What Students Say about Using GIS

BY208 Ecology, 2006

In what ways did you find the emphasis on GIS useful or worthwhile in this course?

• “Helpful to see multiple interactions between ecological factors.”
  
  
• “It is an important tool, and I am glad I had the opportunity to learn how to use it.”
  
  
• “It was frustrating but good to learn & valuable for future use. A good tool for analyzing broader patterns that are not readily noticeable.”
  
  
• “See other eval – this should be added to other courses in Biology.”
  
  
• “Great skill to learn. 2nd class using it & it built well”
  
  
• “So frustrating to use but actually managing to figure it out. Helped immensely just in terms of contextualizing something like our fieldtrip to the Hayman fire site.”
  
  
• “Cool to be able to make my own map. This skill will definitely be helpful in future jobs.”
  
  
• “Helpful w/ final project and useful tool for the future”
  
  
• “Great tool. Well taught."
  
  
• “In ecological study and for research I can fully understand the emphasis on GIS and therefore a worthwhile topic for this course. From a personal standpoint, with a new found knowledge that I have no interest in pursuing a career in ecology, I hate GIS and felt it was not worth the frustration.”

What recommendations do you have for the use of GIS or GIS exercises in this course in the future? (comments for class exercises are not listed)

• “… because of time constraints, we didn't get to go too in depth but a course in GIS for biology majors should be offered – all the government biological work I have done uses GIS at some point and not teaching it at CC would be a disservice to our field.”
  
  
• “Keep it in the course. It is a useful tool and very appropriate for the course.”