Seminar in Applications of Geospatial Technology

Welcome! I'm Allison Lenkeit Meezan, your look forward to meeting you this winter quarter in the Seminar in Applications of Geospatial Technology online at Foothill College. 

This is not the class syllabus, but rather some information provided prior to the start of the term to help prepare you for class and answer some common questions. I will give you a detailed syllabus on the first day of class, April 10, 2023.

This course uses the Canvas course management system. This is where you will access lectures, office hours and links to optional Zoom meetings. You need to be enrolled to log into the course site.  Our course site will be available to you a few days before the start of the quarter. 

1. Login to MyPortal using your Student ID Number and Password 

2. Click on the Students tab

3. Look for "My Online Courses"

4. Click on "Log into Canvas"

This class has no pre-requisites, other than enthusiasm and curiosity. Fluency in written and spoken English is strongly encouraged. 

If you have questions or concerns about your preparation for this class, please email me. If you are new to GIS, I encourage you to also enroll in GIST 11, Introduction to Mapping & Spatial Reasoning Winter quarter to give you the maximum exposure and context for GIS.

This class has no required books. It is strongly encouraged that you have a computer (not just a phone) to access the videos, papers and materials that we will be using in our class. If you do not have access to a computer, the Foothill College library can lend you one for the quarter. For more information about the computer loan program, please contact a Tech Ambassador in the Student Success Portal. 

Fitting in school while balancing work, family and the stresses of post-pandemic life, is not easy. Getting good grades can be stressful enough, without recovery from a global pandemic, climate change and a incendiary socio-political landscape.  To be successful in our class, allow yourself the time and space you need to work through the material and reach out to me or your peers if you are stuck. 

You should plan to 'attend' class regularly by logging in 1-2 times per week.  Set a regular schedule for yourself, just as if you were taking a face to face class. Plan to sit down for some quality time with Physical Geography several times per week. In the face to face classroom, we would meet for 2 hours per week . Budget in additional time to complete homework, readings etc, and you are looking at  4-6 hours each week for our class.

Class begins Monday, April 10. I will open our Canvas course a few days before the start of the quarter so you can look around. I will email all enrolled and waitlisted students the Thursday before our quarter begins to let you know the class is open and share login information. 

You are responsible for 24 hours of course material through the quarter as follows. Hours listed to complete each activity may vary by student but average times expected for an undergraduate level student are listed to meet course outline of record requirements:

• Introductory module & discussion – 2 hours

• Attend approved GIST meetup events and educational seminars – 12 hours

• Discussion postings – 4 hours

• Interview GIST professional and write up summary of interview – 6 hours

This class does not have exams. 

The bulk of our seminar is your attendance at GIST meetup events and educational seminars. In non-Covid times these would be a mix of live events in your area and virtual events and recorded seminars. This year we will likely be focusing more on recorded seminars and virtual events. Stay tuned as our regional shelter in place conditions are updated. We will know more closer to January.

For each event that you attend live or watch a recording of, I ask that you write up a three paragraph summary. For multi-hour events, you may be asked to write a more extensive summary. 

You will also conduct an interview with a GIS professional. I will work with you to match you with a GIS professional with similar interests in the discipline.