Abstract

'Geovisualization': Building a Community College GIS Program
Track: Teaching with GIS in Higher Education
Author(s): Michael Krimmer, Aaron Showker

The authors outline the processes undertaken and relationships developed by Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) in establishing a GIS program, from program concept to implementation. The authors chronicle building the business case and performing a marketing analysis, determining and fulfilling hardware requirements for a GIS classroom and building-out a high technology classroom. Also discussed are funding sources and grants, course development and scheduling (including selection of software and texts) and recruiting faculty. A key facet is discussion of partnering with government, industry, non-profit organizations, 4-year institutions, and school districts in developing a community college GIS program. The authors also address 'marketing' the GIS program using GIS Day, a federal career day, and kids' camps. The paper concludes with planned initiatives such as alliances with middle and high schools promoting courses tailored for teachers (how to teach GIS) and consulting with these schools on setting up their GIS programs.

Michael Krimmer
Northern Virginia Community College
9611 Bonair Dr
Manassas , Virginia 20109-3325
United States
Phone: 703.200.8095
Fax: 703.404.7368
E-mail: mkrimmer@nvcc.edu

Aaron Showker
Northen Virginia Community College
13925 Antonia Ford Ct.
Centreville , Virginia 20121
United States
Phone: 703.774.6441
E-mail: ashowker@nvcc.edu