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Track: Universities and Higher Education
Michael Hendricks
U.S. Military Academy
Washington Rd Bldg 785
Washington Hall
West Point, NY 10996
Telephone: 914-938-4158
Fax: 914-938-3339
E-mail: bm9886@exmail.usma.edu
Teaching GIS with ArcView and the World Wide Web at the United States Military Academy
Defining Issue: The use of hands-on practical exercises with GIS software is the critical component of an undergraduate introduction to a Geographic Information Systems course. However, getting students familiar with a fully functional GIS software package is time-consuming and can overshadow the learning of GIS concepts. Historically, a traditional textbook is purchased by the student to address GIS concepts, and the software is learned through handouts produced within the department. GIS Solution: The undergraduate introduction to GIS course at West Point uses ArcView Version 3.0 (with its Spatial Analyst and Network Analyst add-ons), the Getting to Know ArcView textbook and its companion CD-ROM, along with WWW resources. Methodology: The increase in capability of Esri's ArcView desktop GIS software allows it to be used for an undergraduate introductory GIS course. To solve the difficulties of student familiarity with the software, Esri's Getting to Know ArcView manual and companion CD-ROM are used
as the text for the course. This text provides an excellent basic introduction to the field of GIS and solves the problem of student familiarity with the software. To provide the additional depth of GIS topics, without requiring the students to purchase an additional textbook, WWW resources are used. Software: ArcView Versions 2.0 and 3.0, Spatial Analyst, Network Analyst, and Getting to Know ArcView companion CD-ROM
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