Syllabus: GISC 2420 Intermediate Geographic Information Systems (GIS)  

Section Information

• Welcome to Intermediate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 63606-002.  The Summer semester begins on May 30th and ends on August 6th. 
• Course location: This course will be delivered asynchronously online, meaning there are no regularly scheduled class meetings, and all materials will be provided in a digital format through Blackboard.  

Instructor Information

• Contact Information: Stephanie Long will be the instructor for this course.  Email: stephanie.long@austincc.edu Phone: 512-223-4031 Office: Highland Campus room 2.1531.09 Department Website: austincc.edu/gis  
• Office Hours: The instructor will make every effort to respond to students within 24 hours.  Meetings with the instructor are available upon request, during shown office hours on this calendar, virtually or in-person. Appointments must be made 4 hours in advance. You will receive confirmation of the appointment along with a web meeting link. At the time of your appointment, join that web meeting link. Meetings are held virtually or in person on Tu/Th 12pm-2pm and W 6:00pm-8:00pm or as needed.  If you prefer to meet in person, please indicate as such. In-person meetings are held on the HLC Campus in room 2.1531.09 while virtual meetings are held through Zoom.  If the calendar does not fit your schedule, simply email the instructor for other meeting times by appointment.
• About the Instructor: Stephanie Long will be the instructor for this GIS course.  She is the ACC GIS Department Chair and Professor who has taught all of the Level I GIS courses along with the Scripting, Programming, and Advanced Problems Level II courses.  Stephanie Long was recently the GIS Systems Coordinator for Texas Parks and Wildlife within the IT Division of their Headquarters Building located in Austin, Texas.  Here she led a team of GIS Support and Service professionals for over 300 users across the state.  She has taught college courses for several counties and districts since 2008, including the subject matters of World Geography, Physical Geography, Cultural Geography, Introduction to GIS, and Raster Analysis with GIS.  Formerly, her work has taken her from the heat of the Mojave Desert to the cold of a blizzard in Wyoming.  Her presentations at professional conferences have covered topics such as “Python as a GIS Intern” and “The Application of GIS in the Environmental Impact Analysis of Transmission Line Routing” and “What’s New in Automating GIS Workflows” and “Programming with GIS?! Yes You Can!” and “Applying the CBE Model for Online Student Success”.  Recently the Geography Department of Texas State University presented Stephanie with the Mary Beth Booth Award for Outstanding Service by an Extramural Educator in recognition of her history in preparing students for success.  Stephanie was also spotlighted by Austin Community College for her work developing online GIS courses and was announced as ACC eFaculty of the Year for 2020.  Stephanie Long holds a Master of Science in Geography from Texas State University in San Marcos and she has over 16 years of experience as a GIS professional in the public and private sectors.  She is a certified GIS professional.

Course Description

• Credit and Contact Hours: Credit Hours: 4; Classroom Contact Hours per topic: 3; Laboratory Contact Hours per week: 3
• Catalog Description: This course focuses on the study of spatial data structures and the display, manipulation, and analysis of geographic information. Students will study the technical aspects involved in spatial data handling, analysis and modeling. Instruction will include theories and procedures associated with the implementation and management of GIS projects. A variety of GIS software packages will be used in the laboratory.
• Transferability of workforce courses varies. Students interested in transferring courses to another college should speak with their Area of Study (AoS) advisor, Department Chair, and/or Program Director.
• Course Rationale/Objectives: Intermediate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is designed to provide the students with an understanding of the methods and theories of geospatial data and analysis that will allow students to apply GIS knowledge and skills to everyday life and their chosen careers, and to apply the course towards a certificate or an associate’s degree at Austin Community College.
• Course Prerequisite(s): Introduction to GIS (GISC 1411 or GEOG 2470).

