Track: Universities and Higher Education
A Work/Site Alliance: Community-Based GIS Education
Freda BrownYichun Xie , Randall E. Raymond
This presentation will describe the activities of the Work and Spatial Information Technology Education (WORK/SITE) Partnership. The WORK/SITE Partnership is developing and establishing a community-based model to integrate GIS field experiences into high schools and to prepare undergraduate students in community colleges and regional universities for careers using complex GIS technologies. WORK/SITE is testing a new educational model relying on emerging skill standards and designed to respond swiftly to changing GIS technology and expanding workplace applications. Primary projects include community-based curriculum modules, courseware, and project kits the Alliance is disseminating using Internet-based technologies. In the high schools, interdisciplinary teams of four teachers and four students per teacher work on community-based projects, which address urban issues that affect the communities. Companies/Organizations provide "real life" projects and data for students to develop GIS solutions focusing on urban issues such as public safety, crime reduction, brown field redevelopment, and environmental justice. The model joins partners committed to GIS - two traditional educational institutions with businesses - to train GIS educators and to develop curriculum that integrates employer-defined, work-based GIS projects. The curriculum permits students to be GIS practitioners while being engaged in formal GIS education at the certificate, associate, or bachelor degree levels. Because the WORK/SITE approach, when fully implemented, relies on an existing traditional educational infrastructure, it facilitates an efficient use of societal resources in expanding the availability of trained GIS personnel.
Freda Brown
Henry Ford Community College
5101 Evergreen Rd.
Dearborn, MI 48128-2407
USA
Telephone: 313-845-9705
Fax:
E-mail: FLeeBrown@aol.com