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Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005
From: Joseph J Kerski <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Joseph J Kerski <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Graduate Certificate in GIS for Educators at EMU
To: [log in to unmask]
Folks:
Many educators over the years have expressed interest in an online method
of learning about GIS specifically geared to the educational community.
The following announcement concerns a new Graduate Certificate in
Geographic Information Systems for Educators. Anita Palmer, Roger
Palmer, and I are quite excited to be working with EMU to serve as the
instructors for this course, and look forward to working with many of you
who desire to incorporate GIS into your curricula. Please let others in
your schools who do not subscribe to this listserv know about this
opportunity.
*** These courses start at the beginning of September 2005 !
Eastern Michigan University offers a fully online graduate certificate in
Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) for educators. The certificate addresses classroom concerns
and implementation of
GIS and adapts teaching methods to include GIS into K?12 classroom
curriculums. The program
has been written for K?12 teachers specifically with a focus on what
teachers need to know in GIS
to include this exciting application into their classroom activity. If you
later decide to pursue a full
degree, all of the credits you earn with the certificate can be applied
toward a master?s degree in
earth science education at EMU.
Through EMU-Online, you can learn virtually anywhere, anytime and take
advantage of our online registration, discussions, homework and
examinations; and guaranteed technical support within a day when a request
is posted. And, out-of-state students can take all EMU-Online courses at
in-state tuition rates.
Career Opportunities
The Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems for Educators
focuses on the professional and effective use of GIS in the classroom by
teachers. Students who complete this program will be able to:
? provide a rationale for using GIS in the educational process,
? integrate GIS technology into instructional programs,
? identify contributions of major leaders in the field of GIS and the
affect each leader has had on the field,
? assess current trends in the GIS area and relate the trends to past
events and future implications,
? teach the operation and various uses of GIS, and
? evaluate the effectiveness of GIS in classroom curricula.
The mission of the Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems
for Educators is to prepare professionals capable of facilitating student
learning in a variety of settings. The program is
designed to provide students with both the knowledge base and the
application skills that are required to use GIS effectively in education.
Focusing on the design, development, utilization, management and
evaluation of instructional systems moves us toward achieving this
mission.
Number of Credits
The graduate certificate requires 15 credit hours of GIS courses, all of
which are offered online. Each of the first four courses will be 7.5 weeks
in duration allowing for two complete cycles of courses in the fall
semester (Sept.?Dec.) and two in the winter semester (January- April). The
fifth course (School GIS Projects) is offered during the summer and can
either be completed online or by attending one of our projectbased summer
institutes on EMU?s main campus.
Program of Study
The program requires the following 15 credit hours for completion:
GEOG 520 GIS Introduction for Educators (3)
GEOG 522 Internet GIS Resources for Educators (3)
GEOG 524 GIS as an Instructional Tool in Classrooms (3)
GEOG 667 School GIS Projects (3)
ESSC 669/GEO 669 GIS Lesson Plan Development (3)
Admission
1. Comply with the Graduate School?s admission requirements.
2. Hold a 2.75 undergraduate GPA or 3.0 in the last half of the
undergraduate work or 3.3 GPA in 12 hours or more of work at the graduate
level or a minimum 50th percentile on the GRE writing. International
students must have a minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL.
3. Furnish an analysis of professional goals written by the candidate.
This analysis should include a description of how the chosen degree
program will help meet the selected goals and how the candidate?s life
experiences, accomplishments and interests will contribute to his or her
success in the program; and
4. Request and have submitted two letters of recommendation that address
the candidate?s professional commitment, experience and potential. The
transcripts, analysis of goals and letters of recommendation should give
evidence of potential for graduate-level scholarship.
Special GIS Technical Requirements
You do not need to purchase GIS software for the introductory course. Free
GIS software (ArcExplorer Java Edition for Educators) will be used for the
introductory course. This software will adequately accommodate Windows as
well as Mac teaching environments. After the first course teachers will be
required to purchase the Mapping Our World laboratory manual for use in
the courses (they will then be licensed to use this text in their school
as well). Teachers can choose either Mapping Our World for ArcView 3.x or
ArcView 9.0. Both versions provide a one-year site license of the software
(AV3.x or
AV9.0) with the book. ArcExplorer comes with a free data set and can avail
itself of data from the Internet automatically. This tool is a strong
stepping-stone to ArcView 9.x and 3.x that will be introduced through the
Mapping Our World texts in future courses (as noted in the syllabi).
For More Information
For an application packet and information about requirements for admission
to the program, contact:
Chris Mayda
Associate Professor
Eastern Michigan University
Department of Geography and Geology
203 Strong Hall, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
734.407.7856
[log in to unmask]
Joseph Kerski
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joseph J. Kerski, Ph.D.
Geographer: Education/GIS
US Geological Survey
Building 810 - Entrance W-5 - Room 3000
Box 25046 - MS 507
Denver CO 80225-0046 USA
[log in to unmask]
Voice 303-202-4315
Fax 303-202-4137
http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/public/outreach/
USGS: Science for a Changing World
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