12-13 because the results only compare groups.

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1The school app collects home address, which is not essential,		AA sentence starter that names the system, the data item and says whether it is essential
2I recommend we remove it because		BIt does not name the system or the data item, say if it is essential, give a recommended change or use 'because'.
3A finding that recommends making a data item optional when it is useful but not essential		CA sentence starter that gives a recommended change and links it to the reason with 'because'
4A finding that recommends generalising a detail so the system still works with less identifying data		DIt gives a change but no 'because' reason and does not say whether the phone number is essential.
5The form collects too much data.		EThe sports club form asks for photo consent. It is not essential, so make it optional because the club can run without it.
6Remove the phone number from the library app.		FThe quiz app stores exact birthdate. Change it to an age band because the quiz only needs to group players.

Definitions

finding

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

The library app records your home address, which is not essential _______ books are borrowed with a card number.

Finding: The quiz app collects birthdates. Recommend: ______ this field because it is not essential to running a quiz.

The club form asks for a phone number. Few members need it, so make it ________ because not everyone has to be called.

Finding: The survey stores exact ages, so __________ them into age bands because a band still answers the question.

Dear app owner, your app records location but it is not _________ because the app only counts steps. Please remove it.

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A System: Library app

B Data: home address

C Essential: no

D Change: keep it

E Because: it is not needed

Question 2

A System: email address

B Data: email address

C Essential: yes

D Change: keep it

E Because: we send receipts

Question 3

A System: Fitness app

B Data: exact birth date

C Change: collect more detail

D Because: age range is enough

Question 4

A System: Sports club form

B Data: phone number

C Change: make it required

D Because: not needed to join

Question 5

A System: Class survey

B Data: student names

C Essential: no

D Change: show names in report

E Because: codes hide identity

Answer Key

Writing a footprint finding with evidence

Section A: Quick Questions

A — The school app collects home addresses. This is not essential because it only sends notices, so I recommend removing it.

A — The library website collects...

B — Birth date is not essential because the quiz only needs a year level.

A — Make the phone number optional or remove it because it is not needed to send emails.

B — The survey collects exact ages. I recommend using age bands like 12-13 because the results only compare groups.

Section B: Match the Pairs

The school app collects home address, which is not essential, → A sentence starter that names the system, the data item and says whether it is essential

I recommend we remove it because → A sentence starter that gives a recommended change and links it to the reason with 'because'

A finding that recommends making a data item optional when it is useful but not essential → The sports club form asks for photo consent. It is not essential, so make it optional because the club can run without it.

A finding that recommends generalising a detail so the system still works with less identifying data → The quiz app stores exact birthdate. Change it to an age band because the quiz only needs to group players.

The form collects too much data. → It does not name the system or the data item, say if it is essential, give a recommended change or use 'because'.

Remove the phone number from the library app. → It gives a change but no 'because' reason and does not say whether the phone number is essential.

Section C: Definitions

finding — A clear statement that names the system, the data collected, whether it is essential and a change to make, joined with 'because' to give the reason.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

The library app records your home address,
which is not essential because books are
borrowed with a card number.

Finding: The quiz app collects birthdates.
Recommend: remove this field because it is
not essential to running a quiz.

The club form asks for a phone number.
Few members need it, so make it optional
because not everyone has to be called.

Finding: The survey stores exact ages,
so generalise them into age bands
because a band still answers the question.

Dear app owner, your app records location
but it is not essential because the app
only counts steps. Please remove it.

Section E: Spot the Error

D — The finding says the data is not essential, so the change should be to remove it. Keeping it contradicts the 'because' reason. It should read 'Change: remove it'.

A — Line 1 must name the system being audited, not the data item. The data item belongs on line 2. It should be 'System: Gym sign-up form'.

C — Generalising means replacing an exact value with a less detailed range. Collecting more detail does the opposite. It should be 'Change: use an age band'.

C — The reason says the phone number is not needed to join, so the recommended change is to make it optional, not required.

D — De-identifying means replacing names with participant codes. Showing names in the report keeps people identifiable. It should be 'Change: use participant codes'.