GIS Boot Camp vs. Traditional Teaching

I recently came across a post about the Introduction to GIS class at the University of Richmond.  Kimberly Klinker changed up her Introduction to GIS class from the traditional lecture/lab format to a boot camp/project format.  She did five weeks of teaching basic concepts of GIS and the ArcGIS software then used the remaining part of the semester to assign a project.  Wondering what the result was?  Well according to the article, it was a success.  The class was able to present a project that helps students with disabilities transverse the campus (Read more on this project).

This teaching style may sound very strange and unorthodox, but the evolution of education is providing various techniques to help students learn.  I must first commend Ms. Klinker for thinking outside of the box.  I do not believe that the traditional style of learning through lecture is the best method for this technology.  However, the boot camp method may also not be the best.  You have to remember that each individual student has their own learning style.  Some are able to use a self study workbook approach and learn more than sitting under the lecture of an experienced professor.  Others may prefer the traditional classroom style, while there may be a few who even like to learn by trial and error through experience.  Is there a particular learning style that works best for Geospatial Technology?  I believe that this subject cannot be taught through just lecture.  There must be some type of application.  Having book knowledge is OK, but putting that knowledge to use is even better.

I like that fact that these students were able to take on a project from start to finish.  Application, application, application is important!  Knowing how to perform a task is one thing; being able to apply it is another.  Students can be provided with the tools for Geospatial Technology, but they must also be able to discern when it is best to put them to use.

Does a mixture of learning styles produce the best environment for learning GIS, or is there a particular style that works best?

ESRI Training and Education Center

Although all GIS does not revolve around ESRI software, ArcGIS holds a big portion of it.  When you open ArcMap for the first time, it is a bit overwhelming.  You wonder if you are ever going to be able to use all of the features and even more understand what everything does.  With all of this confusion, ESRI has provided an excellent place to gain training and understanding.

The site that ESRI has created is called ESRI Training and Education.  On this site you can find Read more