Geography 355: Geographic Information Systems & Science
Syllabus: Spring Semester 2009
Meeting: Monday + Wednesday 2:10 – 4:00 pm: Science Center 207
Instructor: Dr. John Krygier
Science Center 206
office phone: 740-368-3622
jbkrygier@owu.edu
http://www.owu.edu/~jbkrygie/
office hours: MW 12-2 pm (or by chance or appointment)
Course Description: Geographic Information Systems & Science (GIS) are an integrative set of concepts and technologies, including data capture (scanning, digitizing, GPS), data analysis, and visualization / display / output (mapping & cartography). This course consists of an overview of the concepts, functions, and use of GIS software and hardware combined with a service-learning/community/regional project that engages the students in an actual GIS application. The project focuses on an application where students work with people in other departments at OWU or from outside of the university.
Course Prerequisites: None (but Geog 222 or 353 help)
Paperless Course: I am trying to greatly reduce paper use in this course. We still have text books, but all course “handouts” (syllabus, schedule, readings) will be digital. In addition, I would like all materials you “hand in” (reports, evaluations, etc.) to be posted on your course blog or emailed to me as a PDF file.
Lab Computer Skills Required: Students in Geography 355 need basic competence in the Windows operating system, Excel spreadsheet, ArcGIS, and basic internet skills (blogs, searching). Students will be expected to take initiative to learn additional details about the software and to solve problems as they arise. Students should expect to spend time outside of scheduled hours to complete course work.
Text and Readings: There are three texts for this course: N. Schuurman GIS: A Short Introduction (2004), The ESRI Guide to GIS Analysis, vol. 1 (1999) and Getting to Know ArcGIS, 2nd edition (2004). Additional readings will be assigned.
Course Format: Geography 355 is a collaborative and project oriented course. Students will be given the opportunity to shape the direction of the course, what we do during our meeting times, how the course projects are developed, and what exactly we will complete (and how we will present it at the end of the semester – the web, formal presentation open to other OWU faculty and students, etc.). As such, students are expected to attend all class meetings (please let instructor know ahead of time if you will miss a meeting) and participate fully in the course presentations, tutorials, and course project. For Spring 2009 Geography 355 will focus on projects which relate to Ohio Wesleyan’s Sagan National Colloquium topic, “Cultivating a Green Campus: Promoting sustainability and environmental understanding on the OWU campus and in the Delaware community.”
Evaluation: Students will maintain a relatively detailed course blog that describes their activities in the course. Students will complete a mid-semester take-home evaluation (reflecting skills using GIS software and data) and an end of semester evaluation of their work in the course with a suggested letter grade (with supporting material). Additional exercises will be assigned when appropriate.
Science Center Access: Spring 2009
Instructor will forward a list of students in the class to public safety, to gain card access to the Science Center.
1. The Science Center is open Monday through Friday from 7am until 8pm.
2. The GIS lab door is open 7am until 7pm. Get access code from Krygier for additional hours.
3. After 8pm Monday through Thursday, and on weekends (see below) student card access will be through the Atrium lower level door ONLY (the amphitheater entrance).
4. Student access to the building will end at midnight Sunday through Thursday. Public Safety will clear the building as of that time.
5. The building will be cleared and all students must leave by 8pm on Fridays.
6. Student card access will be required for access to the building on Saturday and Sunday. Those provided card access may enter from noon until 6pm on Saturday and from 4pm to midnight on Sunday. At 6pm on Saturday and midnight on Sunday, Public Safety will clear the building.
