Latest Contributions by Suzanne-Boden

As part of our continuing effort to provide maximum value from an instructor-led training experience, we're excited to announce the release of pre-class and post-class assessments. Pre-class assessments are available to registered class attendees three business days before the class start date. Access will close at 11 a.m. on the first day of class. Post-class assessments are available on the last day of class and for seven days afterward. Both assessments are online and completely optional. As mentioned before, every Esri instructor-led course is built to a set of specific and measurable learning objectives. Like the instructor-led class readiness tool released in 2019, assessments include a set of multichoice questions directly tied to course learning objectives. Unlike the readiness tool, pre- and post-class assessments can be taken only once. Pre- and post-class assessments are designed to work together. Although different questions may display on each, both assessments measure knowledge of all course topics. Completion of the pre-class assessment is required in order to take the post-class assessment. The readiness tool helps individuals evaluate whether they have the prerequisite knowledge needed to be successful in the class. The intent of the new assessments is to help individuals gain insight into their existing knowledge of course topics and how their knowledge has changed when the class ends. Each assessment takes about 5-10 minutes to complete. After taking an assessment, you get a report that shows the assessment questions, your answer to each question, and an indication of whether each answer was correct or incorrect. You can download and share the reports if desired. Use the pre-class assessment report to evaluate your existing knowledge and gauge which course topics may be review or brand-new for you.    The post-class assessment report includes your answers from the pre-class assessment, so you can easily compare them at a glance. Pre- and post-class assessments will be available for most instructor-led courses that start on or after January 19. Class attendees will see them on the Check Your Knowledge section of their My Schedule page.  Attendees access pre- and post-class assessments from their My Schedule page on the Training site. Together, the readiness tool, pre-class assessment, and post-class assessment provide a holistic view of an individual’s learning journey toward achieving mastery of specific GIS concepts or ArcGIS capabilities—a map if you will. Use them to plan and navigate your starting points, milestones, forks in the road, and unexpected discoveries. We think they’re pretty cool and hope you do too. ... View more

Cartography., one of Esri's most popular massive open online courses (MOOCs), returns for its fifth offering on February 3, 2021. The six-week, free course features lively videos by Esri cartographers and hands-on exercises. Access to ArcGIS Pro for use in the course is included. Sign up at https://bit.ly/2vSznqi. Cartography. hosts have fun discussing animated maps.    ... View more

The course hosts (and expert cartographers) explain what "cartography" means to them. Cartography. is a free, six-week massive open online course hosted on the Esri Training website. Explore the art and science of map-making and use ArcGIS Pro software to craft maps that communicate with impact. Sign up for the next course offering at https://bit.ly/2vSznqi. ... View more

In a year that’s seen many changes, the 2020 Esri User Conference exemplifies a positive response to change—pivoting to a virtual event and embracing new ways to provide a venue for our amazing worldwide community to learn, collaborate, and share their important GIS work.   This year’s conference continues the longstanding emphasis on educational opportunities, including postconference seminars on popular topics after the main conference activities conclude.   Change is not unique to 2020; it is always happening. Technology advances are changing how organizations collect, manage, visualize, analyze, and share data using ArcGIS software. This in turn creates change for the people collecting, managing, visualizing, analyzing, and sharing data.    Preparing for Change is a postconference seminar that supports attendees who are modernizing workflows using ArcGIS apps and capabilities, expanding ArcGIS access to new groups within their organization, or planning other GIS-related projects that will significantly impact how members of the workforce perform their jobs.   Where and When Online following the 2020 Esri User Conference July 16-17, 2020 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Pacific time   This is an interactive workshop that includes discussion and activities. Certified Esri change management practitioners cover practical steps to increase awareness and acceptance of new technology-driven workflows and gain buy-in for the change up and down the organization. Attendees will start building a plan to   Document the strategic value of ArcGIS adoption at all levels of the organization. Gain a comprehensive understanding of impacted stakeholders. Establish a support and sponsorship framework to ensure successful adoption. Communicate effectively by understanding the impacts of new technology from the perspective of executives, managers, and employees.   Who Will Benefit from Attending? Organizational leaders, GIS managers, influencers, and change agents who want to increase the overall adoption rate of geospatial capabilities and plan a people-focused change management effort.   Research shows that when organizations apply people-focused change management to support employees (and managers) through times of change, they are six times more likely to achieve project goals (Prosci 2016). Workshop materials include templates that attendees can use to start actioning people-focused change-management immediately.   If your organization is planning a technology project that will impact existing workflows, take this opportunity to learn how to prepare your people to more quickly pivot, embrace change, adopt new workflows, and together achieve the intended business results. ... View more