Geospatial Education Collaborative Advanced Technology Education

Promoting Collaboration Between Schools and the Workplace

GEC Project Overview

Project Goals:

  • Develop geospatial curriculum for increased enrollment and improved matriculation
  • Expand geospatial workforce opportunities for students and graduates
  • Increase awareness of geospatial technologies in schools and the community

Project Principals:

  • Dan Scollon (Principal Investigator); Shasta College
  • Melinda Kashuba; Shasta College
  • Jacque Chase; California State University, Chico
  • LaDona Knigge; California State University, Chico
  • Chris Lewis; California State University, Chico and Ridge GeoTech

Project Partners:

  • Students and Shasta College and Chico State GIS Programs
  • Teachers interested in incorporating geospatial technologies
  • Shasta County Transportation Planning Agency, City of Chico and other agencies
  • Vestra Resources, Enplan and other private sector GIS firms

Learn more at GEC Grant Details.

GEC Project Initiatives

Objectives:

  • Develop a new course in geospatial technologies to meet general education requirements for Associates and transfer degrees
  • Address societal implications of geospatial technologies including their role in changing geographic perception, social equity and privacy
  • Engage the general student population in geospatial technologies and increase enrollments in GIS Certificate program courses
  • Align similar courses at Shasta College and Chico State to ensure course articulation and matriculation of students from Shasta College to Chico State

Progress:

  • New course called Digital Planet (GEOG 5) written and approved by Shasta College Curriculum and General Education Committees, and approved for the California State University system general education transfer pattern
  • New course called GIS and Society: Our Digital Planet (GEOG 103) proposed for Chico State Geography Majors and revised General Education Pathways
  • Shasta College and Chico State faculty collaborative on course content and digital delivery through Chico State's Academy E-Learning program

Objectives:

  • Provide a benefit to the community through the collaboration of education, government, and private-sector entities
  • Develop an interactive atlas of composite health and well-being measures for community access and improved decision making
  • Expose Shasta College students to working with experts in GIS and public health
  • Incorporate well-being atlas into the regional GIS data server to be housed at Shasta College

Progress:

  • Convened a project team that meets monthly to scope and direct the project
  • Identified well-being indicators, data sources and GIS approaches to implementation
  • Produced a series of initial maps of population well-being
  • Initiated planning for project dissemination

 

Objectives:

  • Expand Internship opportunities and placement for students in worksites that employ GIS and other geospatial technologies
  • Work with students and employers to meet worksite needs and expectations

Progress:

  • Placement of 12 students during the Spring semester, from both Shasta College and Chico State
  • Employers include Cities of Chico and Redding, Shasta County (IT, Transportation Planning), Shasta Land Trust, Vestra, Enplan, BLM, Bella Vista Water District

Objectives:

  • Expose elementary, middle and high school students to geospatial technologies
  • Provide curriculum and activities that meet California education standards
  • Show students and teachers that geospatial technologies are both cool and relevant

Progress:

  • Developed training materials for teachers and students
  • Conducted workshops and trainings for over ten school classes and community events
  • Workshops and trainings were customized to grade-level and target audience