Course Syllabus

G338: Introduction to Geographic Information Science (Summer 1 2019)

Description

G338 is intended as a first course in the field of geographic information science (sometimes abbreviated as GISci). The course focuses on foundational concepts including spatial data models and introductory to intermediate analysis methods using geographic information system (GIS) software. 

Professor

My name is Andy Baker. I have probably taught more courses in the School of Liberal Arts than any other IUPUI professor since 2008, with a new course added to my schedule nearly every year.  During the past 5 years, I have developed several online and blended courses that have become quite popular.

Most of this course, including the videos, assignments, and quizzes were created by Dr. Jeff Wilson.  That's why you might watch videos this semester with two different presenters.  Dr. Wilson is a GIS expert, former Chair of the IUPUI Geography Department, and currently an Associate Dean in the School of Liberal Arts (that's a big deal, FYI).  He has been asked to teach an advanced course in GIS (GEOG G-438).  I have been asked to take over this introductory course and make enhancements using new technologies, ideas, and techniques. 

Also, my PhD in Geography included a GIS specialization and, of all of the IUPUI Geography faculty, I am the most recently trained GIS graduate. 

Office location: Cavanaugh Hall 213B
Email:  bakeran@iupui.edu
Voice: (317) 274-8867

Communicating

You can get in touch with your professor and other students in the class in multiple ways.  

• Email - Using the Canvas email system is the best way to make contact with your professor for most questions. I check the course email regularly and do my best to respond to questions promptly. Please email course-related questions to me through Canvas. You can also use Canvas to email other students in the course.

• In-person appointment - I appreciate that everyone has different schedules. I am happy to set up times to meet with students individually. Send me an email via Canvas to make an appointment and perhaps we can meet in person on campus.

• Online appointment - If you would like to meet with me online, send me an email to set an appointment.  We can teleconference using the Conferences tool (or whatever app that works). 

• Discussion forums - Posting to the discussion forums can be an effective way to get help or share ideas. The discussion forums are like bulletin boards - a place where all students can post questions and comments that are shared with everyone in the course. There is a separate discussion forum for each module and project. Check the discussion forums to see what other students are talking about, to post a new question, to see if others have similar issues, etc.
  
  

Materials

• Required textbook - GIS Fundamentals: A First Textbook on Geographic Information Systems, 5th edition, by Paul Bolstad (2016) (ISBN: 978-1-50669-587-7). It will be necessary to have access to the 5th edition of the textbook to complete the course. Some quiz questions, exercises, and project components will be based on the textbook. This book was selected because it is clearly written at an appropriate level for an introductory GIS course and it is reasonably priced compared to others in the field. Information about how to purchase the book in traditional or electronic format is available on the following websites:
  • http://www.paulbolstad.net/gisbook.html
  • http://www.xanedu.com/higher-education/educators/custom-books-catalog/gis_fund_5e/. 
  • You can also search popular internet sites for new and used copies.

 

• GIS software - The primary software used in this class is ArcGIS for Desktop, a commercial GIS software suite developed from the Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI). You'll be provided with a free one-year version of ArcGIS 10.6.1 if you are enrolled in the class. Access to this software is necessary to complete the course. Information about accessing and installing ArcGIS is provided in the first module (Module 00). The software is also available in most student technology clusters (STCs) around campus. See Module 00 for more details about accessing software. 
  • Note: If you already have an older version of ArcGIS (10.2 or later) installed on your computer, it will likely work for most of the course. However, upgrading ensures that you will have the latest version and the license will be active for one year from activation.
• We will also experiment in some exercises with a free, open-source GIS software package called Quantum GIS or QGIS.  You can download and install QGIS from www.qgis.org (QGIS runs on multiple operating systems). 

• Other supporting software - In addition to ArcGIS, it will be necessary to have access to common programs such as a word processor, spreadsheet, file compression software (7-Zip is recommended), and a PDF reader/writer. You can download and install titles such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, and 7-Zip from http://iuware.iu.edu. 

• Videos - Several videos will be posted for most course modules. Consider the videos as mandatory viewing. They sort of replace the lecture component of an in-person course. Video content expands on topics covered in the text and assigned readings, introduces new material not covered in the readings, and provides demonstrations of concepts and methods in GIS that will be necessary for completing exercises and projects. The videos were recorded at full-screen resolution because of the detail involved in working GIS software. Watch the videos at full resolution on a reasonably large monitor (e.g., a desktop or laptop).  

• Additional readings - Additional readings that relate to theories, methods, and applications of GIS will be assigned throughout the semester. These will include journal articles and other materials distributed as PDFs or web links. 

• Using Canvas - This will be a paperless course. All materials will be digitally distributed by the instructor and turned in by students via Canvas.
  
  

Organization

The course is organized into 10 modules and 3 projects. Most modules include an overview, reading assignments, videos, a quiz, and an exercise. The suggested order for completing a module is:

1. read the overview
2. complete the assigned readings 
3. watch the videos
4. complete the quiz
5. complete the exercise

The modules are designed to be completed sequentially. Each module and project may require you to recall methods or use data from previous modules. 

Evaluation

Evaluation is based on quizzes, exercises, and projects. 

• Quizzes - Students are required to complete 10 quizzes over the course of the semester - one per module. Quizzes include a combination of short answer and objective questions, spatial problem solving, and analytical tasks. Graduate students will be required to complete extra quiz questions in addition to those required of undergraduates. Quizzes typically will not require use of GIS software. Rather, they will focus on theories, methods and concepts.

