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Spatial Technology – An Online Course for Educators and Students

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08-20-2019 06:32 AM
JosephKerski
by Esri Notable Contributor
Esri Notable Contributor
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‎08-20-2019 06:32 AM

Are you new to GIS, or spatial technology?  

Do you want to improve your spatial technology skills?

A new online course created by an educator FOR educators - and students - is now available online (click here for more)!

 

What is spatial technology?

Spatial technology is about measuring and representing the world using innovative and high-tech tools. Using spatial technology such as GPS, GIS and Remote Sensing, spatial information can be collected and analysed from the ground, the air, and from space. This information can be used in hundreds of different applications ranging from natural hazard mitigation to modelling the effects of climate change.  

What does this course offer?

This extensive course (Module 4: Spatial Technology) provides:

  • Professional learning on the use and application of spatial thinking and spatial technologies in Geography teaching and learning, including:  an in-depth study of key themes and issues of the 21st Century:
    • change over space and time, scale, coordinate systems, systems, spatial thinking.
    • ocean currents, ocean health, and ocean structure.
    • land use, land cover, ecoregions, and biomes.
    • human health, demographics, and population change.
    • energy sources and river systems
    • weather and climate.
    • natural hazards (wildfires, hurricanes, and tsunamis).
    • urban greenways, mapping your campus, field data collection.
  • Hands-on investigations, readings, 25 videos, quizzes.
  • Instructional material focused on the use and application of spatial technology tools, including:
  • Survey123 for field data collection,
  • Story Maps and other web mapping applications,
  • ArcGIS Online,
  • Google maps, NASA Earth Observatory, Gapminder, and other tools. 
  • with options for extensions and deeper learning.Collage of course quizzes, hands-on work, readings, and videos.Selection of course quizzes, hands-on work, readings, and videos.

Who should enroll?

The options provided in this course make it suitable for:

  • Geography teachers who require basic grounding in geography themes and foundations or who wish to improve their spatial technology skills.
  • Educators in earth and life sciences, environmental sciences, history, and computer technologies who seek to infuse spatial technology and spatial thinking into their courses. 

When is the course available?

This course can be completed at any time over any time period. There are a number of required tasks for satisfactory completion.  

Who created the course?

The course was created by Joseph Kerski, PhD GISP, a geographer with 30 years of experience in geography and GIS education, working in close collaboration with the Geography Teachers Association of Victoria.  While some of the places studied focus on Australia, many other areas of the world are examined, and you can use all of the ideas presented in the course to study your OWN community, region, and country.

Time and Price

Estimated 20–25 hours to complete the required tasks.   Price: Australian $250. 

Certificate

A certificate is provided on completion of the formal assessment for this course.  This is module 4 in the Certificate of Geography Competency.  You can take Spatial Technology as a stand-alone course OR you can take this course along with the 4 others in the Geography Competency certificate.  But note that there is no requirement to complete the other modules.

 

Course Structure

1. An introduction to Geospatial technologies.

2. Using spatial technology in Geography.

3. Analysing change over space and time.

4. Exploring regions.

5. Mapping your own data.

6. Analysis and synthesis.

7. Formal assessment.

One of the videos in the course video playlist, describing what Spatial Technologies are and why they are relevant and exciting for educational use. 

Why the GTAV?

This course is offered through the Geography Teachers Association of Victoria, Australia (GTAV), one of the world's preeminent geography education professional societies.  Esri, Esri Australia, and GTAV have been partnering to further geographic content and skills for educators for a number of years.  By taking this course through GTAV, you have the advantage of networking with some truly inspiring educators, and you have the support of all of these organizations to provide you with advice and/or any technical support you might need along the way. 

For Further Information

See the information on www.gtav-ecourses.asn.au, contact the author of this blog Joseph Kerski (jkerski@esri.com),  peruse the set of videos here, comment below, or contact the GTAV office. 

GTAV course sequence


About the Author
I believe that spatial thinking can transform education and society through the application of Geographic Information Systems for instruction, research, administration, and policy. I hold 3 degrees in Geography, have served at NOAA, the US Census Bureau, and USGS as a cartographer and geographer, and teach a variety of F2F (Face to Face) (including T3G) and online courses. I have authored a variety of books and textbooks about the environment, STEM, GIS, and education. These include "Interpreting Our World", "Essentials of the Environment", "Tribal GIS", "The GIS Guide to Public Domain Data", "International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning with GIS In Secondary Education", "Spatial Mathematics" and others. I write for 2 blogs, 2 monthly podcasts, and a variety of journals, and have created over 5,000 videos on the Our Earth YouTube channel. Yet, as time passes, the more I realize my own limitations and that this is a lifelong learning endeavor and thus I actively seek mentors and collaborators.