GEOG 105 THE DIGITAL EARTH Spring 2017

Transcription

1 GEOG 105 THE DIGITAL EARTH Spring 2017 Instructor: Dr. Julie Cidell Office: CAB 251 ( ) Office hours: W 1:30-3:30 or by appt. TA: Donald Planey TA planey1@illinois.edu TA office: CAB 238 TA office hours: Th 2-3 or by appt. Lecture: MW 11:00-11:50 (ASL 131) Lab: Davenport 338 COURSE DESCRIPTION This course examines how existing and emerging technologies are transforming places and spaces and shaping the ways that we interact with the environment and with each other. This includes the technologies of geography: geospatial technologies such as global positioning systems (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS) that are becoming increasingly important tools. The course also considers the geographies of technology: the spatial implications of new technologies such as cell phones, GPS, social networking websites, and Google Earth. Why does place still matter in a digital world? These two perspectives will be interwoven on a weekly basis, with various subfields of geography demonstrating how geospatial technologies help us learn about the world. COURSE GOALS 1. Apply concepts of space, place, and scale to both real and virtual worlds. 2. Learn to think critically about maps, mapping, and technology. 3. Identify social & spatial impacts of existing & emerging geospatial & Internet technologies. 4. Evaluate contemporary debates related to the digital Earth. READINGS Readings should be done BEFORE THE CLASS FOR WHICH THEY ARE LISTED. 1) The required textbook is A Primer of GIS by Francis Harvey, second edition. 2) Other readings will be available through the course Moodle (learn.illinois.edu) and are indicated as such on the schedule. Grades will be based on four components: GRADING Lab Activities 14 labs, 15 points each 210 Midterms 2 exams, 100 points each 200 Final 1 cumulative exam, 200 points 200 Mini-assignments 26 classes, 5 points each, drop Total 715 points

2 Lab Activities Lab activities will be done during the lab period, where a separate syllabus will be handed out. Occasionally some additional work outside of class may be necessary. Project results and answers to questions must be turned in on Moodle before 9 A.M. on Monday. Late labs will lose 1 point for each calendar day they are late (weekends included) unless you have made prior arrangements with Donald. Lab activities do not require familiarity with GIS, but basic computer skills are required. However, if you need help with any of the technical aspects at any time, don't hesitate to ask. Exams There will be three exams: two equally-weighted midterms, and a cumulative final worth twice as much. The exams will consist of multiple choice and short essay questions. Exam questions will be developed from material covered during lecture, course readings, and in-class activities, including labs. You will be allowed to bring one sheet of paper to the exam with whatever you want hand-written on one side. Missed exams cannot be made up unless you have a documented excuse (and even then, it's not guaranteed). Mini-assignments Students are expected to attend classes regularly and participate in discussion and in-class activities. During each class period, there will be a "mini-assignment," something along the lines of answering discussion questions about a reading, or working on a problem in class. There will be NO OPPORTUNITIES to make up these points, no matter your reason for missing class. However, the lowest five will be dropped (i.e., you can miss five and not have it affect your grade; if you're missing more than 20% of the class, it's probably going to affect your grade in other ways anyway.) EXPECTATIONS I expect you to be to class on time (or as much as you can considering our location), ready to listen with your cell phones off. I expect you not to check your or text during class. I know it's hard to go without any electronic contact for 50 minutes (believe me, my phone is the first thing I reach for once class is over), but give it a shot. If you're using a laptop for taking notes, I expect you to only use it for that purpose unless otherwise asked. This classroom is built to encourage interaction, which requires that you come to class prepared to interact! Please do the readings in advance and be prepared to ask questions and discuss concepts. Food and drink are not allowed in the computer lab during the lab portion of the class. On a less pleasant but necessary note: confirmed cheating or plagiarism will result in a 0 for the assignment and possibly for the entire course. This includes cut-and-pasting paragraphs from Wikipedia, turning in near-identical work as a classmate, or anything else that entails passing off someone else's work as if it were your own creation. Seriously, if I confirm that you turn in something that's not your own writing, you'll get a zero on it. See me if you are unsure about what constitutes cheating or plagiarism, or check out Any student who may need extra assistance to meet the requirements of this course (e.g., learning or physical disability, colorblindness, etc.) is requested to speak to me as soon as possible so we can discuss how to ensure you get the most out of the class. Thanks!

