Course Syllabus

ENVS 420/520 Fall 2018 Syllabus

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Aquila Flower

OFFICE: AH 202
OFFICE HOURS:  Monday 1:00-3:00

HOW TO CONTACT ME: please use Canvas messages

GIS SPECIALIST: Stefan Freelan, AH 211, Email: stefan@wwu.edu. 650-2949.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: 

• You must bring a phone or tablet to lecture to use for in-class quizzes. A free tablet can be rented from ATUS.
• No required text. Readings will be distributed on Canvas.
• An external hard drive or thumb drive is strongly recommended.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The course will provide a brief reintroduction to GIS followed by an in-depth examination of spatial data formats, spatial data analysis, and geoprocessing. This course assumes each student has a working familiarity with GIS concepts and ArcGIS software equivalent to one quarter of introductory GIS (ENVS 320) plus one quarter of Computer Cartography (ENVS 321).

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

This course contributes to the following Huxley Student Learning Outcomes and will help students improve their ability to:

• Assess human and environmental issues/problems using GIS (GEOG SLO 5)
• Analyze space, place, landscape, location, and human-environment interactions for the purposes of explanation and prediction using GIS (GEOG SLO 4)
• Analyze and communicate ideas effectively in oral, written, and visual forms (ENVS SLO 6)

COURSE STRUCTURE:

Our classes will typically begin with a short quiz or other activity, followed by about 50 minutes of lecture and discussion. Remaining class time will be used for lab exercises. Labs will require additional work outside of our regularly scheduled class period.

Expectations for class participation are high. This will include regular attendance for the entire class period, active class participation in discussion and lab, and working effectively with others in the lab. Participation in our online and in-class learning communities is also expected. This includes asking and answering questions in class, posting questions and answers on our Canvas discussion board, and sharing interesting GIS-related articles/sites on our class Facebook page.

ASSESSMENT:

My grading system is designed to reflect each student’s mastery of the course material. The grades I assign represent how much of the material you understand and how much of the work you completed, not how hard you worked or your standing relative to other students in the class.  The final letter grades will be assigned on a straight percentage:  93% = A, 90% = A-, 87% = B+, 83% = B, 80% = B-, 77% = C+, 73% = C, 70% = C-, >60% = D, <60% = F. 

Labs (50%): We will complete five hands-on lab activities. You will have three class periods to complete each lab. Labs are due before the beginning of class on the day listed in the syllabus. Late labs lose 10% each day they are late, including weekends.

Discussions (5%): We will complete five online discussion assignments in which you will use our Canvas discussion forum to answer questions posted by your instructor. Each student will be responsible for developing a unique answer that does not duplicate the work of any other student; this will be much easier to accomplish if you complete the assignment early. You are welcome to plan with your classmates in advance to make sure you aren't duplicating anyone else's work. Late discussion posts lose 10% each day they are late, including weekends.

Map critiques (7.5%): During the third class period devoted to each lab, you will bring a draft of one map and complete a peer review of another student’s work. Thoughtful, constructive critiques of your classmates’ maps will be completed for each lab assignment. Critiques are due at the end of lab. Late critiques lose 10% each day they are late, including weekends.

Practical Exams (20%): We will have four practical exams (5% each) designed to test your ability to make quick decisions about the appropriate analysis and visualization techniques to address a specific question. No early or make-up exams will be available. No late exams will be accepted.

Final exam (7.5%): We will have one 2-hour, open-note, in-class final exam designed to test your ability to make quick decisions about the appropriate analysis and visualization techniques to address a specific question. No early or make-up exams will be available. No late exams will be accepted.

Portfolio (5%): Each student will create an online portfolio showcasing their GIS skills and accomplishments. Highlights from each lab should be posted in this portfolio, along with summaries of the techniques used. No late submissions will be accepted.

Quizzes & In-class Activities (5%): Quizzes and in-class activities will be given sporadically in class, usually before the lecture begins. No make-up opportunities will be available.

*For students enrolled in ENVS 520, assessment will be similar, but labs will be worth only 40% of your grade, and you will write and deliver a short presentation on a 5 page literature review focused on GIS applications in your area of research (i.e., for your thesis) worth 10% of your grade.   

SCHEDULE (subject to change if needed)