GIMA: The Blended Learning Experience

Developments in Geomatics Education (5)

In September 2003 an innovative MSc programme in geo-information was introduced in the Netherlands entitled Geographical Information Management and Applications (MSc-GIMA). This ‘blended learning’ programme particularly suits professionals and students who have recently gained a bachelor’s degree. The author sketches the main design philosophy and structure of the course, initial experience and challenges. Four renowned Dutch higher education institutes joined forces for the MSc-GIMA venture: the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) in Enschede, Delft University of Technology (TUD), Utrecht University (UU) and Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR). This collaboration is considered inevit–able given the rapid... (read more)

2007-04-17 12:00:00

South American Ecosystems Atlas

Environmental Education for Primary Schools

The Ecosystems Atlas of South America and Antarctica is an educational programme for primary-school pupils. Software is distributed free to South American institutions that develop educational activities relating to the environment. The project is the result of successful collaboration between the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and Vale do Paraiba University, supported by the Bradesco, Vitae and Atech foundations. One of the outcomes of the first Conference on Remote Sensing Education, held in Balne¡rio Camboriu, Brazil in May 1997 was the Camboriu Document describing remote-sensing educational activities in the region. One major thing it noted was the lack of... (read more)

2007-09-19 12:00:00

Preferred Backgrounds: Engineering and Geography

Developments in Geomatics Education (4)

In the March issue of GIM International we started a series on Developments in Geomatics Education, to be continued over forthcoming issues. One interesting topic here is the background of people working in organisations using Geo-Information Technology (GIT) as their primary tool to support and streamline company business processes. GITA recently released a report that provides a wealth of interesting and insightful statistics; hereunder some further analysis and discussion. The Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA), a not-for-profit organisation, based in Aurora, USA, has published the annual Geospatial Technology Report for eight years now (see textbox). The new report for... (read more)

2007-03-21 12:00:00

Geomatics at TU Delft

Developments in Geomatics Education (6)

Collecting, processing, managing and distributing information and transforming it into relevant support for decision making constitutes the nerve system of society at local, regional, national and global scale. Of increasing importance is information bound to certain locations at, above or beneath the surface of the earth. The tools, techniques and theoretical background for acquiring, processing, managing and disseminating geo-information constitute the discipline of Geomatics. TU Delft expertise in geomatics originates from a long tradition of education in Geodesy offered over fifty years at both BSc and MSc level until 2004. Since 2005 Geomatics at TU Delft has been offered as... (read more)

2007-05-15 12:00:00

ITC and UNU

Developments in Geomatics Education (8)

In 2005 ITC (International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation) Enschede, the Netherlands, became an associated institution of the United Nations University (UNU) in a co-operation focused on disaster management and land administration. Described here are the role of UNU and the ITC contribution. For 32 years now the United Nations University (UNU) has been delivering research and capacity building to resolve global problems of concern to the United Nations (UN), its peoples and member states. UNU, an autonomous UN organ with as rector a UN under-secretary, fosters intellectual co-operation among scholars, scientists and practitioners, especially in the developing... (read more)

2007-07-07 12:00:00

ESRI Selected for Analysis in Kenya

The Ministry of Education (MOE) in Kenya has contracted Oakar Services Ltd. (OSL), ESRI's distributor in eastern Africa, to develop a GIS database of the educational facilities in the country. Comments Thomas Ndegwa, technical director at OSL, "In a developing country such as ours where there is a large demand for donor aid, we are very fortunate that our government has taken the bold step to approve this project. It is a tribute to the forward thinking of the Kenyan government and its recognition of the critical importance of the education of our youth as well as its clear understanding... (read more)

2007-04-24 09:55:43

Shaping Our World

GIM International Interviews Joseph Kerski

According to top GIS educator and spatial thinker Dr Joseph Kerski, the development and use of geotechnologies is crucial not just as an educational tool, but also in determining the future of the planet. Kerski is education manager at ESRI, the US-based software development and services company that provides GIS software and geodatabase management applications. An enthusiastic geographer - he has three degrees in the subject - he is passionate about studying maps, population, and landform and neighbourhood change, and seeks out educational partnerships, and conducts training in geotechnologies for government, industry, non-profit organisations, higher education, news media, and the... (read more)

2009-12-04 11:20:37

Ashok Wadwani Receives NCGE President's Award

Ashok Wadwani, President, Applied Field Data Systems, USA, was the recipient of the NCGE President's award at the NCGE (National Council For Geographic Education) National Conference held in Portland, USA, on 6th August 2011. The award was presented to him for advancing geospatial technologies in education and society around the world . According to Joseph Kerski, President , NCGE, Ashok is an individual who cares about people and is passionate about geospatial education and he goes above and beyond to hire students as interns and train them in this technology to serve various markets. Joseph mentioned in his... (read more)

2011-08-22 09:55:08

Mapping and Targeting Educational Hotspots via EduGIS

The Ingenieurbüro für Geoinformatik (GisEO) and the geoinformation service provider DELPHI IMM GmbH, Germany, recently won the contract for the development and realisation of a geo portal and web services to supply a comprehensive survey of educational information based on spatial data. The web technology is planned to support education representatives, parents, students as well as national and international school partners in investigating the structure and performance of schools and after-school care or day care facilities in the Land Brandenburg based on up-to-date maps. The supply of the web application will be free of charge and is scheduled to be... (read more)

2010-12-30 02:38:00

Exploring the Power of Spatial Thinking

More than 700 educators, administrators, researchers, librarians, and museum professionals from more than 35 countries attended the ESRI Education User Conference (EdUC), from 2nd to 5th August 2008. The EdUC is an inspiring and collaborative forum designed specifically for the global education community to explore the use of geographic information system (GIS) technology across disciplines. Conference attendees were able to participate in a wide variety of sessions and activities, from illustrated paper sessions, where GIS users creatively depict topics such as building a GIS program, to taking the technology for a test drive in the hands-on computer labs. The... (read more)

2008-08-18 04:38:39