Development of GIS Laboratory and Curricula

我们专门设立了一个新的地理信息系统实验室，并在新泽西城市大学开发了地理信息系统入门课程，采用了来自新墨西哥州、圣安东尼奥社区学院、加州大学圣巴巴拉分校和加州大学圣地亚哥分校、包括ESRI在内的软件制造商、美国地质调查局、新泽西州立大学和泽西市等机构以及工业界的概念、数据、材料和设备。这使得我们能够成功地培训并为我们的学生提供最先进的地理信息系统技术的“动手”实验室体验。新墨西哥州的迈克·德默斯提供了以环境为主题的实验室练习和数据。泽西市规划部的杰夫·温格提供了一个练习，允许学生将在地理信息系统之外开发的电子表格数据与在地理信息系统中开发的数据合并。加州大学圣地亚哥分校的伊利亚·扎斯拉夫斯基介绍了独立项目，作为提供与地理信息系统数据收集、格式化和分析相关的现实问题的一种手段。通过将配备了Dell Optiplex GX1计算机的Windows NT用作电子学习实验室(ELL)的教学平台，我们调整并实施了现有设备资源。我们的实验室和课程为我们的学生提供最先进的地理信息系统技术方面的即时培训和“动手”实验室体验。这一经验为我们的学生提供了适销对路的技能，这些技能将导致他们在不同学科的专业技术就业，并增加他们在研究生院的机会。我们在发展教育学方面发挥了带头作用，并正在与其他几个部门合作，创建一门得到广泛支持的跨学科课程。我们还与大纽约市大都会地区的机构保持联系，合作提高我们的学习策略和成果。

We have dedicated a new GIS Laboratory and developed an introductory Geographic Information Systems (GIS) course at New Jersey City University by adapting concepts, data, materials, and equipment from New Mexico State, San Antonio Community College, UC Santa Barbara, and UC San Diego; software manufacturers including ESRI; agencies such as the USGS, New Jersey State and Jersey City; and from industry. This has allowed us to successfully train and provide "hands-on" lab experiences for our students in state-of-the-art GIS technology. Mike DeMers of New Mexico State has provided lab exercises and data with environmental themes. Jeff Wenger of the Jersey City Planning Department has provided an exercise that allows students to merge spreadsheet data developed outside GIS with that in GIS. Ilya Zaslavsky of UC San Diego has introduced independent projects as a means of providing realistic problems associated with GIS data collection, formatting and analysis. We have adapted and implemented existing equipment resources by utilizing Windows NT-equipped with Dell Optiplex GX1 computers as instructional platforms in the Electronic Learning Lab (ELL). Our laboratory and course provides immediate training and "hands-on" lab experience for our students in state-of-the-art GIS technology. This experience provides our students with marketable skills that are leading to professional technical employment in a variety of disciplines and increasing their opportunities in graduate school. We have taken the lead role in developing the pedagogy and are working with several other departments in creating an interdisciplinary course that has received broadbased support. We are also in contact with institutions in the greater New York City metropolitan area in collaboration to increase our learning strategies and outcomes.