Mobile Mapping Short Course at the Geological Society of America Meeting

If you are planning on going to GSA this year (October 5-9, 2008; Houston, Texas), a couple of interesting, geospatially-significant short courses are being offered. Of particular interest is the short-course on teaching geoscience with mobile mapping (GPS, GIS, PDAs, and tablet PCs):

Teaching Field Methods in Geology Using Rugged Tablet Computers, GPS and Digital Data

Sun. 5 Oct., 8 a.m.– 5 p.m.

Mark Manone, Northern Arizona University; Peter Knoop, University of Michigan

From the GeoPad email list Feb 7, 2008: "We will be providing hardware, software and data. Let me know if anyone in this consortium would like more info or be a contributor."
Mark Manone, Geospatial Research and Information Lab (GRAIL)

And from Jim Vanide's Teaching Learning, and Technology blog:

In an email, Peter Knoop explains that they will be “...focusing on the use of Tablet PCs and Pocket PCs in geology and environmental sciences, with an emphasis on field settings, but we'll also touch some on best practices for using such equipment across the curricula, including in the classroom. The meeting is 5-9 October, and the short courses are usually held in the days prior the meeting."

Other geospatial short courses at GSA 2008...

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Using ArcGIS for Geological and Environmental Science Applications

Sat.-Sun., 4-5 Oct., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ann Johnson, ESRI; Mike Price, ESRI; Willy Lynch, ESRI

The Use of GPS, LiDAR and InSAR Data to Learn About Plate Tectonics, Crustal Deformation, Isostasy and Ice Flow: A Short Course for Faculty at Two- and Four-Year Institutions

Sat. 4 Oct., 9 a.m.– 5 p.m.

Helmut Mayer, UNAVCO; Susan C. Eriksson, UNAVCO; Shelley Olds, UNAVCO

Using Authentic NASA Earth and Planetary Science Data for Inquiry in Courses for Future Science Teachers

Sat. 4 Oct., 8 a.m.– noon.

Tim Slater, University of Wyoming; Rick Pomeroy, University of California, Davis; Stephanie Shipp, Lunar Planetary Institute; Stephanie Slater, University of Wyoming; Lin Chambers, NASA

Multi- and Hyperspectral Remote Sensing for Geologic Applications

Sat. 4 Oct., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

William Farrand, Space Science Institute; John Mars, U.S. Geological Survey