3 WEEK 1 Wed. (1/18) Welcome and introduction Read: nothing! Course schedule WEEK 2 Mon. (1/23) The five themes of geography Read: "The Five Themes of Geography" (on Moodle) Wed. (1/25) Why do we make maps? Read: Textbook, Chapter 1 WEEK 3 Mon. (1/30): Maps as a way of seeing and knowing Read: Textbook, Chapter 3 Wed. (2/1): Political geography: mapping and empire Read: "Political Geography" by Michael Shin (on Moodle) WEEK 4 Mon. (2/6): Map projections Read: Textbook, Chapter 5 Wed. (2/8): Political geography: territory and territoriality Read: Textbook, Chapter 2 WEEK 5 Mon. (2/13): Data uncertainty Read: Textbook, Chapter 12 Wed. (2/15): Political geography: gerrymandering Read: "This is the best explanation of gerrymandering you will ever see" by Christopher Ingraham (on Moodle; video and article) WEEK 6 Mon. (2/20): Generalization and symbolization Read: Textbook, Chapter 11 Wed. (2/22): MIDTERM I WEEK 7 Mon. (2/27): Geographic Information Systems Read: Textbook, Chapter 4 Wed. (2/28): Population geography: where are people? Read: "The credibility of small island overpopulation: A critique of population density maps as a proxy for overpopulation" by Luis Avilés AND "Population Geography" by Ezekiel Kalipeni (both on Moodle)

4 WEEK 8 Mon. (3/6): Raster vs. vector Read: Textbook, Chapter 10 Wed. (3/8): Population geography: health and well-being Read: "Geography of Health and Health Care" by Sara McLafferty (on Moodle) WEEK 9 Mon. (3/13): Global Positioning Systems Read: Textbook, Chapter 8 Wed. (3/15): Population geography: the digital divide Read: "Digital Divide" by Barney Warf (on Moodle) SPRING BREAK WEEK 10 Mon. (3/27): Remote sensing: from pigeons to real-time data collection Read: Textbook, Chapter 9 Wed. (3/29): Environmental geography: material inputs and energy Read: "Resource Geography" by David Rossiter WEEK 11 Mon. (4/3): Space-time geographies, Big Data, and Cyber GIS Read: "Beyond space (as we knew it): toward temporally integrated geographies of segregation, health, and accessibility" by Mei-Po Kwan (on Moodle) Wed. (4/5): Environmental geography: pollution and e-waste Read: "Maps on Acid: Cartographically Constructing the Acid Rain Environmental Issue, " by McNeil and Culcasi (on Moodle) WEEK 12 Mon. (4/10): Geographic technologies Read: Textbook, Chapter 14 Wed. (4/12): MIDTERM II WEEK 13 Mon. (4/17): How to ask spatial questions Read: Textbook, Chapter 15 Wed. (4/19): Urban geography: knowing and mapping the city Read: "Urban Geography" by Dennis Grammenos WEEK 14 Mon. (4/24): Spatial analysis: hot spots and cold spots Read: Textbook, Chapter 16

5 Wed. (4/26): Urban geography: smart cities Read: "The effect of Pokémon Go on the pulse of the city: a natural experiment" by Graels- Garrido et al. (on Moodle). WEEK 15 Mon. (5/1): Where are geospatial technologies going? Read: Textbook, Chapter 17 Wed. (5/3): Geographies of the future Read: "Geospatial technologies in the location-aware future" by Matt Wilson (on Moodle) Final (comprehensive) exam: Thursday, May 11, 8-10 A.M. Do NOT make travel plans before this date. There is NO conflict exam for this course.