Introduction to Geographic Information Science. Course Syllabus

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1 Introduction to Geographic Information Science Course Syllabus Geography Department Grossmont College SPRING

2 Table of Contents Topic Page I. Catalog Description 3 II. Course Student Learning Outcomes 3 III. Tentative Class Schedule 4-5 IV. Evaluation 5 V. Grading Scale 6 VI. GIS Final Project Overview 6 VII. General Policies 6-8 VIII. Required Materials 9 IX. Contacting the Instructor 9 Class Website Address: Students are required to have access to the Internet. Utilizing the class website on a regular basis will be an integral component of your learning. If you need assistance in accessing the website, contact your instructor in the first week of the semester

3 I. Catalog Description Introduction to Geographic Information Science (GIS) Geography units, 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory Fundamental concepts in geographic information systems including cartography, global positioning systems (GPS), remote sensing, and spatial statistics. Hands-on use of current, industry-standard computer technologies that enhance geographic analysis and improve decision-making abilities for solving geospatial problems in a wide range of applications. Transfers to: CSU Satisfies General Education for: Grossmont College A3. Prerequisite: A C or CR grade or higher in Math 103 or Math 110, or equivalent II. Course Student Learning Outcomes A student who successfully completes this course will be able to solve simple problems of a spatial nature using desktop Geographic Information Systems. In order to meet this objective, students will work on developing competency in the following areas: 1. Design and implement a research project to effectively evaluate a problem using a geographic information system. 2. Develop ability to collect, manipulate, classify, and interpret spatial data. 3. Demonstrate ability to apply appropriate application of GIS operations to analyze data and explain the various methods for effectively presenting results. 4. Utilize global positioning systems in combination with GIS to collect, import, and display/store spatial information. 5. Development of Spatial Literacy through the use of computers, mathematical algorithms, and spatial statistics to analyze geospatial problems

4 III. Tentative Class Schedule WEEK / DATE TOPICS ACTIVITY 1 01/29-01/ /05-02/ /12-02/ /19-02/ /26-02/ /05-03/ /12-03/ /19-03/21 INTRODUCTION Geographic Information Systems, Science, and Applications Brief history of GIS PRINCIPLES Representing Geography Datums and Coordinate Systems Geo-referenced Data, Vector Data vs. Raster Data Representing Geography (continued) + Intro. to ArcGIS Projection and Scale Projection Classifications, Types of Scale, Scale and Digital Data Generalization TECHNIQUES Tables in ArcGIS Modifying Existing Tables, Joining, Linking, Hotlinking Creating and Importing Tables, Attributes Data Acquisition Data Sources, Quality Standards, Error, Accuracy, Precision Canned Data vs. External Data, Downloading from Web Sources Data Acquisition (continued) GPS and the transition from GPS to GIS ANALYSIS AND GIS OUTPUT Georeferencing and Geoprocessing Creating Features, Modifying Features Geoprocessing (continued) Buffering Data Transformations THX #1 Due 2/05 THX #2 Due 2/12 Lab Exercise #1 THX #3 Due 2/19 Quiz #1 2/21 THX #4 Due 2/26 Lab Exercise #2 THX #5 Due 3/05 THX #6 Due 3/12 THX #7 Due 3/19 Lab Exercise#3 Quiz #2 3/21 03/26-03/28 ***SPRING BREAK*** 9 04/02-04/ /09-04/ /16-04/ /23-04/ /30-05/ /07-05/09 Geoprocessing (continued) Clip Tool, Cartography, Principles of Map Design SPATIAL MODELING with GIS Data Modeling ArcGIS - Spatial Analyst Data Modeling (continued) ArcGIS - 3-D Analyst Data Modeling (continued) Geocoding Review of GIS Applied operations and functions Data Layout for Poster Presentation Integration of Principles, Techniques, and Analysis Final Project Work THX #8 Due 4/02 THX #9 Due 4/09 Lab Exercise #4 Quiz #3 4/18 THX #10 Due 4/23 GPS to GIS Exercise Quiz #4 5/09-4 -

15 05/14-05/16 Final Project Work Continued Poster Development 16 05/21-05/23 1 st Draft Project Presentation Review Project Revisions 05/28 05/30 Final Project Presentations (Class Meets 11:35 AM

