GIS2040 Essentials of GIS

Georgianna Strode

HOW TO GET STARTED IN THE COURSE

Instructor and Mentor

• Course Instructor – My name is Georgianna Strode, and I am your instructor

for this course. – I can be contacted at gas06@my.fsu.edu

• Course Mentor/TA – Your course TA for this class is … – S/he is a current FSU Geography graduate student and can

be contacted …. – S/he will be grading your weekly assignments

Resources and Materials You’ll Need for this Course

• Textbook: none • A computer to run GIS software • Internet access:

– all of your communication will be through Blackboard and FSU’s e-mail system.

– for watching videos (30-45 minutes per week some weeks) • The ability to install software on your computer e.g.

administrative install rights • A copy of QGIS software (free of charge at qgis.org) QGIS runs

on windows, mac, or linux.

How are Grades Determined? • Weekly Assignments 750 pts • Bonus for Weekly Participation 15 pts • Bonuses for Timeliness 5 pts • Final Capstone Project * 250 pts ----------- 1020 pts Why the extra points? Because we are all at different levels when it comes to

technology. This extra “cushion” is designed to help those who may not be as comfortable using new technology.

*The Capstone Project is the final project for the course and we will talk more about this later. The Capstone covers 5 assignments ranging from the original idea to several drafts to the final map. All assignments total 250 points. (5 + 5 + 5 + 15 + 220 = 250 points)

History of Grades for this Class

• Most students make A in this class (~85%) • However, this is not an “easy A” • If you do the assignments, you get an A. It’s that

simple. • Students get into trouble when they start skipping

assignments. • It’s possible to catch up if you get behind but I

recommend staying caught up as much as you can. Contact me as soon as you encounter a problem and keep me in the loop of your progress.

Weekly Assignments

• There are 30 total assignments of varying intensity.

• They are due every Tuesday and occasionally a Friday (first 4 weeks for Friday assignments).

• Post your completed assignment on the Discussion Board

• Several times you will be required to comment on the work of 1 other (participation)

Participation • For selected assignments you are expected to make

thoughtful comments and suggestions on the work of 1 other.

• You will be awarded one point for each thoughtful comment (on indicated assignments)

Assignment Late Policy

• Assignments are to be posted on the Discussion Board Tuesday and Friday nights by 11:59 p.m.

• Penalties: (penalties are not applied if you are having an issue and have contacted professor or mentor) 2 days no penalty 3 -7 days 5% penalty 7 -14 days 10% penalty 15 + 25% penalty

Assignment Late Policy

• Late penalties are waived for the first 3 weeks to give everyone a chance to settle into the course.

• This is not an invitation to slack off. • I would rather you focus on the class rather

than on a deadline. • The “hard deadline” for Assignments 1-11 is

Tuesday of Week 5.

Participation Late Penalty • Commenting on the work of others is to be

completed one week after the due date. • Late comments receive NO GRADE because the

discussion has ended. If you are giving feedback to a classmate, your classmate will likely not see your late comment.

• Even if you haven’t turned in your assignment,

please comment on the work of others. (Don’t miss your Participation points just because you are running behind on the assignments!)

How to Turn in Assignments

• Each week you will post your assignment to the Discussion Board.

• If needed, read “How to Add Threads to the Discussion Board” for instructions.

• Some assignments will require screenshots of your computer.

• If needed, read “How to Take Screenshots”

“Free Choice” Assignments • You can choose two of your assignments from a list

of topics. • These assignments are for you to explore how GIS

can be useful to you. Some of you may use GIS later on and you may want to explore technical assignments. Some of you may become managers and knowing the potential of GIS is important even if you do not choose to pursue further GIS.

• Assignments can be technical or academic in nature. • Past students say these are some of their favorite

assignments.

How to Install GIS Software

• Read “How to Install QGIS Software”

• Feel free to use YouTube and other resources as needed

• There is a YouTube channel to accompany this

course: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZtRWwksquhgrAdhvYlGwmQ

Let’s Get Started …

• There are 30 assignments • 17 are completed in the first few weeks of

class --- whew!

Let’s Get Started Week 1 – due Tuesday

• Introduce yourself and “meet” 1 other classmate (in Discussion Board)

• Install your QGIS software and post a screenshot of it (in Discussion Board)

• Agree to the Honor Policy (in Discussion Board) • Define GIS in 2-3 sentences (in Discussion Board)

NOTE: If you are having trouble getting this done on time, don’t stress over it. Please keep working and finish it as soon as possible.

Let’s Get Started Week 1 – due Friday

• Assignment 2 – make a Google map • Assignment 3 – Cartastrophe blog summary

NOTE: If you are having trouble getting this done on time, don’t stress over it. Please keep working and finish it as soon as possible.

Let’s Get Started Week 2

• There are FOUR assignments due this week • Due Tuesday:

– Assignment 4. Color quiz – Assignment 5. ColorBrewer Exercise

• Due Friday – Assignment 6. Silly Map – Assignment 7. GIS Practice #1

Weeks 3,4 and Beyond

• After Week 4, things should settle down a bit and you will have fewer assignments and more time to complete them

• Some of the assignments will be suitable for your portfolio

NOTE: Weeks 1-4 can be pretty busy. Please keep working steadily. Late penalties are waived for the first 3 weeks to give everyone a chance to adjust to the course and install the software.

Sometimes this Happens

• Using technology can be frustrating • Using strange new mapping technology can be

even more frustrating • Sometimes online classes can feel isolating • Yet, most students enjoy the class and do very

well. A few consider studying geography and GIS beyond this class.

When to Ask for Help • Read the directions closely and try it again. If you

feel you are “in a loop,” email me immediately if you feel frustrated or isolated or don’t understand. Nothing is gained by being down on yourself.

• Most problems have nothing to do with GIS but are related to computer, file organization, time management, miscommunications, or misunderstandings.

• Most problems are easily overcome. • I am willing to work with you.

Stop by my office if needed

• I am located in UC6140 in the FSU stadium • There is a computer with QGIS installed and

you are welcome to use it • I can answer questions while you are here

also! • Call/email first to make sure I am available

The Calendar / Grade Calculator You have an Excel spreadsheet that serves as a class calendar and as a grade calculator. Type your weekly scores here and keep track.

The Calendar / Grade Calculator If you study the Class Calendar / Grade Calculator, you

will notice that the class is: – Front-loaded with labor (Lots of assignments at first, but

not many points) – Back-loaded with points (Fewer assignments and many

points) A few students have gotten discouraged (e.g. working very hard and having only 200 points and falsely concluding that they have completed only 20% of the work).

Suggestion: Keep plodding along. (The class gets

easier!) The Grade Calculator lets you know that you are on track.

Resubmitted Assignments You can resubmit any assignment at any time. If it has not been graded, you can resubmit again in the

same thread. For example, if you submit a map and realize you forgot to put your name on it, go ahead and make the change and resubmit. The last map will be graded.

If it has been graded, re-post into the same thread and

the grader will find it at the next grading window. This is a good way to correct anything that the grader noted and improve your score. (Why should there be a deadline on learning?)

Welcome!

I enjoy teaching this class and I hope you enjoy taking it.