Latest Contributions by JosephKerski

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQSF59-921I&list=UUdShBEYmIgoDn34bi1vVA9w …  Creating quizzes with ArcGIS Online # storymap Storymaps.  # esri # gis ... View more

Videos for my @ olctoday upcoming web mapping course to pique your interest: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiC1i3ejK5vvOL9gE4siRwEnLmpREHe6p … Tell your colleagues!  Mapping rules. https://twitter.com/josephkerski/status/504973279820386304 ... View more

I've got a mapping problem!  My post on the @ Green360career Green 360 guru site:  http://green360careers.net/ive-got-a-mapping-problem/ … # gis # maps https://twitter.com/josephkerski/status/504609971703517185 ... View more

# storymap Story map I made of a 5K race to support a local high school:  http://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/?appid=c6a9f834883d41c78ba5599e095b2c4e … Now YOU go out and make a story map! ... View more

Teaching Geography in the 21st Century:  http://blogs.esri.com/esri/gisedcom/2014/08/15/teaching-geography-in-the-21st-century-a-new-online-course/ …  A new online 5 week course through eNet Learning.  Includes plenty of ArcGIS Online immersion and spatial thinking, STEM, critical thinking. https://twitter.com/josephkerski/status/500285473688805377 ... View more

Importing XY data into ArcMap:  # esri http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkixWXu5jJE&list=UUdShBEYmIgoDn34bi1vVA9w …  New video I created. https://twitter.com/josephkerski/status/500286086615015425 ... View more

Hi everyone: I created a series of videos about creating story maps, with an emphasis on using them for teaching and learning: Esri Story Maps for Education II - YouTube‌ --Joseph Kerski ... View more

Mapping field data can serve as project-based learning environments that promote environmental, social, and technological fluency, as I wrote about in Earthzine, and as others such as Richard Louv have written about much more eloquently than I.  What are seven easy ways in which you can map field-collected data?  I have recorded a three-part video series (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) wherein I describe all seven ways. These ways include (1) via files and spreadsheets that are stored locally on your computer, (2) via files and spreadsheets that are stored online, (3) via shared web forms, (4) via smartphone apps, including the Collector for ArcGIS app, (5) via editing of ArcGIS Online map notes, (6) via uploading of your geospatial data to ArcGIS Online, and (7) via editable feature services. which enables true citizen science mapping in the sense that you can "crowdsource your fieldwork" as my colleague Charlie Fitzpatrick has written about. As I hope these videos demonstrate, it is very easy not only to bring in your field-collected data into ArcGIS Online, but to map and analyze it there.  But I can’t give all of the details away:  Watch the videos to find out! Seven Ways to Map Your Field Data, including Crowdsourcing Your Fieldwork. ... View more

What are the five most important skills that a successful professional in GIS should have? I have recorded a three-part video series (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) wherein I address this important issue. I begin the video series by presenting two ways of thinking about GIS in your career:  (1) As a toolset that you use in your career as a biologist, public safety officer, marketing analyst, or in another career where GIS is listed only as a required or advised set of skills;  and (2) As a GIS manager, technician, analyst, or another career where GIS or a variant is a part of the title and primary job duties. I see GIS as a three-legged stool, one that incorporates content knowledge, skills, and the geographic perspective.  In other words, the skills alone will not guarantee success, but are a fundamental part of it.  Equally important is the content knowledge--whether in GIScience, meteorology, energy, water resources, planning, or another field.  Finally, don't be discouraged by my mention of the geographic perspective if you feel inadequate here.  It is one of the most interesting parts of the stool, and one that might take years to develop.  Indeed, as most things in GIS, it is a lifelong endeavor, which leads me to my #1 top skill:  I can't give it away:  Watch the video to find out! The Top 5 Skills you need for a successful career in GIS. I realize that many "Top" lists are subjective, mine included.  Yet I purposely used this format for this list precisely so that the can be debated, argued, and modified.  I invite you to do so by posting your reflections and comments. ... View more

Most everyone I know in the geospatial field feels passionate about their work, and many seek ways to spread awareness about GIS beyond the geospatial community.  So it was with enthusiasm that I agreed to participate recently with the organizers of the History Colorado museum's "COmingle" event.  With the "CO" referring to Colorado, and the "mingle" referring to its after-hours "fun evening with friends or a date" focus, COmingle is an "offbeat mix of games, trivia, demonstrations, exhibit adventures, performances, and hands-on activities", with food and "a whole lot of Colorado spirit." The activity I decided to host there was "Geography Quiz Night", because I had the perfect venue on which to do it--a giant basketball court-sized terrazzo map of the state of Colorado.  I dubbed it "G Harmony," or "Geography harmony." I wanted the quiz to be active, so for each of the 10 questions in each quiz, I asked the participants to stand on the location of the state to indicate what they thought was the correct answer.  I handed out prizes to the individuals or teams with the most correct, least correct, or more creative answers so everyone could win a prize.  The prizes were a combination of books, gift cards, and posters from me (Esri) and the History Colorado museum. Joseph Kerski, center, walking "toward Colorado Springs", conducting Colorado quiz on map of the state. I conducted two quizzes during the evening, and my questions included, "Which county has the largest agricultural output?", "Where is the lowest point in the state?", "Where was the coldest temperature ever recorded in the state?", "What tiny town saw its high school boys basketball team beat all odds to become state champions in 1929 and 1930?", "Where is the 3rd largest city in Colorado?, and "Where is State Highway 1?" As I was giving the questions, I talked about mapping and GIS.  Challenge yourself with the complete list of my questions here. I had announced this event to the Colorado GIS community and education community, and so it proved to be a nice relaxed setting to meet new colleagues, in addition to others from outside geography and GIS, including innovative programmers from Oh Heck Yeah! who created a kinesthetic computer game people played there. What might you do to reach out and bring your community together to spread geography and GIS in innovative and fun ways? ... View more

