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Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

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Some textbooks also provide self-learn<strong>in</strong>g tools with software demos and casestudies. Students should be encouraged to <strong>in</strong>vest <strong>in</strong> one of these textbooks to getas much hands-on experience as possible. Specific textbooks relate to particularsoftware and even though the technology changes relatively quickly and such booksmight become dated, it is always useful for students to undergo <strong>in</strong>dividual tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>gon the use of GIS (see for example Ormsby et al. 2004).Teach<strong>in</strong>g undergraduate GIS to various discipl<strong>in</strong>esThe major problem of teach<strong>in</strong>g GIS to various discipl<strong>in</strong>es is the <strong>in</strong>structor’s dispositionto the different applications of GIS. Despite students hav<strong>in</strong>g a fixed structure tofollow at the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of the course, some of the more professional degree courseshave <strong>in</strong>dustry specific requirements which the <strong>in</strong>structor should be aware of. In thecase of Architecture and <strong>Education</strong>, expectations by the <strong>in</strong>dustry must be understoodbefore undertak<strong>in</strong>g any teach<strong>in</strong>g.Fortunately for most discipl<strong>in</strong>es there are both textbooks and exercises which canhelp the tutor to use <strong>in</strong>dustry specific case studies (see for example Malone et al.,2002).The role of the studentThe student has a very important role to play <strong>in</strong> the delivery and success of GISstudy-units. Mostly it is the adaptability to use computer software which depends onthe student’s background subjects <strong>in</strong> secondary and post-secondary education.Students should understand the importance of hands-on experience to learn aboutGIS. Most students today are keen at us<strong>in</strong>g the software from an early stage of thestudy unit. It is important however that dur<strong>in</strong>g the first tutorials the tutor is ensur<strong>in</strong>gstudents understand the processes that are go<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong> us<strong>in</strong>g the software. It is alsoimportant for the student to take an <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> see<strong>in</strong>g how systems are operated <strong>in</strong>the real world, and <strong>in</strong> the case of Malta this is possible with site visits to particular<strong>in</strong>dustries which have applied GIS <strong>in</strong> their work processes.ConclusionsThis paper aimed at identify<strong>in</strong>g the opportunities and problems of develop<strong>in</strong>g undergraduatestudy units about GIS. It focused on the course development and problemsof multi-discipl<strong>in</strong>ary teach<strong>in</strong>g but also on student aids and the importance of selflearn<strong>in</strong>g.The demand for geospatial skills is grow<strong>in</strong>g worldwide (see Gew<strong>in</strong>, 2004)with more scientist required to understand the processes of <strong>in</strong>tegrat<strong>in</strong>g use of GISwith spatial phenomenon. This on its own should be an <strong>in</strong>centive for higher educationto <strong>in</strong>vest <strong>in</strong> the teach<strong>in</strong>g of GIS from undergraduate levels.References1. CLARKE K. 2002. Gett<strong>in</strong>g started with GIS, Prentice Hall, England.2. GEWIN V. 22 nd January 2004. “Mapp<strong>in</strong>g Opportunities”, Naturejobs, Nature Publish<strong>in</strong>gGroup, England, pp 376−377. Available onl<strong>in</strong>e at http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nature/journal/v427/n6972/full/nj6972-376a_fs.html100

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