As GIS technology is increasingly used in a wide array of industries, there continues to be a growing need for, and anticipated shortfall
of qualified GIS professionals. The GIS Career & Education Awareness website is dedicated to the education of future GIS professionals and increasing general awareness of GIS technology. To achieve the goals of educating GIS professionals and increasing GIS awareness this website has compiled resources explaining what GIS is and how it can be used, designed online tools that showcase GIS related tasks, provided links to GIS programs and educational resources, and created a certification program using GIS learning modules via the web.
This website is supported by the National GeoTech (NSF-ATE DUE #0801893) Center and Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS (NSF-ATE DUE #0401990).
National GeoTech Center objectives include:
- Create a national clearinghouse of exemplary geospatial curriculum materials, resources and national services.
- Increase the capacity to educate geospatial technicians through new partnerships and collaborations.
- Increase the quantity, quality and diversity of geospatial technicians to meet U.S. workforce needs.
- Provide a unifying voice for geospatial technology education interests in organizations, industry and government.
- Increase the number of community and technical college geospatial faculty and secondary school teachers participating in geospatial professional development.
A Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS objectives include:
- Development of skill certificates that certify specific work-based competencies useful to industry.
- Development of a standards-based curriculum, aligned across the three educational levels (high school, community college, and four-year university), designed to meet identified industry needs and linked to job descriptions.
- Creation of articulation agreements that ensure that students are able to progress efficiently through the skills certificate and more traditional programs.
- Preparation of high school teachers and post-secondary faculty to provide the GIS skills training.
- Development of a Web-based GIS career awareness program to encourage students to pursue careers in the field and enhance enrollment in technician training and educational programs.
- Sharing of the developed GIS skills certification and technician training program model with other educational institutions and communities.
Investigators
Ming-Hsiang Tsou (Ming)
Project Co-Principal Investigator
GeoTech Center
NSF-ATE DUE #0801893
Associate Professor
Department of Geography
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA, USA 92182
PHONE: 1 (619) 594 0205
FAX : 1 (619) 594 4938
EMAIL: mtsou@mail.sdsu.edu
Visiting Researcher
Dr. Nihal Baloglu Ugurlu
Visiting Researcher from Nigde University, Turkey
GeoTech Center
2010 September - 2011 August
EMAIL:
nihalugurlu@gmail.com
Research Assistants
Calvin C. Jung
Graduate Research Assistant
GeoTech Center
NSF-ATE DUE #0801893
Department of Geography
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA, USA 92182
EMAIL: ediyacoo@gmail.com
Deborah Milam
Graduate Research Assistant
GeoTech Center
NSF-ATE DUE #0801893
Department of Geography
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA, USA 92182
EMAIL: debnua3@gmail.co
Justin Shepard
Graduate Research Assistant
GeoTech Center
NSF-ATE DUE #0801893
Department of Geography
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA, USA 92182
EMAIL: shepardj@rohan.sdsu.edu
Nicole Simons
Graduate Research Assistant
GeoTech Center
NSF-ATE DUE #0801893
Department of Geography
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA, USA 92182
EMAIL: nsimons@mail.sdsu.edu
The National GeoTech Center
This project formed a steering committee of leaders in geospatial education to research issues critical to industry and education.
These issues included: workforce needs, geospatial core competencies, certification, curriculum, pedagogy, educational pathways
(including articulation and internships), professional development, communication, geospatial awareness and diversity, globalization
and regionalize, future trends, and the qualities of a successful ATE Center.
You can read more about the GeoTech Center on their main website,
www.geotechcenter.org.
The NSF-ATE DUE Program
This
project is funded by an award from the National Science
Foundation Advanced Technological Education Program (NSF-ATE). The NSF-ATE program
is managed by the NSF's Division of Undergraduate Education
(DUE). DUE's mission is to promote
excellence in
undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) education for all students. Their ATE program
focuses on improvement in technological education at the
undergraduate and secondary school levels by supporting
curriculum development; the preparation and professional
development of college faculty and secondary school teachers;
internships and field experiences for faculty, teachers,
and students; and other activities.
Read More About the NSF-ATE Program...
Read More About the NSF Division of Undergraduate Education...
NSF DUE #0801893
For information about the Scalable Skills Certification Program in Geographic Information Systems (NSF-ATE DUE# 0401990)
click here.
