Flexible Delivery and Social Learning: Seeking a New Geography of GIS in Education

Pip Forer
University of Auckland, New Zealand

This paper starts from the assumption that the changes we are witnessing in the computing and communications arena will be reflected in changes in educational practice. It examines what these might mean in the area of GIS in education, and specifically in respect of the geography of GIS education. The important issues of flexible learning timetables and socialised learning environments are raised. It is noted that, at least in New Zealand, increased competition and changing lifestyles amongst the mainstream student body are stressing the need for more flexible delivery of all courses.

Finally the paper describes moves afoot at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, to develop course structures which increase student choice and flexibility, retain high levels of social contact and are efficient to deliver. In doing this it examines some of the delivery options open to institutions operating across several campuses, particularly in respect to the question of how the geography of traditional tertiary learning can best adapt to changing student needs for quality education. Some practical experiences of remote supervision of project work using video-enabled groupware are reported.

Pip Forer, Professor
Department of Geography
University of Auckland, New Zealand
email: pip@hauraki.geog.auckland.ac.nz