GIS Education Weekly: NSF, OSGeo and MacArthur Awards and How to Win a Map Contest

Freshman Year for Free

If you missed it, a number of colleges and universities are aligned with Modern States Educational Alliance. The Alliance  which will organize more than 30 EDx developed freshman level courses and materials prepping students to take AP or CLEP tests. The idea is that using the free materials students can in fact gain credit via the (fee-based) tests at these institutions. AP Human Geography is not yet listed.

Face to Face  and Online Events (Two Online Ones Today!)

Safe Software Grant Program Webinar

Every year, over 4000 FME licences are donated to individuals and organizations who need it for research, education, [emphasis mine] conservation, and humanitarian efforts. Learn how 5 of our grant program recipients used FME to unlock their data and transform our world. 

The webinar is today at 8 am Pacific Time.

Sleepwalking into the Future? A World without Spatial Thinking

Esri's Joseph Kerski speaks on the subject (pdf flyer) today at the University of Redlands at 11:30 am PT or later (no actual time for talk is provided) via livestream (link to be here at time of event). A recording is expected to be available for later viewing.

AAG to Tackle Disruption in Higher Education

Thriving in a Time of Disruption in Higher Education will be a theme at AAG 2016 Annual Meeting set for San Francisco, California March 29 – April 2, 2016. Papers and sessions are welcome.

Clarion University GIS Conference

Clarion University will host the 10th anniversary Northwest Pennsylvania Geographic Information Systems conference Oct. 15 and 16. University community is free and everyone else pays a minimal fee for one or two days. Keynote topics: (1) Esri and (2) Ushahidi. Sounds like a great, small event.

Free ConnectED Webinar from Esri and NCGE

Wed, Oct 7, 2015 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM EDT, free

This webinar is designed for those just wondering how to start, with a special ConnectED offer from Esri for US K12 schools. Register now!: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2311089148719287297

GIS in Education & Research Conference, Toronto, Nov 30

The University of Toronto and Esri Canada are hosting the one day event with keynoter Mike Goodchild as the keynote speaker. The event is free.

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GIS Education Weekly: APHG Exam Infographic, Geo for All Renewed, Resources for Esri-focused Educators

2015 Edition ~ AP Human Geography Free-Response Questions and Exam Breakdown

Bit of the infographic

This excellent infographic from Human Imprint details current and historic data on the AP Human Geography exam scores, test taker numbers, topics covered and more. via @professordixon 

NSF Renews Spatial Archeology Program 

The National Science Foundation has renewed its funding for the Spatial Archaeometry Research Collaborations Program, an initiative at the University of Arkansas that acts as a national hub for geospatial research in archaeology.

The $277,264 grant allows the program, known as SPARC, to continue...

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A Geographer Looks at EdTech in 2013 - Part 8 - The Battle for Open

--- This post is the eighth in a ten part series examining top 2013 trends in education technology in the context of GIS and geography education. ---

Watters notes that "open" continues to be a trending and yet confused term within education technology. While lots of announcements included references to projects, code, courses or data described as "open," many were not open in any meaningful way. Others were merely "open washed."

In geography and GIS education I think we did a bit better in using "open" to reflect at least one of its true meanings in recent years.

In 2012 Esri announced its ArcLessons would be released under a Creative Commons License.

In 2013 Esri decided to remove the fee on its SpatiaLabs lessons and made it available with an Esri educational site license. (Not open, exactly, but with no fee.)

Back in September 2011, the Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) and the International Cartographic Association (ICA) joined forces to "establish Open Source Geospatial Laboratories and Research Centres across the world for supporting development of open-source geospatial software technologies, training and expertise." To date there are 63 set with a goal of 100 research labs worldwide by Sep 2014. (See Geo for All)

In 2013, there were four "open to all" massive open online courses on GIS topics. Two focused on Esri technology, one on free technology and one on Google technology. (I recapped MOOC ideas and these courses in this video. References are on All Points Blog.)

In 2013 TeachGIS.org launched to try to get educators to share ideas. Sadly, it began to lie fallow as its creator took a new job.

All of these are great, forward-thinking efforts. I'm hopeful those involved will document and share the impact these have on geography and GIS education. But, I have a sneaking suspicion that I've raised in the past: "open" sounds good and providers and educators may both "vote" yes on it, but that does not mean it will be used. That lack of use by the target audience may lead unexpected consequences.

Consider all the discussion of how MOOCs will democratize education for all. In reality, some 80% of those taking the courses already have bachelor's degrees. As idealistic and important and morally correct as open is, it's but one tool in our educational arsenal.