Educating Indispensable Geospatial Professionals for the 21st CenturyTora Johnson,University of Maine at Machiastjohnson@maine.edu ~ gis.maine.edu

GeoTechCenter

NSF AdvancedTechnological Education ProgramCenter for Excellence

Supporting2YCs in improving &expandinggeospatial technologyEducation

http://www.geotechcenter.org/ NSF ATE Program: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5464

Meta-DACUMWhat GIS technicians do: a Synthesis of dacum Job analysesJohn Johnson

8 GIS technician job analyses from across the country

Identifies, ranks & documents...

•55 common task categories•35 knowledge and skill categories, and •27 behavior categories that are ranked and documented.

URISA Journal • Vol. 22, No. 2 • 2010, p. 31http://www.urisa.org/files/2010%20URISA%20Journal%20Vol.%2022%20Issue%202.pdf

Geospatial TechnologyCompetency Model (GTCM)

US Dept of Labor & GeoTech Center

Draws on MetaDACUM, DOL & other research

•Personal Effectiveness•Academic•Workplace•Industry-wide•Sector-Specific•Management/ Occupation (incomplete)

http://www.careeronestop.org/competencymodel/pyramid.aspx?geo=Y

GTCM & DOL Occupations

So now what?

Assess, adapt & evolve

Get to know YOUR workforce

http://www.geotechcenter.org/Resources/Resource-Center/Featured-Items/GTCM-Curriculum-Guide

http://www.geotechcenter.org/GTCM/Model-Courses/Model-Courses-Server

Model Courses

- Spatial Awareness & Literacy

- Introduction to GIS Technology

- Data Acquisition & Mgt

- Remote Sensing

- Open Source GIS

- Cartography & Visualization

- Aligned with GTCM

- Developed by 2YC instructors

- Recommended content, syllabus, texts, modules, and more

Maine Workforce StudiesCurriculum Needs

- Independent problem solving

- Data management, processing, stewardship

- Linkages to many real-world via service learning/ internships

- Basics & fundamentals

- Understand how to qualify for GISP certification

- Understand their role as trainers in the workplace

http://gis.maine.edu/workforce_summit.htm

Lessons Learned about Maine’s Geospatial Workforce

– Even non-techies can learn to solve problemswith instruction in heuristics & support

– In a rural workforce, most GIS users are ancillary users

– The geospatial workforce in Maine is aging & changing~ More users ~ New applications ~ Web applications

– Huge, growing demand among incumbent workers & would-be ancillary~ Environmental ~ Municipal ~ Marine Sciences ~ Public Health

– Growing demand for 2 year certificates & degrees

–It’s hard to build enrollment with so little awarenesshttp://gis.maine.edu/workforce_summit.htm

Geospatial Technology Users: Idealized Workforce

http://gis.maine.edu/workforce_summit.htm

GST Offerings in Maine

Mirrored top-heavyMaine GeospatialWorkforce

http://gis.maine.edu/workforce_summit.htm

GST Offerings vs. Idealized Workforce

Educational Capacity Idealized Workforce

Lack certificates & associate’s degree programs

http://gis.maine.edu/workforce_summit.htm

GST Offerings vs. Idealized Workforce

Educational Capacity Idealized Workforce

Falling short in buildingawareness

http://gis.maine.edu/workforce_summit.htm

Educating Indispensable Geospatial Professionals for the 21st CenturyTora Johnson,University of Maine at Machiastjohnson@maine.edu ~ gis.maine.edu

This program is funded, in part, by the National Science Foundation. Views presented do not necessarily reflect those of the funding agency.