Abstract
The spatial university aims to help students learn to think spatially. This chapter outlines the many different ways in which spatial thinking presents throughout the University of Minnesota, beginning with an overview of the history of spatial science on campus and a discussion of how the curriculum has evolved over time. A description of the current curriculum is provided starting with the introductory level Geographic Information Science (GISc) coursework and spanning through the recently instated BA minor and the highly regarded MGIS program. We then present the ways in which spatial learning permeates beyond coursework and curricula using specific examples of organizations that facilitate spatially learning at the university including U-Spatial, GISSO, the GeoCommons, and the Esri Innovation Program. In addition to teaching GIS, we present a discussion of the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a tool for teaching, providing specific examples to convey the broad array of departments on campus that use StoryMaps and ArcOnline to teach a variety of topics. The chapter concludes with an examination of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ways spatial science is being taught, focusing specifically on the shift to online learning. In sum, the spatial university builds upon its solid foundation to support spatial learning for a diverse assortment of departments and organizations in ways that ensure the continual growth and adaptation of GIScience education into the future.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Building the Spatial University |
Subtitle of host publication | Spatial Thinking, Learning, and Service Throughout the System |
Publisher | Springer International Publishing |
Pages | 55-78 |
Number of pages | 24 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9783030928476 |
ISBN (Print) | 9783030928469 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 23 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.
Keywords
- Coursework
- Curricula
- Learning
- Organizations
- Programs