Student Learning Outcomes

• WECM Student Learning Outcomes
  The Workforce Education Course Manual (WECM) is a web-based inventory of current workforce education courses and outcomes published by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for Texas public two-year colleges. WECM courses are created and maintained by teams of instructional specialists from Texas colleges with expertise in the subject areas. By the end of this course, the student will be able to:
  • Describe the terms, concepts, commands, and procedures of GIS software;
  • Import, generate, and project spatial data sets;
  • Obtain spatial data from available sources;
  • Demonstrate topological editing; and
  • Develop tables, plots, and thematic map compositions.
• GTCM Student Learning Outcomes
  The Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM) is an industry model framework published by the US Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) to identify industry-specific technical competencies. By the end of this course, the student will be able to:
  • Identify, collect, and assimilate sources of secondary data, such as: clearinghouse data, digitized data, classified data, COGO, and geocoded data into a GIS.
  • Perform proximity, overlay, density, surface, 3D, network, image, and geostatistical analyses on spatial data.
  • Interpret user requirements to select, install, maintain, and license desktop GIS and GIS-related software.
• SCANS Competencies
  The Secretary Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) is a commission appointed in 1990 by the Secretary of the US Department of Labor Lynn Martin to develop a list of skills "that high-performance workplaces require and that high-performance schools should produce." By the end of this course, the student will demonstrate the following workplace competencies and foundation skills:

Workplace Competencies - Effective workers can productively use:

• Resources – They know how to allocate (C1) time, (C2) money, (C3), materials, and (C4) staff.
• Information – They can (C5) acquire and evaluate data, (C6) organize and maintain files, (C7) interprets and communicate, and (C8) use computers to process information.
• Interpersonal skills – They can (C9) work on teams, (C10) teach others, (C11) serve customers, (C12) lead, (C13) negotiate, and (C14) work well with people from culturally diverse backgrounds,
• Systems – They (C15) understand social, organizational, and technological systems, (C16) they can monitor and correct performance; and (C17) they can design or improve systems.
• Technology – They can (C18) select equipment and tools, (C19) apply technology to specific tasks and (C20) maintain and troubleshoot equipment.

Foundation Skills - Competent workers in the high-performance workplace need:

• Basic Skills – (F1) reading, (F2) writing, (F3) arithmetic and (F4) mathematics, (F5) listening and (F6) speaking.
• Thinking skills – (F7) to think creatively, (F8) to make decisions, (F9) to solve problems, (F10) to visualize, (F11) the ability to learn, and (F12) to reason.
• Personal Qualities – (F13) individual responsibility, (F14) self-esteem, (F15) sociability, (F16) self-management, and (F17) integrity.

Texts/materials

• There is no required textbook for this course. All readings will be provided by the instructor through the course website.
• Computer: Capable of running the ArcGIS Pro Desktop software version 3.0.3. See the following for system requirements: http://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/get-started/arcgis-pro-system-requirements.htm

NOTE: If your home computer is not capable of running the ArcGIS software and you live in the Austin area, you can complete the lab portion of the course using computers available at the Highland and Riverside Campus Locations.  NOTE: You CANNOT USE A SMARTPHONE to do this class. NOTE to MAC Users: There is no MAC version of the software. You must have a PC in order to do this course. Some students have had success running the software on a MAC using a Windows emulator, though many students have not had success using a MAC for this course. 

• Internet: Reliable Internet access and a working ACC email address. Computers with Internet access are available at each ACC campus.  Most assigned readings will be available in electronic format.
• USB Drive:  (aka Flash or Thumb drive) or a portable external hard drive.  It should be at least 8 GB in size. I recommend you get one with 12 or higher GB of storage.  This will be used to store your course data, documents, etc.
• Web Camera and Audio: You must be capable of joining a video call using Zoom and Google Hangouts.  This means a camera with audio capability.  The instructor will help students learn how to use Zoom and Google Hangouts for the use of this course.
• Technical Abilities: Technical Abilities that Students MUST HAVE in order to enroll in this course:  This course assumes that you have access to a suitable PC, that you know how to navigate Windows file structure, how to install software, how to upload files, how to download files, how to unzip compressed (zipped) files, and how to copy and paste files using My Computer or Windows Explorer.

