This workshop explores how community mapping and geospatial technology can be incorporated in the classroom. A primary goal of this technique is helping students develop and demonstrate higher order thinking skills that engage them in the process of discovering and answering questions about their community. The goal is to introduce a range of simple open source/open access mapping tools that can be easily leveraged in class projects to highlight local issues and initiate conversations about community dynamics, space, and priorities.

Intro video for GEO 172: Human Geography with Richard Schein

Intro video for GEO 160: Geography of the Non-Western World with P.P. Karan

Intro video for GEO 160: The Non-Western World with Professor Karan

Students in Matt Wilson's class get to hang out with celebrities like Denzel Washington, Ryan Gosling and even the Turtle-Man. The 'Celebrity Mapping Project' required them to photograph a cut-out of any celebrity, develop a creative caption explaining why that celebrity would be on campus, upload their photographs into a collaborative photo-sharing site, and, finally, place their photographs directly into the appropriate sites on a collaborative map. Learn more about the project!

Mark Kornbluh continues his Dean's Channel series with a conversation with Department of Geography professor Rich Schein, who is teaching a new course this semester - Community 101. A class that will connect students to Lexington history, culture, modern issues - and most importantly, why all of that should matter to them.