2012 Education Track, Developing an Online Geospatial Learning Lab, Mike Johnsen

Developing an Online Geospatial Learning Lab

Mike Johnsen, GISP

Educating the Next 25 Years of GIS Professionals

GIS in the Rockies 2012

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What is an Online Geospatial Learning Lab?

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An area that brings together resources and materials

in a way that facilitates the development of an active

learning community.



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learning community.

A one-stop shop serving as a destination for students to

learn and have fun.



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How does the GLL fit into the big picture?



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Lab is a complimentary

resource that will benefit:

Overall GIS Program –

associate, bachelor’s, and master’s

levels of study

University as a whole



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Lab serves many purposes:

1. Supplements GIS course curriculum

2. Provides more in-depth instruction for high-level

and specialized tasks

3. Mechanism for getting GIS into the entire

curriculum

4. Encourages students to think spatially



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learning community.


learn and have fun.



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Resources

Dynamic database of web links for a variety of

existing resources

Generally fall into 3 main categories:

• Education

• Data sources/software

• Other interesting things



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Resources

Education – links to tutorials, training, and other

learning opportunities

• ESRI – wealth of knowledge in a variety of formats

(virtual campus courses, training seminars, web courses, videos)

• SpatiaLABS – apply concepts and skills to real-world

scenarios

• Variety of other educational links



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Resources



Other Educational Links (a few examples)

• Penn State’s Open Educational Resources (OER) Courseware Modules

http://open.ems.psu.edu/courseware

• Google Earth’s Classroom Resources: Projects for My Subject

http://sitescontent.google.com/google-earth-for-educators/classroom-

resources/projects-for-my-subject

• USGS Educational Resources

http://rmmcweb.cr.usgs.gov/outreach/gps.html

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Resources

Data Sources – links to GIS data and map services

available for download online, organized by:

• Source (e.g., fed government, state/county, university,

commercial)

• Geographic coverage (e.g., global, country, state, region)

• Topic (e.g., transportation, renewable energy)



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Resources



Data Sources (just a few examples)

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) – organized by state office

• USDA Geospatial Data Gateway – http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov/

• USGS The National Map – http://nationalmap.gov/

• DIVA-GIS – http://www.diva-gis.org/gdata

• The GIS Data Depot – http://data.geocomm.com/

• OpenStreetMap – http://www.openstreetmap.org/

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Resources

Other interesting things

• Innovative uses of GIS-related technology

• Fun activities (yes, even games)



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Materials

Directly available in the GLL

• Step-by-step instructions/tutorials

• Case Studies



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Materials

Step-by-step tutorials

• Fill in online content gaps

• Overview of tools used

• Present activity

• Provide self-assessment



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Materials

Step-by-step tutorials

• Self-assessments include review

questions/puzzles

• Focus on advanced topics

• Focus on specific industries



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Materials

Case Studies – real-world applications of GIS tools

• Rely on learned skills

• Develop spatial problem-solving skills

(prior knowledge of the case study topic is not necessary)



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Materials

Case Studies – real-world applications of GIS tools

• Fill in content gaps

• Go into more depth



(e.g., compliment SpatiaLABS)

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learning community.


learn and have fun.



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Active Learning Community

Key to the success of the GLL

• Resources and materials challenge students

• Encourage student input on resources and

materials

• Discussion forums enhance learning



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Discussion Forums

Online format

• Standard

text-based



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Discussion Forums

Online format

• Standard

text-based

• Multi-media

(e.g., VoiceThread)



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VoiceThread

A tool for having conversations around media

• Interact using images, videos, and documents

(comment by telephone, webcam, microphone, text, file upload)



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VoiceThread


• Interact using images, videos, and documents

(comment by telephone, webcam, microphone, text, file upload)

• Asynchronous

conversation



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• Promotes better

understanding of

complex topics

• Enables students to

easily share GIS

solutions

VoiceThread



What VoiceThread looks like (example)

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Self-Assessment and Accountability

Learning at your own pace while providing

opportunities to measure success

• Simple self-assessments in step-by-step tutorials

and case studies

• Online badge system



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Self-Assessment and Accountability

Learning at your own pace while providing

opportunities to measure success

• Simple self-assessments in step-by-step tutorials

and case studies

• Online badge system



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Online Badge System

Documentation of skill building in the GLL



Geoprocessing

Basic Knowledge

ModelBuilder

Python

Core Concept Badge Topics

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Online Badge System



Understands and is able to implement basic geoprocessing tools to solve spatial problems.

Demonstrates ability to develop and execute geoprocessing models using ModelBuilder.

Demonstrates ability to use Python code to execute geoprocessing tasks.

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Online Badge System

Connect with the university ePortfolio requirement



Understands and is able to implement basic geoprocessing tools to solve spatial problems.

Demonstrates ability to develop and execute geoprocessing models using ModelBuilder.

Demonstrates ability to use Python code to execute geoprocessing tasks.


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Accessibility

Who can use the GLL?

• Students in the GIS program

• Students in other programs at the university

• Everyone else?



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We would like your help

Community input will make the GLL a better

resource

• Resource links and data sources

• Content ideas

• Comments and suggestions



Mike Johnsen, GISP

GIS Course Developer

[email protected]

Stephen McElroy, Ph.D., GISP

GIS Program Chair

[email protected]

2012 Education Track, Developing an Online Geospatial Learning Lab, Mike Johnsen

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