Student-led geo-literacy approaches to increase higher education relevance

Keywords: higher education, geo-literacy, geospatial, HyFlex, OER,
Abstract Type: Virtual Paper Abstract

Abstract

This paper explores how to use a collaborative OER student-led geo-literacy approach to enhance the strength and relevance of geography and geospatial education across campus and community. Undergraduate geography educators must teach an extensive range of introductory geographic concepts to an array of disciplines and majors across campus. Locating common ground that meets the expectations and future professional needs of students can be challenging. An OER approach strengthens frameworks for establishing a geo-literacy cohort on campus which includes the three-tiered HyFlex audience (in-person, synchronous, asynchronous). This case study presents several semester-long projects used to create applied geo-literacy educational outreach, giving students a chance to collaborate on community building and service with outside organizations for a real-world purpose, create a resume portfolio item, and build upon shared knowledge of previous semester cohorts. Working with a campus library as a centralized contact, OER along with embedded collected texts, student projects, ESRI StoryMaps, and other resources in a dynamic LibGuide format that can be shared with educators creating a network tool for potential geography partnerships and embedding cross-disciplinary geo-literacy. An integrated approach makes it possible to expand on its current impact to curate interdisciplinary spatial themes to promote across-campus learning, integrate geography into promotable events to create a dynamic environment, retain and build upon each semester’s class to build a sense of permanence. A student-centered approach reaches a broad audience from students and faculty across campus to alumni and future students, family and friends and even participating audiences in the community and public.