2012 education track, designing and developing a new online graduate geospatial program, stephen a....
DESCRIPTION
Designing and developing a new online graduate geospatial program presents a unique opportunity to shape an innovative curriculum. Given that most Master’s degree programs are comprised of 12 classes or 36 credits, building a graduate level geospatial program requires significant thought and compromise. This is particularly true in geospatial education in which the curriculum must mirror the cross-disciplinary nature of the geospatial profession. This paper describes the design and development of a new online geospatial graduate program at American Sentinel University. Our Master of Geospatial Information Systems (MGIS) was designed for working professionals who have domain expertise in fields other than GIS. The MGIS will provide these individuals with the geospatial skills and knowledge necessary to incorporate geospatial concepts and practice into their professional lives. Students that end their studies upon completion of the initial 5 classes (15 credits) will be awarded a GIS Graduate Certificate. Overall, our program consists of courses that are designed to blend core geospatial fundamentals with dynamic geospatial technologies and GIS applications. The program courses will be discussed in the context of advice from industry experts, advisory boards, geospatial competency models and accrediting standards. Finally, strategies for assessing and maintaining program quality and relevancy will be outlined.TRANSCRIPT
GIS in the Rockies
Designing and Developing a New Online
Graduate Geospatial Program
Stephen A. McElroy, Ph.D., GISP
September 20, 2012
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Announcement American Sentinel University is pleased to announce two
new degree programs:
● Geospatial Information Systems Graduate Certificate (GISGC)
● Master of Geospatial Information Systems (MGIS)
On September 19, 2012, our educational accrediting
agency – Distance Education and Training Council –
formally approved these degree programs.
We will begin offering GIS graduate courses in November
2012!!
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Who are we?
Private, for profit, online, accredited university located in Aurora, CO.
Founded in 2006 from the merger of three schools that were started in
the late 1980s.
Currently offer associate, bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in
business, information technology, business intelligence, GIS, health
care administration and nursing.
Over 2,500 adult learners from around the world.
Offered our first undergraduate GIS degree program in 2007.
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Currently Offer Two Online GIS Degrees • Associate of Science Geographic
Information Systems (ASGIS) • Bachelor of Science Geographic
Information System (BSGIS)
November 2012: • Geospatial Information Systems
Graduate Certificate (GISGC) • Master of Geospatial
Information Systems (MGIS)
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From - http://media.photobucket.com/image/treasure%20map
1. Doing our homework 2. Getting advice 3. Debating the possibilities 4. Establishing the path 5. Finding the people 6. Measuring the outcomes 7. Building the courses 8. Following the rules 9. Considering opinions 10. Dealing with options 11. Marketing the program 12. Opening the doors
Mapping the Path to a MGIS Degree
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The American Sentinel Master of Geospatial Information Systems (MGIS) is designed for: • Working professionals who have domain expertise in fields other than
GIS. • The MGIS will provide these individuals with the geospatial skills and
knowledge necessary to incorporate geospatial concepts and practice into their professional lives.
• Many students entering this program will come from work environments that have historically not assimilated or effectively used geospatial strategies, but where there is a growing recognition of the value of this approach.
Establishing the Path
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• The 2011 ESRI User Conference theme: “Taking GIS from the Professional to the Personal” supports the need to provide geospatially focused educational opportunities that meet the needs of non-GIS professionals.
• This is further reflected in an article published by Al Butler, the president-elect of URISA about the need to revisit GIS job titles and descriptions in order to better capture the changing nature and pervasiveness of the geospatial field.
Some Thoughts to Support the Path
Al Butler, “A New Approach to Updating URISA Publications” in the GIS Professional, A publication of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association, Issue 246 Nov/Dec., 2011, pp. 6-9.
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The Master of Geospatial Information Systems (MGIS) is a 36-credit hour
program designed to provide the working professional with the skills and
knowledge necessary to incorporate and effectively use geospatial
strategies in the workplace. Geospatial strategies are those that integrate
visual, spatial, temporal, social and contextual information in a manner
that allows individuals and organizations to more effectively understand
and solve complex problems.
Describing the Path
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MGIS graduates will be able to:
MGIS Program Outcomes
1. Develop an understanding of geospatial principles and practices.
2. Develop a working knowledge of ArcGIS and other GIS related tools used in developing and implementing geospatial strategies.
