DISTANCE LEARNING ON GIS, FACTS, CONSIDERATIONS AND QUESTIONS
Petra Cremers
GEON, The Netherlands
At GEON, Centre of Expertise on Geo-information Studies, we
have developed three modules of 40 student-hours in distance
learning format. In this paper our experiences with distance
education are discussed. The first part deals with characteristics of GIS education,
which are classified into three categories. The first one is
the content of GIS-education. GIS education consists of
knowledge of concepts, skills in using technology and an
insight in the organizational aspects of setting up a GIS. The
second characteristic is the nature of the field of study: GIS
is a very rapidly changing subject. The third characteristic
is the fact that GIS is a tool, not a goal in itself. This
implies that GIS education is always linked with an
application area.
The three categories each have a different impact on the way a
distance learning module is designed. This impact has appeared
to us in three ways: as facts from experience, as
considerations or choices which have to be made and as
questions we still have. Those will be presented as statements
for discussion.
Petra H.M. Cremers
GEON
Hanzehogeschool, Hogeschool van Groningen
P.O. Box 3037
9701 DA Groningen
Phone: ++ 31 50 57 49 760
Fax: ++ 31 50 57 49 862
Email: P.H.M.CREMERS@RHG.HANZE.NL