• Exercises - Exercises require students to use GIS software to create, analyze, and interpret geographic data. There are 10 exercises assigned over the course of the semester. Exercises include self-guided instructions on processes and analytical procedures using GIS software (i.e., the clickology).
  
• Projects - The three projects require students to apply GIS methods and analytical techniques in order to solve problems and answer questions. The professor will provide general instructions regarding the goals for each project and introduce any new resources that may be necessary. Students will be expected to draw upon concepts, methods, and materials covered in previous modules to independently complete the projects (i.e., the clickology for projects is not provided). Graduate students will be required to complete extra tasks on projects in addition to the items required of undergraduates.
  
  

Grading

Grading is based on 10 exercises, 10 quizzes, and 3 projects and student introduction. Final grades are determined as follows:

• Student Introduction: 1 x 10 points = 10
• Exercises: 10 x 20 points each = 200
• Quizzes: 10 x 10 points each = 100
• Projects:  3 x 25 points each = 75
• Total possible points = 385
• Final grade % = points earned / 385
  

Grading scale - Final letter grades will be based on the percentage of possible points earned using the following scale.

Policies 

Students are expected to abide by the rules and regulations of Indiana University in accordance with the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. IUPUI policies regarding attendance, withdrawals, conduct, and religious holidays can be found at the following link: http://registrar.iupui.edu/course_policies.html.

In addition to the university policies above, two items you should pay particular attention to in this course are highlighted below. 

Academic honesty - The exercises, quizzes, and projects in this class are "open book." Students are encouraged to consult texts, videos, and other materials to aid in determining the best answers to questions or to help with completing GIS analysis tasks. For items that require written responses, be sure to clearly indicate any portions of written materials you submit that were drawn from other sources. In other words, do not plagiarize. You are free to use any common method for citing the work of others. There is no reason at all to cheat.

Similarly, for items that require analytical or graphical responses (e.g., make a map of X), students are encouraged to discuss approaches to solving a problem. Sharing basic data or work flows is also fine and encouraged. However, the final products submitted by each student should result ultimately from their own effort. Said simply, don't copy other people's material and submit it as your own. 

Deadlines - Deadlines in this course are firm, but set at a reasonable schedule that has consistently worked well over more than 5 years of testing. A calendar showing the deadlines for each graded item is automatically generated by Canvas at the end of the syllabus.

All materials for quizzes, exercises, and projects must be turned in by the specified deadlines. You cannot submit any materials later than assigned deadline because the modules are automatically set to close at the deadline. That said, if you are not able to complete all of a quiz, exercise or project by the deadline, please turn in what you were able to complete for possible partial credit.

Services & Info

Technology support - For Canvas questions please see the "Help" link at the top right of the page or check the UITS Knowledge Base at http://kb.iu.edu/ for more information (type “Canvas" in the search box for a full list of Canvas-related topics). If you have other general questions about  technology at IUPUI, please contact the University Information Technology Services (UITS) support team.

Voice: (317) 274-4357
Email: ithelp@iu.edu
Live Chat: http://ithelplive.iu.edu/
Walk in at ICTC 129

Adaptive Education Services (AES) - Students needing accommodations because of a disability will need to register with Adaptive Educational Services (AES) and complete the appropriate forms issued by AES before accommodations will be given. The AES office is located in Taylor Hall, UC 100. You can also reach the office by calling 274-3241. Visit http://aes.iupui.edu/ for more information.

Dean of Students/Student Advocate - You should be aware that the campus Student Advocate Office can help you overcome obstacles towards your academic goals. The Advocate will answer your questions, direct you to the appropriate departments and people, familiarize you with university policies and procedures, and give you guidance as you look at ways to solve problems and make choices. The Student Advocate Office is located in UC002 and can be contacted by phone at 278-7594 or email at stuadvoc@iupui.edu.

Withdrawals and incompletes - You may withdraw with an automatic “W” through the stated date in the Academic Calendar. Withdrawals after that date will be assigned a grade of “F”. Incompletes will not be given except in cases of documented medical emergencies or illness.

IUPUI Withdraw Deadlines
Thursday, May 30, 2019:  Last day to withdraw with automatic grade of W. Requires advisor approval via the Late drop/add classes link in One.IU. UCOL students or Engineering/Technology freshmen must see advisor by 5:00 p.m. on the prior Friday. In person transactions must be processed by 5:00 p.m. on the prior Friday.

Friday, May 31, 2019:  Withdraw with grade of W or F begins. Advisor, instructor and dean's approvals required via the Late drop/add classes link in One.IU. Beginning on this date, drops will be approved only in serious, extenuating circumstances.

Friday, June 14:  Withdraw with W or F end.  Drops will be approved only in serious, extenuating circumstances.

Administrative Withdrawal - A basic requirement of this course is that you will participate in all class activities and assessments and conscientiously complete all required course activities and/or assignments. Keep in touch with me if you q1are unable to attend, participate, or complete an assignment on time. If you miss more than half of the required activities within the first 25% of the course without contacting me, you may be administratively withdrawn from this course. Administrative withdrawal may have academic, financial, and financial aid implications. Administrative withdrawal will take place after the full refund period, and if you are administratively withdrawn from the course you will not be eligible for a tuition refund. If you have questions about the administrative withdrawal policy at any point during the semester, please contact me.