The following descriptive video corresponds with Figure 31 in Network Sense: Methods for Visualizing a Discipline by Derek Mueller.

What you see in the viewport is map projection centered on North America. A layer selector in the upper left-hand corner shows that all four layers are active, the basemap, which shows the land and water forms along with place names, and three layers, each of which presents the geolocations consortia in the field, the Undergraduate Majors Consortium, the Masters Degree Consortium of Writing Studies Specialists, and the Doctoral Consortium. 

The map displays location markers for each institution associated with the respective consortium. Clicking on a location marker, or pin, calls up the details related to the institution and program at that site. 

Scale can be adjusted using plus and minus buttons, allowing you to zoom in on a specific region or state and to see close-up the range of programs in the designated area.