Course Syllabus
Syllabus: Geospatial Technologies
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Course Information
- Course Name: ENSCI/AGRON 270: Geospatial Technologies
- Department: Agronomy
- Current Semester and Year: Spring 2024
- Credit Hours: 3
- Course Prerequisites: None, but familiarity with basic computer skills is helpful.
- Course Meeting Time: In-class attendance is optional. Lecture presentations and submission of lab assignments are online. The scheduled class time is designed to help you with the labs and answer questions. You may also access the same support by scheduling a virtual meeting for face-to-face discussion and screen sharing for technical support.
- Course Format: Hybrid
Instructor Information
Instructor: Dr. Bradley Miller
Email: millerba@iastate.edu
Phone: 515-294-8077
Office location: 2019 Agronomy
Student hours: (on-campus/virtual) Thursdays 12:30-2 pm (also available by appointment). Appointments for Virtual Meetings: Schedule in MS Teams
Course Objectives (COs)
Spatial concepts are inherent within virtually all data. This course teaches the fundamental concepts for how to analyze spatial data and current tools for performing those analyses.
Upon completing this course, students will be able to do the following:
CO 1: Understand the fundamentals of working with spatial data.
CO 2: Be familiar with various spatial data types and methods of collecting, storing, displaying, and analyzing spatial information.
CO 3: Demonstrate how geospatial tools can be applied to problem-solving scenarios in a variety of natural science disciplines.
CO 4: Be aware of the advantages of viewing the world with a geographic perspective and be able to describe how spatial thinking can contribute to problem-solving.
Course Materials
List any required and optional materials, such as books, instructional guides, websites, simulations, interactive games, mass media publications, peer reviewed journals.
Follow a specific reference style guide, such as APA, MLA or Chicago. At minimum, reference the author or owner name, date of publication, title, and the URL or source, such as publisher.
Required materials
- Introduction to Geospatial Technologies, 6th Edition by Bradley A. Shellito, 2023. W.H. Freeman and Company. NY. (ISBN: 9781319436599)
- The Canvas Course website includes a copy of this syllabus, topic presentations, and additional assignment information.
Learning Activities
Explain how the learning activities provide opportunities for practice, interaction and achievement of the listed learning objectives.
To successfully complete this course, you will do the following:
- Read assigned chapters.
- Watch recorded lectures.
- Watch additional media when applicable.
- Participate in discussion topics.
- Complete labs, quizzes, and exams.
Assessment & Grading
Assessments
List all course assessments. Provide specific and descriptive criteria to be used for evaluating student work and explain their connection to the course grading policy.Explain what kind of feedback students can expect after each assessment.
Each module, consisting of a lab and quiz, is worth 5% of the course grade. Please check the rubric to view the grading criteria. Due dates are listed on each assessment. See the listing of assignments in the "Course Summary" within the Course Syllabus.
Quizzes (13):
There will be fourteen online quizzes covering material from the lectures and textbook reading. Each quiz is worth 3 points and consists of three questions, corresponding to the style of questions that will be seen on the exams.
Lab Assignments (14):
Students are required to complete and submit 13 lab assignments. These are intended to provide hands-on experience with the concepts described in the readings and presentations. Some of the labs require specialized, licensed software, which is provided on a Remote Desktop server. Most of the labs are from the textbook. In those cases, the page numbers for the instructions are provided in Canvas. The textbook has questions spread out through the process of completing the labs. The same questions are in the Canvas assessment for the lab and is where students can submit their answers. The questions on Canvas offer more support because they are frequently converted to multiple-choice questions and contain hints from the instructor. Toward the end of the course, there will be a few labs that have been custom-created for this course. In those cases, the instructions and questions are all in Canvas.
Exams (2):
In this course, you are required to complete two online examinations. For the mid-term examination, students will have 70 minutes to answer a combination of forty multiple-choice, multiple-answer, and matching questions as well as two essay questions. For the final examination, students will have 90 minutes to answer a combination of fifty multiple-choice, multiple-answer, and matching questions as well as three essay questions. Exams will cover content from presentations, the textbook, and labs. Exams will be delivered within the Canvas system and made available for multiple days.
Missing an Exam: Only illness, death in the family, or similar extenuating circumstances as judged by the instructor are acceptable as excuses for missing an exam without prior agreement. The instructor reserves the right to require verification (e.g., a doctor’s note) in such an instance. Contacting the instructor prior to an exam regarding an issue will be treated more favorably than after the exam. Without a prior agreement or an acceptable excuse, the exam will be recorded as a zero.
Grade Distribution
To add more columns or rows, hover the cursor over the table to see table properties. See Canvas Guide for more guidance.
You can accumulate points by participating in the following way:
| Participation area | Total Points |
|---|---|
| Lab and Quizzes | 70% |
| Mid-term Exam | 15% |
| Final Exam | 15% |
| Total Points Possible | 100% |
Grading Scheme
Grading scheme: The table below shows the Canvas default grading scheme. This is a Canvas sample grading schema, and not an institutional grading schema. Make sure the grading schema you describe in your syllabus matches your grading schema in the course-specific settings.
