Abstract
Geospatial Competencies Across the Curriculum
Track: Teaching with GIS Across the Curriculum
Authors: Gene Ziegler, Paul Capicik, Rick Oliver, Devon Cancilla
Recent educational initiatives have brought 'general education' competencies into focus for all institutions of higher learning. Commonly identified competencies include: critical thinking; communications; information fluency; numerical fluency; understanding the ethical and diversity dimensions in modern life; and a global orientation. As an institution offering online degrees in healthcare, business, and technology, American Sentinel University has previously adopted these six core competencies. Recently, we have come to understand that geospatial competencies must now be included among the core competencies expected of our students. As such, we have undertaken an initiative to build geospatial competencies across the curriculum by adding geospatial exercises, experiences, and projects into each of our programs. Our goal is that all American Sentinel students in all areas in which degrees are offered acquire a working understanding of GIS and geospatial concepts. This paper describes the rationale and process and provides examples of American Sentinel's 'GIS Across the Curriculum.'