5 15 05/14-05/16 Final Project Work Continued Poster Development 16 05/21-05/23 1 st Draft Project Presentation Review Project Revisions 05/28 05/30 Final Project Presentations (Class Meets 11:35 AM 1:35 PM Thursday) correct Final Project IV. Evaluation On a 450 point scale, the following points will be allocated to each assignment. ASSIGNMENT POINTS POSSIBLE YOUR SCORE PERCENT OF TOTAL GRADE 10 Take Home Exercises 10 ea. 2.2% Take Home Ex. Total: % 4 Lab Exercises 25 ea. 5.55% Lab Ex. Total: % 4 Quizzes % QUIZ TOTAL: % 1 GPS to GIS Exercise % GPS to GIS Ex. Total % 1 Final Project % Final Project Total % GRAND TOTAL: % - 5 -

6 V. Grading Scale Percent of Total Points Earned Grade Points Required 95% - 100% A points 92% - 94% A points 88% - 91% A points 85% - 87% B points 82% - 84% B points 78% - 81% B points 75% - 77% C points 67% - 74% C points (C or above required for Pass/No-Pass) 57% - 66% D points 0% - 56% F points VI. GIS Final Project Overview The final project will demonstrate your learning of applied GIS for solving a problem. You will be allowed to select a topic/problem that is of interest to you. You will learn how to display your GIS project in poster format within ArcGIS and your final project will be presented to the class as a printed poster. During the week prior to Final Exam week, you will give a first draft presentation of your project to the instructor. Suggestions and guidance will be given to you based on your first draft. You will have an additional week to revise your project before giving the final presentation during the last class meeting (during final exam week). Specific details and requirements of the final project will be provided to you during the semester. VII. General Policies Attendance Each student is expected to attend every class meeting, arrive on time, and remain for the duration of the class. Absences, tardiness, going in and out of class during lecture, and early departures will not only make it extremely difficult for you to succeed, but will also be a distraction to your fellow students trying to learn. You instructor understands that challenges in life can sometimes prevent consistent attendance. In an attempt to avoid being dropped when total absences exceed two class meetings, please always communicate with your instructor when you miss a class or can t attend on time. Your instructor is committed to working with you to find a solution whenever possible given that you are committed to succeeding. Tardiness and leaving class early can be regarded as an absence, and will impact your success. In case of extreme emergency, the student should apply for a leave of absence petition in the Student - 6 -

7 Health Services Office. Students not in attendance on the first day of class should contact the instructor in an effort to avoid being dropped from the course. Class Participation Your success in learning is directly influenced by your level of participation. Therefore, it is crucial that you become actively involved in classroom discussions and activities. Students who attend every class meeting on time for the duration of the class and participate in classroom activities and discussions will be more successful in achieving the class objectives. Be sure to follow along with the instructor during lecture and guided lab tutorials. In addition, the use of the lab and website outside of class to complete web-based assignments and in-class exercises is important to insure success in this course. Do not walk in and out of class during lecture. Use of classroom computers to surf the web or access unrelated websites such as Facebook is strictly prohibited. Accommodations for Students With Disabilities Students with disabilities who may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and contact the Accessibility Resources Center (ARC) during the first week of the semester so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible. Students may contact ARC in person in building 60, room 120 or by telephone at (619) or video phone at (619) Withdraw from Class The last day to withdraw from class without receiving a W grade is February 8th, Students should always officially withdraw from a class with the admissions office. The deadline for applying for Pass/No Pass (Credit/No-Credit) is March 1st, The last day to drop the class without receiving a letter grade is April 26th, Prior to dropping a class, please discuss your situation with the instructor. If a student decides to drop the class during the drop period, it is the student s responsibility to process the drop request with WebAdvisor or the Grossmont College Admissions and Records office. Behavior and Academic Integrity Inappropriate behavior in the classroom (face-to-face or online) will not be tolerated. A student may be excluded from class whenever the student exhibits behavior which interferes with the educational process. The instructor will determine when behavior is disturbing and appropriate action will follow. In addition, cheating is a serious offense with serious consequences and will not be tolerated. You are responsible for reading and adhering to the rules described in the Student Conduct section of the Grossmont College General Catalog. Cheating and plagiarism (using as one s own ideas, writings, materials, or images of someone else without acknowledgement or permission) can result in any one of a variety of sanctions. Such penalties may range from an adjusted grade on the particular exam, quiz, paper, project, or assignment (all of which may lead to a failing grade in the course) to, under certain - 7 -

