Community GIS Academy 2004

Community GIS Academy
Summer 2004

Delivered in collaboration with Ms. Elaine Mariolle, Program Manager, LaVida en Artes and Mr. Nils Urmann, Director, Santa Cruz County Workforce Development, Nogales, AZ.

Instructor : Dr. Keiron Bailey, Department of Geography and Regional Development, University of Arizona

Deputy instructor : Mr. Armando Romero
Office: Santa Cruz County GIS Lab, Nogales, AZ

Class Hours: M,Tu,W, Th 9am - 1pm

Phone: 520 626 4096

Email: kbailey@email.arizona.edu

Course Objectives

This class will introduce you to the principles and concepts of GIS. It will cover location; representation; cartographic design; data layers; gathering, manipulation and editing of geographic and attribute data. We will use the ArcGIS 9.0 software at the Santa Cruz County GIS Lab.

During the class you will be learning a range of skills that will help you to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) effectively. These skills include:

Assessment
This class is operated on a pass/fail basis. Each week's lessons will build on the previous week. We will complete a series of six workshops; these will be held on Thursdays and will help us generate a complete portfolio. A passing grade requires completion of all workshops and assignments.

All assignments must be collated in your portfolio. The portfolio will be your showcase. You will take this away from the class and you will be able to show this to employers. It will demonstrate attainment of GIS skill targets. It also showcases your professionalism and someday it may help you get a job.

Field Trips
There will be a number of days spent in the field (i.e. outside the classroom) where data will be gathered and the Community GeoBase will be designed and engineered. The Community GeoBase consists of a database of important geographic features that will be chosen and recorded by class participants in the GIS. It will eventually be placed online to serve as a community resource for Santa Cruz county residents and visitors.

Attendance
Due to the hands-on nature of this course, attendance is essential. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to obtain notes, handouts, and assignments that you missed. Attendance in lab sessions is mandatory.

Information Management
You are fully responsible for saving and backing up your work! Please be sure to come to lab with at least two 3.5" diskettes on which you can save your work. Working with computers in a professional environment requires that you take charge of a backup strategy. If you don’t back up and then you experience a file loss or storage problem, no allowance will be made for missed or incomplete assignments.

Getting Help?

There are several places to seek help should you become stuck on a problem. Your fellow students in the course can be a valuable resource. Don’t be shy about conversing with each other and working together to problem-solve; but don’t copy. Also, you need to become familiar with using the ArcView on-line help. Please try this first before asking for help. Specifically, exhaust your intellectual resources before asking for help, since that’s the way it is in real life.

Keiron and Armando will be in the lab during your scheduled lab times.

Academic and Personal Conduct

Students are expected to conform to conduct requirements that are spelled out in the Policies governing Santa Cruz County Workforce Development's Summer Academies. These are made available to all students prior to the start of each Academy. It is the responsibility of each students to be familiar with these policies before commencing the Academy.

Please respect the rights of other students and ensure an enjoyable and productive classroom environment for all of us. Harassment and threatening behavior on the part of any individual towards another individual or group will not be tolerated. Penalties will apply to such behavior. There is no reason why we cannot all work together and enjoy our learning experience. We expect you to contribute by attending class, paying attention, completing the readings and giving some thought to their application and interpretation. In return, you can expect us to answer questions promptly, to explain concepts clearly and to assist you in any way you feel necessary to help you understand the course material.

Timetable

Community GIS Academy Course Timetable
WEEK	DATE	TOPIC
1	June 14 - 17	Introduction to GIS: data structures File manipulation and display Data sources I: using the web
2	June 21 -24	Data sources II:Editing web data Layers: point, line, polygon Map making I: layouts and concepts
3	June 28 - Jul 1	Map Making II: design elements Attributes I: editing Attributes II: manipulation
4	July 4 - 7	NO CLASS JUL 4: VACATION Community GeoBase: GPS location Community GeoBase: design
5	July 11-14	Community GeoBaseI
6	July 18-21	Construction of GeoBase Mapping of GeoBase Workshop V