GIS 301

Skyline College Spring 2003


Instructor: Alan Forsberg.
Office hours:
after class or by appointment.
Tel: 415-239-3104 ext. 5
e-mail: anf@uclink.berkeley.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

"Because of personal computers and electronic publishing, map users can now easily lie to themselves -- and be unaware of it." (course textbook on page one). That is precisely the reason why this first course in the 3 part series on GIS focuses first and foremost on cartographic and geographic concepts. This course focuses on map reading skills and introduces the many uses of geographic information systems software. Transfer: CSU.

COURSE SCHEDULE (below) and this syllabus can be accessed at the following web address:

https://griots.tripod.com/sky/gis301sp03.html

COURSE OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of the course you should be able to:

TEXT

How to Lie With Maps (2nd ed.) Mark Monmonier 1996 U. of Chicago Press
Reading assignments will be made from this textbook, and occasional handouts.
This text is on reserve in the resource center.

HOW THE COURSE IS ORGANIZED

The topics of this course are divided into weeks, which normally cover one or more chapters. Specific topic areas are supplemented with online resources (posted on the COURSE SCHEDULE below). Classes will be in the lecture/discussion format with full use of graphic illustration, and involve some student group work.

PREPARATION AND ASSIGNMENTS

You should complete the assigned reading by the due date. Check the schedule to see if there have been any revisions. Prepare for the class by taking notes and asking questions on topics that you do not understand.

COMPUTER LINKS

The links from the COURSE SCHEDULE below are designed to complement the readings and lecture, and to provide students with additional explanation and resources. Treat them as readings on reserve.

QUIZZES / IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

I give four quizzes/exercises (each worth 150 points) to encourage you to keep up with your reading and to enable you to measure your progress. Questions may include multiple-choice, true-false, open-ended questions, and matching. Some questions will involve the analysis of maps, diagrams, or statistics. There will be no make-up quizzes.

EXAMS

There will be one final exam the last day of class worth 300 points or 30% of your grade. The final will consist of essay and short answer questions.

ATTENDANCE & CLASS PARTICIPATION

Attendance will be taken periodically. Class participation means attending regularly, answering questions in class, asking appropriate questions, contributing to classroom discussion and group activities. You may be dropped if you are absent more than twice without notifying the instructor. However, it is your responsibility if you decide to drop the class. Do not count on me to drop you before the last date for a "W".

COURSE EVALUATION

 Examinations (One Final Exam)  300 points
 In-class Quizzes (2) /Assignments (3)  600 points
 Participation  100 points
 TOTAL POINTS  1000 points

GRADING

The total number of points that you accumulate during the semester will determine your final course grade. Final grades are based on the following percentages of total points:

 A = 900-1000 pts.  B = 800-899 pts.   C = 700-799 pts.  D = at least 600 pts.


COURSE SCHEDULE GIS 301
subject to change
(Last Updated February 17, 2003)
 Week  Date  Topic  Readings  Links
 1 1/16 What is a map Online Atlases and Map Collections
 2 1/23 Communicating cartographically

Elements of a map - Cartographic Communication website

 Ch. 1
Cartography Related Sites

History of Map Making- assignment 1

 3  1/30 Map Projections Examples
Map generalizations
 Ch. 2 Make a Map - assignment 2
 4  2/6  Map interpretation and the physical environment.  Ch. 3, 4, 11  Lead Study - assignment 3 Part 1
Quiz 1
 5  2/13  Map interpretation and culture.  Ch. 5, 6, 7  Lead Study - assignment 3 Part 2
Quiz 2
 6  2/20   Introduction to GIS  Ch. 8, 9, 12, 13  GIS links, Microdem Program, GIS Introduction

Final Exam
study guide

Alan's World