Abstract
Post-secondary Teaching with GPS/GIS technology in Criminal Justice
Track: Teaching with GIS Across the Curriculum
Authors: Theresa Misiaszek
The criminal justice profession has seen many changes in the use of technology in the 21st century. In order to prepare students for the already changing profession, we have found the necessity at CCC to incorporate GPS and GIS technology into courses that will provide students with the skills to solve problems they will encounter when they enter the field. Exercises use Garmin GPS handheld units to collect evidence waypoints of graffiti tags, evidence and/or traffic accidents which are then uploaded to a GIS. Using GIS allows students to use critical thinking skills to analyze patterns that exist with traffic accidents, evidence or hotspots of graffiti in the community. Students then must follow through with steps to identify how they will respond to these new findings. The use of GIS and GPS incorporates much needed communication skills with critical thinking that is necessary for entry into modern day police work.