The following grading standards will be used in this class:
| Grade | Range |
|---|---|
| A | 93% to 100% |
| A- | 90% to < 93% |
| B+ | 87% to < 90% |
| B | 83% to < 87% |
| B- | 80% to < 83% |
| C+ | 77% to < 80% |
| C | 73% to < 77% |
| C- | 70% to < 73% |
| D+ | 67% to < 70% |
| D | 63% to < 67% |
| D- | 60% to < 63% |
| F | 0% to < 60% |
Course Policies
Below are sample policies. They may not fitting your course, so please change accordingly.
Feedback
All graded assessments will be returned with feedback within 7 days of the due date. Personalized feedback will be provided for each assignment. In addition, responses to common questions and unclear content will be posted after each module. Questions posted in the 'Discussions' section will be responded to within 24 hours.
Missed and late coursework
It is important to keep up with the pace of this course. Falling behind makes learning more difficult and inevitably harms the final course grade. As an incentive to keep up, labs will be deducted 10% for every 24 hours they are submitted after the due date, with a maximum deduction of 50%.
Exams will be penalized one letter grade for each day they are submitted late (including weekends). Make sure to keep careful track of submission deadlines for all of your work in this class.
Attendance
Attendance is not required. By paying your tuition and enrolling in this course, you have gained access to all of the resources in this course. The most valuable of which is interaction with the instructors, which we have made as easy and flexible as possible (e.g., in-class time, discussion board, scheduled online meetings with MS Teams). The caveat is that this flexibility relies on you to reach out and utilize these resources.
Grade Appeal Process
If you become concerned about your instructor's class management, please communicate your concerns with your instructor. Concerns sometimes relate to grading methods, grading turnaround time, and course policies, as examples. If you feel uncomfortable speaking with your instructor, contact one of the supporting student services offices (Department of Agronomy = 294-4161; Environmental Programs = 294-3651). Before you decide to appeal, check out ISU's academic appeal process.
Incomplete grades
Incomplete grades for the course should be used as a last resort but are available if needed. In such a case, a written agreement will need to be created, documenting the plan for completing the missing portions of the course.
Expectations
My philosophy for the class environment is driven by three points:
- You've made an investment by choosing to take this course. It is incumbent on me to provide efficient and effective learning to maximize the value of your investment.
- College students are adults with self-responsibility and the ability to choose how they want to use the resources available to them.
- In a community environment, no one has the right to interfere with a registered student's access to the resources in this course. For example, if a student wishes to watch content not related to class during class time, that is their decision. However, if that activity interferes in any way with the learning environment of another student, that activity will not be allowed.
Required ISU Syllabus Statement
Free Expression
Iowa State University supports and upholds the First Amendment protection of freedom of speech and the principle of academic freedom in order to foster a learning environment where open inquiry and the vigorous debate of a diversity of ideas are encouraged. Students will not be penalized for the content or viewpoints of their speech as long as student expression in a class context is germane to the subject matter of the class and conveyed in an appropriate manner.
Iowa State University Policies
Academic Dishonesty
The class will follow Iowa State University’s policy on academic misconduct (5.1 in the Student Code of Conduct). Students are responsible for adhering to university policy and the expectations in the course syllabus and on coursework and exams, and for following directions given by faculty, instructors, and Testing Center regulations related to coursework, assessments, and exams. Anyone suspected of academic misconduct will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct in the Dean of Students Office. Information about academic integrity and the value of completing academic work honestly can be found in the Iowa State University Academic Integrity Tutorial.
Accessibility Statement
Iowa State University is committed to advancing equity, access, and inclusion for students with disabilities. Promoting these values entails providing reasonable accommodations where barriers exist to students’ full participation in higher education. Students in need of accommodations or who experience accessibility-related barriers to learning should work with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to identify resources and support available to them. Staff at SAS collaborate with students and campus partners to coordinate accommodations and to further the academic excellence of students with disabilities. Information about SAS is available online at www.sas.dso.iastate.edu, by email at accessibility@iastate.edu, or by phone at 515-294-7220.
Discrimination and Harassment
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 3410 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, Hotline 515-294-1222, email eooffice@iastate.edu
Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources
Iowa State University is committed to proactively facilitating all students’ well-being. Resources available on the ISU Student Health and Wellness website. (https://www.cyclonehealth.iastate.edu)
Prep Week
This class follows the Iowa State University Prep Week policy as noted in section 10.6.4 of the Faculty Handbook.
Religious Accommodation
Iowa State University welcomes diversity of religious beliefs and practices, recognizing the contributions differing experiences and viewpoints can bring to the community. There may be times when an academic requirement conflicts with religious observances and practices. If that happens, students may request reasonable accommodation for religious practices. In all cases, you must put your request in writing. The instructor will review the situation in an effort to provide a reasonable accommodation when possible to do so without fundamentally altering a course. For students, you should first discuss the conflict and your requested accommodation with your professor at the earliest possible time. You or your instructor may also seek assistance from the Dean of Students Office at 515-294-1020 or the Office of Equal Opportunity at 515-294-7612.
Contact Information For Academic Issues
If you are experiencing, or have experienced, a problem with any of the above statements, email academicissues@iastate.edu
(Important note to faculty: The email address for contact information is monitored and answered through the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost)
Disclaimer: The information in this syllabus is subject to change in extenuating circumstances. Changes to the course syllabus will be provided in writing and announced via course-wide announcements.
The syllabus page shows a table-oriented view of the course schedule, and the basics of course grading. You can add any other comments, notes, or thoughts you have about the course structure, course policies or anything else.
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Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|