Geospatial Technology Education: Current Needs and Future Potential

Geospatial Technology Education:

Current Needs and Future Potential

Kevin Mickey, The Polis Center at IUPUI

Kathy Kozenski, GENILarry Biehl, Purdue University

Presenters

Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships

Session Goals

Review recent accomplishments of the IGIC education program

Discuss current trends and challenges in geospatial education and training

Develop a vision for the future of GIS practitioner education in Indiana

Explore opportunities for building geography and GIS into the K-12 and higher education programs in Indiana


Audience Survey

Raise your hand if…

you have attended an IGIC education event (webinar, seminar, etc) in the last year

you have attended another GIS education event in the last six months

you have taught a GIS workshop, webinar, or seminar in the last year

…you think that education is a good idea

IGIC EducationWhat have we accomplished?

2010 to present


IGIC mission

Training

AND

Education


Training vs Education

Training

The acquisition of knowledge, skills and competencies as a result of the teaching of things that relate to specific useful competencies.

Examples Learning the steps to create a

database. Learning the steps to make a map.


Training vs Education

Education

Has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual.

Involves helping someone learn how to go beyond merely performing a task to thinking through how best to perform a task in order to solve problems.

Examples

Learning how to design an efficient database. Learning how to make the most effective map

for solving a problem.


Stakeholder Groups

Technical Experts

Beneficiaries

Expert Resources


Stakeholder Groups

Current IGIC members

Potential IGIC members

Decision Makers

K-12 students and teachers

Post secondary education

Others??


Methods

Past and Current• Webinars and Seminars• Road shows• State Fair / BSA collaboration• Conference

Future?• Virtual instructor led software courses• Social media (YouTube)• Etc?


IGIC Education Statistics

2010 9 events 177 registrants

138 unique participants

2011• 9 events• 143 registrants


2012 3 events (to date) 59 registrants



IGIC Education Statistics

2010 342 IGIC Members 40% attended a training event

2011 349 IGIC Members 30% attended a training event

2012 283 IGIC Members 19% have attended a training event to

date


Events

2012 USGS Historical Map Collection Building an Operational Flex Viewer

2011 Grants 101 GIS in the Cloud Using New Census Data: A GIS-

Centric Webinar Introduction to GIS


Events

2011 Local Historical Imagery Project GIS and NIMS: Emergency Solutions

for Communities GIS for Constituent Engagement

2010 Introduction to Remote Sensing for

GIS Applications Indiana Property Data: New Ways to

Obtain Data


Events

2010 Census 2010 and GIS: Where, When

and What Can We Expect GIS and Stormwater Management Using GPS for GIS Data Maintenance

– hands-on! Leveraging a Common Operating

Picture: Adobe Flex 101


Did you see a seminar listed that you were interested in but that you did not attend?

Reason• Did not know about the event?• Date/Time not convenient?


Challenges

Choosing the right topics to meet the needs of the audience

Recognizing fiscal and time constraints that prevent people from attending training

Educating management about the value of training and education

Getting the word out!



What issue(s) have prevented you (or others in your

organization) from attending an IGIC educational offering?

What is your preferred way of receiving training?

1. Webinars2. Seminars3. YouTube4. Other

What is the ideal length of a training session?

1. 1 hour2. Up to a half day3. 1 day4. Multiple consecutive days

- Short term -What topics should IGIC

webinars and seminars address in 2012?

- Long term -What recommendations do you

have for how IGIC should support education in Indiana?

K-12 GIS EducationEducating the leaders of tomorrow

today


Geographic Literacy

Purpose: … we should aspire to having all Americans be able to conduct basic geographic analysis in order to make sound personal, political, and professional decisions…

Historically: Established a national network of state

"geography alliances," which are university-based organizations that advocate for geography education: provide professional development for educators, create innovative resources, maintain communication about local, state, & national happenings, outreach to communities, engage informal educators…


Geographic Literacy

Historically (continued): Alliances have had an impressive

impact on educators and students in numbers, but in terms of percentages – just a drop in the bucket

We do have a powerful foundation for educational reform, but lack resources (capacity, climate)


Geographic Literacy

Goals - Approach universal geographic literacy. achieve 80 percent rates of geographic literacy in

all 50 states by 2025, where geographic literacy is defined as the ability of students to apply geographic skills and understanding in their personal and civic lives.

achieve 50 percent geographic fluency in all 50 states at the same time. Geographic fluency is a higher standard, which we define as preparation sufficient for successful postsecondary study in subjects that require geographic skills and understanding (e.g., international affairs or environmental science).


Geographic Literacy

Will be able to achieve Goals through Create a combination of top-down

policy and bottom-up consumer demand for geographic literacy.

Obtain sufficient resources in the form of federal, state, and philanthropic funding to mount a large-scale reform effort.

Create and implement plans for large-scale educational reform at the state and local levels.


Geographic Literacy

Rationale: Knowing geography facts does little good if you can't do something with those facts. People don't need to know geography, they need to be able to do geography. Doing geography is what geographic literacy is all about. The problem facing American society right now is that most people don't even know what it means to do geography. So who does know what it means to do geography and understand why it is so important? YOU do!

For a copy of the full article by Danny Edelson, visit the ESRI ArcNews GeoLearning Newsletter athttp://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/spring09articles/geographic-literacy.htm


GENI has created a solid foundation for moving geographic literacy forward in the state of Indiana. THANKS to IGIC and other collaborative geography-based organizations!!!

Especially, THANKS to YOU!!Creating a long-range Geographic Literacy Timeline (very flexible, provides common goals):

IndianaView Project (partnership with IndianaView, IGIC, and GENI – THANKS Larry!)

Short videos for general citizenry regarding Geography: what is it? terminology, career possibilities, field work…

Webinars – create 2-3 in next year targeting grades 6-12 educators (formal & informal, in-service & pre-service, home-school…)

Your ideas: IGIC, ISPC, INView, GIO…



Do you have suggestions for activities?


How would you like to be involved?

Thank you for your input!

Enjoy the rest of the conference!

Documents

Geospatial Technology Education: Current Needs and Future Potential