An Undergraduate Instructional Laboratory for Computer Mapping and Geographic Information Systems

该提案将建立一个本科地理信息系统（GIS）教学计算机实验室，使地理和规划系能够与布法罗州立学院的两个研究/教育中心合作，扩大其课程设置，本科生研究机会，并开发新的创新K-12课程和教师培训工具。所要求的仪器将用于为小学和中学教育专业的学生编制新的计算机制图课程，并举办一个夏季讲习班，向教师提供类似的培训；提高本署为辖下专业及其他非教育专业开设的电脑制图及地理信息系统课程的成效及数目；增加本科生在导师指导下进行有关社会及环境问题的研究项目的机会；并在本署开设一门新课程，以应用地理信息系统方法分析环境和保育问题。该项目将与纽约州立大学布法罗分校的国家地理信息与分析中心（NCGIA）以及纽约地理联盟的服务教师进行协调。项目结果将通过标准的学术渠道以及由NCGIA在纽约州立大学布法罗分校、NCGLA在加州大学圣巴巴拉分校和新闻部在项目进行期间在布法罗举办的关于地理信息系统在K-12教育中的全国会议进行传播。此外，研究结果将在美国地理学家协会中部地区分部1998年和1999年年度会议上举行的关于GIS在本科教育中的小组讨论中提出。

This proposal would establish an undergraduate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) instructional computer lab that would enable the Department of Geography and Planning, in cooperation with two research/education centers at Buffalo State College, to expand its course offerings, undergraduate research opportunities and to develop new and innovative K-12 curricula and teacher training tools. The requested instrumentation would serve to develop new courses in computer mapping for elementary and secondary education majors and to develop a summer workshop to provide similar training to teachers; to increase the effectiveness and number of computer mapping and GIS courses offered by the Department for its majors and other non-education majors; to increase opportunities for undergraduate students to undertake supervised research projects on social and environmental problems; and to develop within the Department a new course in the application of GIS methodology in the analysis of environmental and conservation issues. The project will be coordinated with the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA) at SUNY Buffalo and in service teachers through the New York Geographic Alliance. Project results will be disseminated through standard academic outlets as well as in a national Conference on GIS in K-12 education organized by the NCGIA at SUNY Buffalo, the NCGLA at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the Department, to be held in Buffalo during the course of the project. In addition the results will be presented in panel discussions on GIS in Undergraduate Education to be held at the 1998 and 1999 Annual Conferences of the Middle States Division of the American Association of Geographers.