3. Collect, store, access and use geospatial data across multiple disciplines.
4. Develop an enterprise level geospatial strategy.
5. Understand the ethical and legal issues associated with the use of geospatial data.
6. Understand similarities and differences in geospatial strategies among specific industries.
7. Design, develop and complete a GIS project.
8. Present geospatial information in a clear and professional manner.
9. Complete an e-Portfolio as evidence of academic achievement.
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For some of the answers we turned to the Lumina Foundation
and the Geospatial Technology Competency Model
Measurements Along the Path…
How do you know if you've arrived?
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Mission Statement Program Learning Outcomes Course Learning Objectives Module Learning Objectives
American Sentinel University’s mission is to provide high-quality, innovative degree and certificate
programs that enable students to enhance their professional and civic lives.
Mapping Throughout the Program
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1. Applied Learning
2. Intellectual Skills
3. Specialized Knowledge
4. Broad, Integrative Knowledge
5. Civic Learning
Measuring Educational Outcomes
http://www.luminafoundation.org
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GIS Course/ Program Map for Lumina
Outcomes Specific Outcome Evidence: Student e-Portfolio
Applied learning
Working skill with ArcGIS software, data acquisition and manipulation.
Course exercises and projects requiring the development of skills in using ArcGIS software and
geospatial data.
Broad, integrative knowledge
Fundamental understanding of geospatial data, information systems and software
alternatives.
Research papers on data acquisition, data mining, open GIS systems, and alternative commercial GIS
software.
Intellectual skills
Knowledge of how to address geospatial problems and to design geospatial
investigations.
Research papers and project assignments in a wide variety of fields with geospatial challenges.
Specialized knowledge
Skills with statistical integrity, cartographic representation, data
visualization and map interpretation.
Coursework, comprehensive project assignments or capstones on topics of significant scope.
Civic learning Applying GIS skills and knowledge to address persistent challenges faced by
people and their communities.
Research papers, projects, capstones on public policy issues.
Evidence: portfolio assessments, geospatial learning lab badges, prior learning, course activities, external activities and student responses to each of the mapped areas.
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GIS Course and Degree Program Map for Geospatial Technology Competency Model
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Course Level Mapping
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Following the Rules
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Core Courses (5 courses – 15 credits) • Geospatial Principles and Practice • Geospatial Practicum Using ArcGIS • Geospatial Data • Developing an Enterprise Level Geospatial Strategy • GIS Accuracy, Ethics & the Law
Graduate Certificate
Project Track 4 Elective courses – 12 credits + 3 Project courses – 9 credits
Course Track 6 Elective courses – 18 credits + 1 Project course – 3 credits
Elective Courses (7 courses – 21 credits)
• Web-based Applications and Resources for Geospatial Analysis • Emerging Topics, Trends and Technologies in Geospatial Analysis • GIS Applications in Health and Human Services • GIS Applications in Business • GIS Applications in Government • GIS Applications in Defense, Intelligence and Public Safety • GIS Applications in Environment and Natural Resources • Geospatial Project Overview (required) • Design and Development of a Geospatial Project • Geospatial Project and Presentation
MGIS
MGIS Program Details
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GIS Course Delivery in Moodle
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KNOWLEDGE Incorporate external expertise
and up-to-date information through RSS feeds
ACCESS Link directly to tools needed
to complete the course
PRACTICE Provide opportunities to apply what they are
learning
CONTENT Create and share
relevant and reliable information
ASSESSMENT Frequently check
on student learning
COMMUNITY Access to Yammer and
other tools to help build an online community
HELP Include direct links to
various avenues of support
ArcGIS in the Cloud
Accessing ArcGIS in the Cloud
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GOAL: Exemplify (where
appropriate) the relevance
of geospatial technology
for problem solving in
major disciplines.
We believe that geospatial thinking is so important that we decided to not only create new graduate GIS programs and revamp our undergraduate GIS programs, but to add geospatial literacy to the list of critical cross-disciplinary themes in our university-wide programs.
Business
Nursing and
Health Care
Technology
Geospatial Thinking Across the Curriculum
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Geospatially Knowledgeable Graduates
Technology
Nursing and
Heath Care
Business
Initiative to Implement Geospatial Thinking Across the Curriculum
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Two New Geospatial Graduate Programs
Geospatial Information Systems Graduate Certificate (GISGC)
Master of Geospatial Information Systems (MGIS)
• Currently recruiting new students
• First course begins in November 2012
• Admissions deadline is October 31, 2012
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Questions?
Contact: Stephen A. McElroy, Ph.D., GISP GIS Program Chair American Sentinel University [email protected]
www.americansentinel.edu 800.729.2427