8 conditions, suspension or expulsion from a class, program, or the college. Class assignments, exams, and quizzes that are missed during a suspension are not eligible for make-up. In addition, suspended days are counted as absences. For further clarification and information on these issues, please consult with your instructor or contact the office of the Associate Dean of Student Affairs. Use of a cell phone or other electronic device is not allowed in class. Use of laptops or other electronics for the purpose of note-taking during lecture is discouraged, as the content of the course is not conducive to electronic note-taking. Use of audio tape recorders (not digital) to record lectures for playback when studying is encouraged, but only after the device has been approved by your instructor. No video recording or picture-taking allowed. Do not walk in and out of class during lecture. Use the restroom prior to attending class. Do not sit in the back of the classroom if empty seats are available in front of you. Please sit as close to the front as available seats allow. Visitors may be allowed into the classroom only with the instructor s prior approval. If you bring food and or beverages into the classroom, please clean up after yourself. Assignment and Quiz Makeups Assignments and quizzes cannot be made up unless the instructor is informed of your situation preferably prior to the class meeting of the assignment/quiz, or within 24 hours after the assignment/quiz at the very latest. The decision to allow any makeup is entirely at the discretion of the instructor. In the event of an approved assignment or quiz makeup, the student may be required to take an alternate written assessment during office hours. To request a makeup, send an to your instructor and include you class meeting date and time, your full name, and a brief summary of your situation. Makeups will be administered during office hours only. No makeups are allowed for the final project. Preparation for Class Students should always bring a pen, pencil, USB data storage (with class dataset), note paper, handouts, and textbook to every class meeting. Note-taking during lecture is required. To insure that you will be well prepared to actively participate in discussions and class activities, be sure to complete all assigned readings and exercises in advance of the scheduled due dates. The class website will be continually updated throughout the course to contain information relevant to the topics being discussed each week. Visit the website and review presented information frequently. Create study groups and organize study sessions with other students in the class

9 VIII. Course Materials Text: Recommended: Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop, 3 rd Edition updated for ArcGIS 10.1, (free copies for use in Geography Study Center) ESRI Press. ISBN: Data Storage Device: One 5-GB(or larger) USB memory device Other Materials: One 3-ring binder to hold handouts, notes, etc. Pen, pencil, highlighters, note paper IX. Contacting the Instructors Judd Curran & Mark Goodman (The Canvas Inbox tool is the best way to contact us) Office: Building 37 Please let us know in advance if you plan to visit an office hour. Office Hours - Judd: Mon: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm Tues: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Wed: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm Mark: Mon & Wed: 8:15 am to 9:15 am and 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm Fri: 7:55 am to 8:55 am and (12:00 pm -12:30 pm in ) Use the Canvas conversations inbox: judd.curran@gcccd.edu mark.goodman@gcccd.edu Note: Requirements (failure to follow requirements may result in no response) 1. must include the following in the subject line: Full Name, Class subject, meeting date and time Example: Jane Doe, Geog 104, Tues/Thurs 5:15pm 2. If you are using an program other than your Grossmont College student (ex: Yahoo, Gmail, AOL, etc), then there is no guarantee that your will be received by your instructor due to spam filters. Thus, if the subject of your is of great importance, send it from your Grossmont College student . Your instructor is not responsible for lost s that are sent from accounts other than your Grossmont College-issued gcccd.edu . Office Phone: Judd: (619) Mark: (619) Class meets: Tues, Thurs: 12:30 pm to 1:45 pm, Jan 29 th through May 30 th Room: Building 30, Room 208 and Online Section #:

10 Let a Grad Coach Help! Sometimes we stumble on the way to reaching our goals, but working with a Grad Coach will provide the support needed to get back on track. Have a concern? Work through it together with a Grad Coach. Are you Worried about your grades? Having difficulty in any of your classes? Feeling overwhelmed? Facing personal issues that are affecting your academics? Finding it hard to balance your school, work, and personal life? Thinking about dropping out? If you are experiencing these or any other concerns and do not know who to reach out to, contact your Grad Coaches, and they will help connect you with the right resources. Make an appointment with a Grad Coach today! Visit the online scheduling system at Help With Basic Needs Students facing food or housing insecurity are encouraged to contact a Grossmont College Basic Needs Liaison or you can send an to Grossmont.BasicNeeds@gcccd.edu to request information or assistance. You are also encouraged to speak with your instructor, if you feel comfortable doing so, so that additional support can be provided to ensure your success in this course. Additional information on basic needs resources, including Gizmo s Kitchen (Grossmont College s food pantry) is available at: Notes:

GIS 5049: GIS for Non Majors Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Geography University of South Florida St. Petersburg Spring 2011

GIS 5049: GIS for Non Majors Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Geography University of South Florida St. Petersburg Spring 2011 Instructor Dr. Barnali Dixon Teaching Assistant: Lauren Bates