GEOG 4043/5043, Cartography 2:

Interactive and Multimedia Mapping

Dr. Kenneth E. Foote, Instructor

Office Hours: 10-10:50 MWF or by appt. in Guggenheim 102B, Phone: (303) 492-6760, E-mail: k.foote@colorado.edu

Li Xu, Teaching Assistant

Office Hours: TBA, Phone: (303) 735-1084, E-mail: li.xu-1@colorado.edu

Overview

Cartography 2 is designed as an introduction to multimedia, interactive, animated, and Web cartography, stressing the new and important roles digital cartography is coming to play in cyberspace. The course focuses on principles of effective cartographic communication and the question of how these apply in multimedia and hypertext environments. Special attention will be directed to how multimedia expands the range of options open to cartographers, yet constrains cartographic communication in other ways. Emphasis will also be placed on using the Web as a research resource for cartographers and on effective ways of evaluating Web-based data resources. The course is designed to allow you to reach three interrelated goals:

1) To create effective hypertext, animated and Web maps

To know how the principles of cartographic and visual communication apply to multimedia, animated and Web maps
To understand the strengths and weaknesses of the hypertext environment for composing maps
To describe different static and interactive methods of organizing maps in the Web, including the use of mapserver technologies

2) To gather and evaluate digital cartographic information, particularly materials found in the Web

To know the most important starting places for cartographic information
To formulate efficient search strategies for finding data in the Web
To assess the strengths and weaknesses of various data suppliers and sources in the Web
To download, store and convert data and information collected in the Web

3) To gain the digital skills needed to create effective Web and multimedia maps

To author Web documents using a variety of authoring systems
To add interactive features such animations, touch-sensitive maps, and forms
To understand basic issues of Web usability and how to evaluate the effectiveness of a Web site
To be familiar with the issues of good netizenship, copyright and fair use as they apply to online environments

Cartography 2 is organized around active-learning projects, all of which will be published in the Web. The projects have been selected so that they raise a variety of technical and methodological problems related to the design of maps in the Web. Most of the materials for the class have been developed in hypermedia format as an on-line "electronic" textbook and lab manual in the Worldwide Web. The course does assume some previous experience in cartography or GIS (Mapping a Changing World, Cartography 1, GIS 1 or GIS 2), although it does not assume previous experience with Web authoring. Experience with Windows-based computers is valuable, as is experience with ArcMap, Illustrator, Freehand, PhotoShop, Mozilla Composer, Internet Explorer, Flash, and MS Office software.

Grading: An Online Portfolio

Your course grade will be based on an online portfolio of work, as well as two take-home exams. Your portfolio will include four projects: 1) your course Web site (20% of final grade); 2) mapping Lafayette's architectural heritage (20% of final grade); 3) a project based on the Colorado Data Commons/CitizenAtlas project (20% of final grade); and 4) an independent project (20% of final grade). The two exams will each count for 10% of your grade. They will focus especially on readings and on careful observations of actual examples of multimedia and interactive maps.

The deadlines for assignments are given in the course schedule. Please contact me as soon as possible if you will miss a deadline owing to a health, medical, or family emergency. Assignments handed in late lose 10% of point value per day.

It is my policy in all my classes to abide by the CU Honor Code (http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/) This means that I will penalize with course failure anyone who engages in academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes, among other offenses, plagiarism of the writing of others, cheating on exams, falsification and fabrication of data, and submitting the assignments or papers of others as your own.

Lab Meetings

Attendance is required at all lab and lecture sessions, unless excused by the instructor for reasons of health or family emergency or for reasons given below under religious observances and disability access.

Textbooks and Software

No textbooks are required for this course. Most of the notes and materials are online in the Worldwide Web. Some additional books and readings will be placed on reserve or E-reserve or distributed by email.

The readings are noted in the class schedule and usually one or two articles or book chapters each week.

If you wish to find additional information about Web authoring:

Excellent reference sources are available in the Web including documents on Web publishing issued by CU's Office of Information Technolgoy (including its HTML and CGI Tools page), from other universities, and from other providers such as the W3 Consortium.
If you prefer a printed book, you might browse the books on Web authoring available in most bookstores or check online bookstores listed below.

We will be using a number of software systems during the semester. Most of these systems include excellent help files and tutorials that should provide all the training you will need to succeed in this course. However, many fine training guides are available for the software we will be using. You may wish to browse through books available at local bookstores, computer shops, and online booksellers to see if what is available, or ask me.

You may find it useful to buy software some authoring and graphics software for your home computer. Very good educational/instructional prices have been set for some of the software we will use. These include PhotoShop Elements or Adobe Creative Suite (CS5). You may also wish to download free copies of the Mozilla browser and SSH to use on your home computer..

Required Supplies

You should have a 2-4 GB memory stick available for use in this course. You will also need additional storage media for your backup files (CDs, DVDs or an additional memory stick). Please backup each project as you complete it and backup important files more regularly.

Identikey, Internet Access and E-mail

You will be making extensive use of the Geography Department's KESDA computer lab, the Internet, Worldwide Web, and E-mail. Be sure that you have a valid CU Identikey password and working email account. For more information go to:

1) http://oit.colorado.edu/accounts/students
2) http://oit.colorado.edu/getting-started (Getting Started with Campus Technology)

Laboratory Access and Use

The course requires you to spend time working in the department's KESDA computer lab (Guggenheim 6) or using your own personal computer at home. You should plan to spend at least 4-5 hours on computer homework every week, in addition to your time in lab/recitation. Please study the guidelines for using the computer laboratory which are available online . These rules will be enforced strictly during the semester and their violation will result in loss of laboratory privileges.

Other policies:

Disabilities Assistance and Accommodation

If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. See http://www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices

If you have a temporary medical condition or injury, see guidelines at http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices/go.cgi?select=temporary.html

Disability Services' letters for students with disabilities indicate legally mandated reasonable accommodations. The syllabus statements and answers to Frequently Asked Questions can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices

Religious Observance

Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. In this class, please make arrangements with me at least ten days in advance of the observance so that plans can be made for your participation. See full details of CU policy at at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html

Classroom Behavior

Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. See policies at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code

Discrimination and Harassment

The University of Colorado at Boulder policy on Discrimination and Harassment, the University of Colorado policy on Sexual Harassment and the University of Colorado policy on Amorous Relationships apply to all students, staff and faculty. Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of sexual harassment or discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the ODH, the above referenced policies and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at http://www.colorado.edu/odh

Honor Code

All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-735-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/

Last revised 2011.9.15. KEF