Instructional Methodology

• Course Competencies: The course is split into four competencies consisting of three topics. Each topic contains lecture slides with videos, lecture demos for skills practice, discussion prompts to promote synthesis of concepts, and project tasks.  Students will complete the lab work using the computers with GIS software on various ACC campuses or their own computers and ArcGIS software. Since this class has 6 contact hours per week - 3 lecture and 3 lab - you should expect to spend an average of 12 hours per topic doing course work. About half of those hours should be spent on the direct instruction components - reading, listening, watching - and the other half on the hands-on components - lecture demos, discussions, and project tasks.
• Blackboard: Course materials and communication will be available on ACC’s Blackboard website (http://acconline.austincc.edu) In order to log into Blackboard, you will need your ACCeID.  Your ACCeID will consist of the first letter of your official first name followed by your 7-digit ID number. Your 7-digit ID number can be found on one of the following: ACC ID Card, Student Grade Mailer, Fee Statement, Pay Advice/Check Stub, ACC Online Services.  Faculty, staff, and students will choose their own password, which must be changed regularly. To activate your ACCeID, go to http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/activation-andlogin-assistance and follow the instructions.  Once you have activated your ACCeID, log into Blackboard (https://acconline.austincc.edu).  Follow the link to this course. If you are not familiar with Blackboard, go to http://irt.austincc.edu/blackboard/StudentSupport.php for online support help.
• ArcGIS Online: ArcGIS Online (http://austincc.maps.arcgis.com) will be used to access maps, apps, and tools along with creating content.  ArcGIS Online provides a common platform to find, share, and organize geographic content and to build GIS applications. It is a web resource hosted by ESRI, the company that makes the ArcGIS software that you will be using in this course and throughout your academic program at ACC.  More information and details will be provided online in the Blackboard Course.  
• ACC Email: All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion and on a regular basis.  ACC will send important information and will notify you of any college related emergencies using this account. Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account. Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff. Every ACC student is given an email account through ACC. This email address will end with @g.austincc.edu. This is the email address that I will use and the college will use to contact you throughout the semester. As a requirement of this course, you MUST activate your ACC email account and check it multiple times per week.  To learn more about this email and how to activate it, go to http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/. Activate it today and start checking it regularly. Instructions for activating an ACCmail account can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/activation-and-login-assistance

Student Technology Support

• Austin Community College provides free, secure drive-up WiFi to students and employees in the parking lots of all campus locations. WiFi can be accessed seven days a week, 7 am to 11 pm. Additional details are available at https://www.austincc.edu/sts.
• Students who do not have the necessary technology to complete their ACC courses can request to borrow devices from Student Technology Services. Available devices include iPads, webcams, headsets, calculators, etc. Students must be registered for a credit course, Adult Education, or Continuing Education course to be eligible. For more information, including how to request a device, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.
• Student Technology Services offers phone, live-chat, and email-based technical support for students and can provide support on topics such as password resets, accessing or using Blackboard, access to technology, etc. To view hours of operation and ways to request support, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Grading System

• Grading components are based on regular participation in activities and discussions and the successful and timely completion of tips and tricks presentations, quizzes, tests and projects as described below. Students should aim to make a ‘B’ or better on each quiz by working to find the correct answers and on each project by reflecting on instructor feedback with a chance to submit updated versions.

• The final Grade is based on a total of 100 points and the following grade scale:

• Tips and Tricks Presentation

Your grade for this component is based on a presentation given to your classmates.  You will teach yourself one tip or trick, with the help and support of the instructor, in the ArcGIS Pro Desktop software that you think your fellow classmates might benefit from.  You will then teach your classmates how to complete this same action(s) in the software during an online class meeting or a recording.  You will be evaluated by your instructor and classmates through constructive feedback and assigned a grade according to the rubric.

• Participation

Your participation grade is based on your watching the lecture recordings and your contribution to the class discussions and activities.  Weekly lecture and laboratory interaction is expected of all students.  If attendance or other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students.  