Awhile back, I completed a long time goal:  I applied to the GIS Certification Institute and became a certified professional in GIS (GISP).  The GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) is a tax-exempt not-for-profit organization that provides the geographic information systems (GIS) community with an internationally-recognized, complete certification program.  The Institute is comprised of leading non-profit associations (AAG, NSGIC, UCGIS, URISA, GLIS, and others) focused on the application of GIS and geospatial technology. GISCI offers participants, from the first early years on the job until retirement, a positive method of developing value for professionals and employers in the GIS profession. GISP has a fascinating history and there are now over 10,000 active GISPs located throughout the world.  For more, see my video here. GIS Certification Institute. A GISP is therefore a certified geographic information systems (GIS) professional.  A GISP has met the minimum standards for educational achievement, professional experience, and manner in which he or she contributes back to the profession. A GISP must abide by higher guidelines for ethical behavior.  A GISP continues to educate and reeducate him or herself while preparing for recertification.  A GISP has had their professional background scrutinized and reviewed by the GISCI, an independent, third party organization.   A GISP can reside anywhere in the world;  active GISPs are currently found in all 50 States and 25 foreign countries.  A GISP is more than a practitioner of GIS technology:  A GISP is a professional, engaged in the profession and networking with other professionals. The current GISP Certification process consists of an application that describes an applicant's background in (1) ethics, (2) education, (3) experience, and (4) contributions to the Profession.  It also includes a rigorous but necessary exam.  Once that application, accompanying documentation, exam, and payment are submitted, the review generally takes from 30 to 45 days for approval.  Selected GISPs are performing groundbreaking work in the process of continually improving the exam as GIS continues to evolve.  The exam was originally based on the Geospatial Technical Competency Model (GTCM) that was approved by the Department of Labor in 2010. Are you a busy GIS professional and think this process will take a long time?  Not to worry.  Bill Hodge, Tony Spicci, and the other staff at GISCI and GIS professionals have labored long and hard on the application process to make it as straightforward as possible.  Although it takes awhile to assemble the necessary documentation and write the statements you need, (1) It took much less time than I had expected, particularly since I maintain an active curriculum vita.  (2) Becoming GISP was absolutely worth doing.  Upon receiving my acceptance letter and certificate, I was proud to have attained this achievement, and more importantly, to give back to my profession that has given so much to me. ... View more

Web maps, web apps, story maps ... these and other new terms are frequently used in the new world of cloud based GIS.  Sorting through the lexicon of any field is critical to understanding it and to teach it.  What are the similarities and differences between these terms, and how does one decide when to use each of them? All three of these terms refer to a web map dynamically stored in the cloud, or a remote server, so that the map user can interact with it in various ways.  By "interact", I mean change the scale, extent, classification, or symbology, add or subtract data, filter data, analyze spatial relationships, and more.  Depending on your goals, you may want to create and use one or all three of these types of maps.  The way that maps are created and stored in the ArcGIS Online cloud to begin with is via a web map.  Let me illustrate with an example showing a bicycling trip I took from New York City to New Jersey following one of the Association of American Geographers conferences.  Upon the completion of my trip, I created a web map in ArcGIS Online showing my bicycling route, which I captured using a GPS device that I carried with me.  I recorded my route as a track, and I added that track as a GPX file to ArcGIS Online.  I saved the resulting map as a standard ArcGIS Online web map, which I shared with everyone so that can look at it as well, in the link above and shown below. Bicycle Route, New York City to New Jersey, shown in ArcGIS Online. Users of your ArcGIS Online maps will not only be able to access your map as you have created it, but they can also save it into their own ArcGIS Online account and make changes to it.  For example, I started with the map above and wanted to analyze the median age along my route.  I easily added that layer to it and saved it as a new map. Bicycling Route from New York City to New Jersey with Median Age. But now let's say I want to create a map with multiple panels, each showing a different map theme, or a map showing a 3D profile of my bicycling route.  This is where web apps come in.  A web app is an application, and ArcGIS Online provides a number of useful web app templates that you can use, or you can configure your own.  I think of it this way:  If you want your map user to have access to the full array of ArcGIS Online tools, publish your map as an ArcGIS Online web map.  But if you want specific tools and functions to be available to your users, and you don't want them to be distracted by the other tools and functions in ArcGIS Online, then publish your map as a web app.  How can you do this?  When you are saving your map, simply indicate that you wish to publish to a web app, and you will be presented with a list of options. To illustrate a web app, I created a web app from my ArcGIS Online map to show the 3D profile of my cycling route along with the median age. New York City to New Jersey elevation profile, with median age, web app. Story maps, about which we frequently write in this blog because of their great utility in education, are simply a specific type of web apps.  A whole set of story map apps exist to choose from.  One type of story map is a storytelling text and legend. which I used to create the story of my experience, with tabs indicating streets with my cycling route, income, tapestry lifestyle and consumer behavior, and diversity. Bicycling Route from New York City to New Jersey as a storymap web app. Thus, it is important to think about your goals when making any map and doing any analysis.  Good planning is always worth it!  Web maps, web apps, and storymaps all have great utility in education.  Or, to use the common vernacular, "it's all good." ... View more