Schedule

Revised 5/29/2025

Fall Semester 2025: Module 1: 8/20/2025 to 10/7/2025

This course has a flexible format to fit your schedule, but you must keep up with your work in class.

Time commitment: Iā€™ve found that most students can complete the work for this course in around 4-6 hours per week. You will probably complete most of the work if you work in the GIS Lab (SCSC 207) for 3 hours a week, like a normal lecture class.

Meetings: This 0.5 credit module course was designed to be flexible and fit into any schedule. You are responsible for setting up a meeting time: an appointment schedule is ( here ).

  • Please schedule a meeting with me in the 2nd and 3rd weeks. If you get assignments in on time, no need for additional meetings unless you want.
  • If you get behind, please commit to 3 hours in the lab (207 SCSC) during the subsequent week and email me the hours before the start of the week..
  • Pro tip: regularly working in the lab during my office hours gives you access to me (for questions, feedback, etc). In other words, schedule time to get the work in this class done
    • M: 10:00-11, 1-2
    • Tu: 9:15-1
    • W: 10-11, 12-2
    • Th: 9:15-12; 1-2
    • F: 10-11, noon

If you have a problem after hours or on the weekend, please email me, and we can try to sort it by email, phone, FaceTime, or Zoom. I will get back to you as soon as I can. But this is a rule of thumb to follow with problems you encounter:Ā 

If you run into a problem you can’t solve (the tutorial does not always match up with the software perfectly), go back and make sure you did not miss a step. If it’s still not working, note the issue and move on to the next section. You can follow up with me (email, appointment) if you want to see if I can figure it out.

Complete work for each week by the end of the day on Friday of that week (11:59 pm).

Software 1: The blog you are currently on (WordPress): expect to see an email from OWU’s WordPress site. Accept the invitation. You must post from a hardwired campus computer (like those in 207) or BishopNet (not BishopGuest, not your phone hotspot). Ā If you need access to BishopNet: while on campus, go to https://wifi.owu.edu and register your device. Talk to me if you are still having problems.

You will post the weekly work to this blog.

    • Type up approximately 300 words for each reading
    • Post the requested work to this blog
    • Email your instructor that you posted the work

For the final project, create a shared folder in Google and share it with me: Jah Wobble’s folder would be Geog 291 Wobble.

Software 2: ArcGIS Online. Watch for an email. Accept the invitation. Log into ArcGIS Online at the OWU site here.

Software 3: ArcGIS Pro. Installed on GIS Lab (207 SCSC) computers.

The GIS Lab (SCSC 207) is unlocked 7 am-7 pm M-F.

I’ll provide the class with a code to get in the room after those hours, along with OWU ID card swipe access to the Science Center.

You can’tĀ save files to the lab computers. Sorry. Use a portable drive (not a flash drive). Contact Krygier if you need to check out a portable drive for the semester.

Log into a lab computer using one of two methods: Pop-up menu (lower left).

1) select pGina, then use your OWU username and password
2) select Lab Public, password: l@bguest

Double-click on the ArcGIS icon on the desktop. You can also download ArcGIS Pro on your own Windows PC. It should be a newer computer with plenty of memory and storage. Log into your ArcOnline account here and follow the steps here: Download ArcGIS Pro

Week 1: Introduction to Course: Stuff Due Friday, Aug. 22

Books: Get books (see syllabus) or copies available in GIS lab (top map drawer near room door). Do not remove these books from the rhoom.

Assign: Review course blog (syllabus & schedule) and create a blog posting on the class blog: please give the posting this title: <Your Last Name> Week 1

  1. Take the GEOG 291 Quiz here. Note that you did so in your Week 1 posting.
  2. A basic introduction to you with a glossy 8.5 x 11 photograph or suitable alternative
  3. Read Schuurman ch. 1 (PDF)Ā & include Ā comments, thoughts, etc. (300 words)
  4. Use Google and Google Scholar and ChatGPT to look into a few GIS application areas: search for ā€œGIS Applicationā€ or “GIS” and different keywords, based on your personal interest: wolf telemetry, LGBT, carnivorous plants, hate groups, crime, sewers, crowdsourcing, etc.). Include, in the blog posting, information on two applications with at least one map or image and a source or two.

Week 2: GIS Analysis I: Stuff Due Friday, Aug. 29

Read: Mitchell ch. 1, 2, 3. Create a new blog entry with comments, notes, and questions on this reading. Include key concepts and definitions. About 300 words per chapter. <Your Last Name> Week 2. Follow this titling format for the rest of the course.

Meet with me (appointments are here or find me during those appointment hours in 206 or 207 SCSC.

Week 3: GIS Analysis II: Stuff Due Friday, Jan. 31

Read: Mitchell ch. 4, 5, 6. Create a new blog entry with comments, notes, and questions on this reading. Include key concepts and definitions. About 300 words per chapter.

Meet with me (appointments are here) or come find me during those appointment hours in 206 or 207 SCSC.

Week 4: GIS Software I: GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Pro: Stuff Due Friday, Sept. 5

  • Log into the GIS Lab (207 SCSC) computers as per instructions above
  • The link to the tutorial files is in the front of the book (“Installing the tutorial data”)
    • Download to yourĀ external hard drive
    • The downloaded file is compressed (zipped, etc.): Right-mouse click and Extract All (this removes them from the compressed file)
    • Use only the ArcGIS Pro files in the GISTforPro folder. They are for the tutorials in the book
      • You don’t have to do the Assignments for Students (unless you want).
  • Open ArcGIS Pro and log into ArcGIS Online (upper right)
  • Follow the instructions in the book: from within ArcGIS Pro, navigate to the tutorial files in the GISTforPro folder.

Read and complete: GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Pro, Preface + Ch. 1, 2, 3. Create a new blog entry with comments, notes, and questions on these tutorial chapters. Save a screenshot or two of your work for each tutorial chapter for the blog entry.

Week 5: GIS Software II: GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Pro: Stuff Due Friday, Sept. 12

Read and complete: GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Pro, Ch. 4, 5, 6. Create a new blog entry with comments, notes, and questions on these tutorial chapters. Save a screenshot or two of your work for each tutorial chapter for the blog entry.

Start Work onĀ Delaware Data Inventory & Final Exam

Week 6: GIS Software III: GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Pro: Stuff Due Friday, Sept. 19

Read and complete: GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Pro, Ch. 7, 8, 9. Create a new blog entry with comments, notes, and questions on these tutorial chapters. Save a screenshot or two of your work for each tutorial chapter for the blog entry. There is some cool stuff in Ch. 10 & 11 but it’s not required. If you do it, let me know and extra credit can be applied.

Week 7: Work.Ā 

Work on and help with the Take-home exam

Week 8: Final Submission: Stuff Due Friday, Oct. 3

Put the final in the shared folder and email your instructor by the end of the day (11:59 pm).