GIS in Higher Education:Realities and Opportunities

Timothy LeDoux (Westfield State University)Carsten Braun (Westfield State University)Jon Caris (Smith College)Aaron D’Amario (Hatch Mott MacDonald)

Question 1What is the most important GIS skill (or tool) that you use in your daily work as a GIS professional?

Question 2How/where did you learn this particular skill (or tool)?

During my Associate’s degreeDuring my Bachelor’s degreeIn graduate schoolCommercial training course(s)On my own in my spare timeOn my own on the jobFrom a colleague or friendI can’t remember!Other (please specify):

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Geospatial Technology Competency Model

GIS Education as a Skill Mill?

GIS At Westfield StateGIS Minor (18 hours)

Required GIS Courses (12 hours)GARP 0243 Introduction to Remote SensingGARP 0244 Introduction to Geographic Information SystemsGARP 0344 Advanced Geographic Information Systems One of the following:GARP 0246 Quantitative Methods for Social and Physical Science orCRJU 0313 Quantitative Methods in Criminal Justice* orECON/FINC 0305 Introduction to Econometric Methods* orENVS 0330 Data Analysis* orMGMT 0250 Quantitative Approaches to Business Decisions* Plus two of the following (6 hours)BIOL 0204 GIS Applications for Natural Sciences* CAIS 0117 Introduction to Computer Programming (BASIC)CAIS 0212 Visual Programming ConceptsCRJU 0359 GIS Applications in Crime Analysis*GARP 0317 Special Topics in GISGARP 0343 Advanced Remote Sensing*GARP 0350 Internship in GISGARP 0399 Independent Studies in GIS

GIS at Smith College

• Teach with GIS Model• Spatial Analysis Lab– Part of Environmental Science & Policy

• Over 40 unique classes since 2000• All 4 Divisions• Average 5-6 classes per semester• Averaging ~ 300 student interactions per year

GIS at Smith College

Top 5 Skills• GIS Analysis with Spatial Data

– Problem solving– Toolbox (Geoprocessing)– Model Builder / Python /

Programming– ArcGIS Online / Online

Mapping– Database Management

• Map Creation– Coordinate Systems– Data Accuracy– Layout Design– Client Standards / Presentation

• Detail Oriented– Quality of work– Data Accuracy

• Communication– Being able to describe and

explain the workflows and processes to GIS users/Non-GIS Users. Understand framework of GIS

• Adaptability– Being able to adapt to the

technology as it’s being implemented in the workforce

Greatest Challenge

• Coursework vs. Real world– Coursework • Provides the framework of GIS• Gears for students to understand capabilities of the

application• Generic examples are usually demonstrated

– Real world• Specific real-life problems to solve

– Use the framework from the coursework learned to adapt to the situation.

– Specific processes for specific problems

Summary and Wrap-Up