Abstract
Incorporating community spatial analysis needs into the GIS Curriculum
Track: Teaching with GIS in Higher Education
Author
Community-based projects need to play an important role in GIS education. Over the last two years, students in introductory and advanced GIS classes at Clark University completed GIS assignments benefiting several government and community organizations. This presentation will focus on the development of related curriculum materials and discuss the following projects: mapping where students volunteer (for the Colleges of Worcester Consortium); analyzing solar energy potential for city-owned properties and viewshed analysis to develop an amendment for the City’s zoning ordinance (for the Office of Economic & Neighborhood Development, City of Worcester); and mapping high-school drop outs (for the Worcester Public Schools). Participation in these projects gave students a sense of purpose and connectedness to the community. Students were very engaged with course material and more motivated to learn when they could give tangible results back to the community.
Yelena Ogneva-Himmelberger
Clark University
950 Main St.
Worcester, Massachusetts 01610
United States
Phone: 508-421-3805
E-mail: yogneva@clarku.edu