• Quiz Average

Quizzes will be accessed via the course Blackboard website and can be retaken as many times as desired. Quizzes are structured to measure comprehension of the weekly lecture materials and lab exercises. Successfully completing and studying the quizzes will improve your test scores.  An average score of up to 10 points is awarded, and students should aim to make a ‘B’ or better on each quiz by working to find the correct answers.

• Test Total

There are four subject-matter tests that will be administered during the course. Tests are NOT open book or notes. Each subject matter test will consist of 20 questions - 10 questions covering the lecture material and 10 questions covering the lab materials. Each question is worth 0.5 points. Tests are structured to measure and reinforce overall comprehension of the course competencies.  An average of up to 30 points is awarded for this grading component, with the lowest dropped.  Late tests will not be accepted.

• Projects

There will be four projects assigned during the semester.  The projects are designed to build the skills and confidence required to complete real-world applications using GIS.  Each project will include a work breakdown structure (i.e. list of tasks) and a description of the final deliverable that builds on the material covered in the lecture and in demonstrations. The first two projects will include a list of tasks supported by step-by-step instructions. The third and fourth projects will include a list of tasks supported by more general instructions. Students should complete project tasks after attending lectures and completing demonstrations. Each project is worth 10 points. No late project can receive a higher grade than a project submitted on time by a classmate.  No project turned in more than 7 days late will receive a passing grade.  Students should aim to make a ‘B’ or better on each project by reflecting on instructor feedback with a chance to submit updated versions.

Any work submitted after the deadline may not be graded until later in the semester.  Students should submit work on time in order to receive timely feedback and grades.

Course Outline and Schedule

• While the instructor reserves the right to change the course calendar as required during the semester; any changes will be announced in Blackboard. Students should complete one topic per week and each Competency Test and Project by the assigned date shown below.
• This course will be completed in 16 weeks. The following is the schedule for completion of course materials and is the maximum time allotted for the content.  NO late work will be accepted after midnight on Sunday, May 14th

Students will use the Blackboard learning management system for assignment instructions, submission, and collaboration.

Course Policies 

• Attendance/Participation: Accessing Blackboard and completing curriculum according to the Course Calendar and Outline will have a strong influence on your final grade. I will monitor due dates, chat activity, and class interaction in case there are any questions about your final grade and commitment to this course. You are responsible for reading and responding to any announcements made on Blackboard.
• Withdrawal: It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should they decide to withdraw from the class. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should they feel it is necessary. If a student decides to withdraw, they should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date. Students are also strongly encouraged to retain a copy of the withdrawal form for their records.  Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall 2002, may be charged a higher tuition rate for that course.  State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities without penalty. With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count toward this limit. Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog.
• Missed or Late Work: Any missing or late work cannot receive a grade higher than the lowest grade awarded a student who turned in the same assignment or project on time. No project turned in more than 7 days late will receive a passing grade.  Tests may not be taken past the due date.  Any work submitted after the deadline may not be graded until the end of the semester.  Students should submit work on time in order to receive timely feedback and grades.
• Incomplete: In rare situations, the instructor may award a grade of “I” (Incomplete) if a student is unable to complete all of the requirements for a course. An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester.
• Packback Pilot: Packback Deep Dives will be used to assess independent writing skills and improve academic communication through writing assignments of Executive Summaries for each project. While completing the summative writing prompts on Deep Dives, you will interact with a Research Assistant that will help you gather your notes and cite your sources, and Digital Writing Assistant for in-the-moment feedback and guidance on your writing.

College Policies

Please refer to https://www.austincc.edu/offices/academic-outcomes-assessment/master-syllabi/college-policies or the link in Blackboard for ACC’s college policies including Statement on Academic Integrity, Student Rights & Responsibilities, Senate Bill 212 and Title IX Reporting Requirements, Student Complaints, Statement on Privacy, Recording Policy, Safety Statement, Campus Carry, Discrimination Prohibited, Use of ACC email, Use of the Testing Center, and Student Support Services.

Please see the 'Course Requirements' section for more information regarding readings.

Please see the 'Course Requirements' section for more information regarding Course Subjects.

Please see the 'Course Requirements' section for more information regarding Objectives.