Abstract

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Paper
Developing Spatial Literacy in U.S. Coast Guard Officers
Track: Defense and Intelligence
Author(s): Michael Alfultis

The National Academies have defined Spatial Literacy as constituting proficiency in terms of spatial knowledge and skills, spatial ways of thinking, and spatial capabilities. Defined in this way, spatial literacy and proficiency in geospatial technologies such as Remote Sensing & Geospatial Information Systems have become increasingly important skills for U.S. Coast Guard officers. To meet this need for spatially literate officers, the Coast Guard Academy Science Department began offering an Introduction to Geospatial Sciences course for students in its Marine and Environmental Sciences (MES) major in the spring of 2003. To further develop the spatial literacy of students in the MES major, the Science Department faculty have embarked on an effort to examine the development of spatial literacy in a more systematic fashion across the MES curriculum. Future efforts and activities are aimed at examining the development of spatial literacy across the entire Coast Guard Academy curriculum.

Michael Alfultis
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Science
27 Mohegan Ave
New London , CT 06385
US
Phone: 860-444-8632
E-mail: Michael.A.Alfultis@uscg.mil