Applied Geospatial Tools (2021 – Winter)

Course description: 

Learn how to use various geospatial tools such as GPS, Google Earth Pro, ArcGIS Online, and Story Maps to design and build geo-referenced data maps, visualizations, presentations, and other interactive geo-referenced experiences. No previous experience with geospatial tools is necessary. 

Learn how to apply geospatial tools with a purpose! Generate better understandings, advocate for a cause, make a case, promote a policy, or make an argument using geo-referenced data.

These skills and understandings can be applied to almost any professional field including public health, environmental studies, teaching and learning in both traditional and non-traditional settings, public policy, business, research, and communications.

This course will be entirely online with most work being completed asynchronously, however, we will also meet synchronously on Monday and Thursday evenings at 7:15.

NOTE: This course is listed in the catalog as “Teaching & Learning with Geospatial Tools” but there will be less emphasis in this session on pedagogical themes.

Course format:

  • This class is a short-form course, meeting both synchronously and asynchronously online over a 4 week stretch.
  • All graded assignments must be submitted via Course Site
  • All synchronous sessions will use this Zoom Link. The password is our class password and is available on Course Site and was emailed to all registered students.
  • Here is a link to our course Slack workspace. We will use this tool to share ideas, collaborate, support each other, post helpful tips, and make class announcements. It is very important you check Slack at least once per day for course updates.

  • Course Timeline

    Students will work through the module content each week asynchronously and meet at least twice weekly synchronously as a class.

    NOTE: This schedule WILL change as we progress through the course. Students are responsible for checking this page often to stay up-to-date.

  • Guest Speakers

    12/30/21 – Dr. Thomas Hammond

    1/3/22 – Jeremy Mack

    1/6/22 – Dr. Karen Pooley

    1/10/22 – Dr. Farah Vallera

  • Week 1 – 12/27 – 1/1

    Topics: Intros, Geocaching, GPS, Geography Basics, Significance of Geospatial Tools, Google Earth, Map Projections, SS Savannah, The GoogleVerse

    Guest Speaker: Dr. Hammond on 12/30

    Content Modules:

    Module 1 – Due 12/27
    Module 2 – Due 12/30

    Assignment #1 – Google Earth Project

    • Part A: Due Tuesday, 12/28/21 @ 6pm – 10% of grade (10 points)
    • Part B: Due Friday, 12/31/21 @ 6pm – 10% of grade (10 points)

    Zoom Meetings

    • 12/27 @ 7:15pm
    • 12/30 @ 7:15pm

  • Week 2 – 1/2-1/8

    Topics: ArcGIS Part 1, GIS in the Community, ArcGIS in the Classroom, ArcGIS Part 2, Story Maps, Local Inquiry & Data Collection, Spatial Thinking

    Guest Speakers

    • 1/3 – Jeremy Mack
    • 1/6 – Dr. Karen Pooley

    Content Modules:

    Module 3 – Due 1/3
    Module 4 – Due 1/6

    Assignment #2 – GIS Project

    • Part A: Due Tuesday, 1/4/22 @ 6pm – Proof of concept – 10% of grade (10 points)
    • Part B: Due Friday 1/7/22 @ 6pm – Final submission – 10% of grade (10 points)

    Zoom Meetings

    • 1/3 @ 7:15pm
    • 1/6 @ 7:15pm

  • Week 3 – 1/9 – 1/15

    Topics: Map Design, Maps as Advocacy, Other GIS Tools & Resources, Geospatial Games, Innovation & Diffusion, GSTs and Pedagogy, Computational Thinking

    Guest Speakers

    • 1/10 – Dr. Farah Vallera

    Content Modules:

    Module 5 – Due 1/10
    Module 6 – Due 1/13

    Assignment #3 – Your Choice Project

    • Part A: Due Tuesday, 1/11/22 @ 6pm – Proof of concept – 10% of grade (10 points)
    • Part B: Due Friday 1/14/22 @ 6pm – Final submission – 10% of grade (10 points)

    Zoom Meetings

    • 1/10 @ 7:15pm – Dr. Farah Vallera
    • 1/13 @ 7:15pm – Workshop Assignment 3

  • Week 4 – 1/16 – 1/22

    Topics: Workshop final projects, Student Presentations, Course Reflection

    ASSIGNMENT #4: Student Presentations will occur during the last class on THURSDAY 1/20/22  during our online class meeting. Students will sign up for a slot earlier in the course. – 5% of grade (5 pts)

    ASSIGNMENT #5 – Final Project – Due: Saturday, 1/22/22 at 11:59 pm. – 35% of grade (35 pts) – Final project (policy paper, “business case”, or instructional unit — includes supporting materials)

    Zoom Meetings

    1/17 @ 7:15pm – workshop final projects
    1/20 @ 7:15pm – student presentations

Key Links