Building Educational Capacity for Inclusive Geocomputation: A Research-Practice Partnership in Southern California

Abstract

To build educational capacity for the rapidly evolving science and profession of geocomputation, the American Association of Geographers piloted an Encoding Geography research-practice partnership (RPP) composed of geography and computer science educators and researchers. This commentary describes the process, known as Collective Impact, that was implemented to investigate the persistent problems of practice that have limited the participation of women and minorities in geocomputational education and careers. We also discuss the RPP’s data-driven approach for developing an inclusive curriculum pathway aligned with student aspirations.

Keywords:

• Computer science
• Careers
• Powerful knowledge
• broadening participation
• geography

Notes

1 NSF Award CNS-1837577

2 NSF Awards CNS-2031380, CNS-2031418, and CNS-2031407

3 www.powerfulgeography.org

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael Solem

Michael Solem is Professor of Geography at Texas State University. He serves the American Association of Geographers as Senior Advisor for Geography Education and co-Director of the National Center for Research in Geography Education.

Coline Dony

Coline C. Dony is a senior geography researcher at the American Association of Geographers (AAG). At the AAG, she focuses research on ways to modernize geography education and make it more inclusive, and on generating conversations that create bridges across disciplines and sectors on the ethical use and practice around geographic information and data.

Thomas Herman

Thomas Herman is a Research Fellow in the Department of Geography at San Diego State University where he co-leads the Young People's Environments, Society, and Space Research Center. He has also served as the Director of the California Geographic Alliance since 2013.

Kelly León

Kelly León teaches ninth grade geography and is the co-PI on behalf of the Sweetwater Union High School District for the Encoding Geography project. She also instructs teacher-candidates in the School of Teacher Education at San Diego State University and is a doctoral student in the Education for Social Justice program at the University of San Diego.

Amr Magdy

Amr Magdy is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and a co-founder of the Center for Geo-spatial Sciences at the University of California, Riverside. His research interests are in big data management with a focus on spatio-temporal data analytics, indexing, query processing, and memory management.

Atsushi Nara

Atsushi Nara is Associate Professor of Geography and Associate Director of the Center for Human Dynamics in the Mobile Age at San Diego State University. His research interests are in spatiotemporal data analytics, modeling behavioral geography and complex urban and social systems, and geocomputation.

Waverly Ray

Waverly Ray is an Associate Professor of geography at San Diego Mesa College. She collaborates on a range of projects to broaden participation and support student learning in geography courses at the community college level.

Sergio Rey

Sergio (Serge) Rey is the Founding Director of the Center for Geospatial Sciences at the University of California Riverside. His research and teaching interests are in geographic information science, open source and open science, and the development of advanced methods for spatial data science.

Rachel Russell

Rachel Russell is an Associate Professor of GIS at San Diego Mesa College. She contributes to regional career education initiatives and develops relevant project-based GIS curriculum.