GIS Education and Training Resources

Training/Professional Development:

• VCGI's Introduction to GIS Training Course - Summer 2012
• Various workshops offered by UNH Extension in VERMONT!. Click on the link to see what is coming up and to register.
• GIS/GPS Workshop Materials (used at various presentations and workshops at various events)
• Training Opportunities Offered by ESRI - ESRI offers inexpensive online classes, regional training centers, and onsite training at your office, as well as ESRI-authorized trainers found in many consulting firms.
• Training Opportunities described at the GIS Lounge web page
• TwiST: Teaching With Spatial Technologies - An annual 5-day workshop designed to teach K-14 teachers in the United States how to use Geographic Information Technology (GIT) in the classroom. The workshop takes place in central New York State
• Geospatial Technologies Training Center (GTTC) at the University of New Hampshire - This program offers a wealth of great GIS and GPS related trainings that range in length from one day to 2 weeks! Check out their schedule if you are anywhere near the NH border as they do trainings all over the state.

Education/Degree Programs:

• www.gis.com - GIS education ranges from degree and certificate programs to training in specific software. Formal (classroom) and online/distance programs exist all over the world, or you can choose to learn on your own time. This web page provides many links to options.
• www.unigis.org - UNIGIS is a worldwide network of educational institutions which offer distance learning courses in GIS. Institutions within the UNIGIS network offer internationally recognised qualifications for GIS professionals and those seeking to enter the field.
• Geospatial Technologies (GST) at UVM - Here you will find information on getting started using geospatial technologies, accessing software, finding data, selecting courses, obtaining technical help, learning about research projects, and more
• Natural Resource GIS Mapping & Planning, B.S. at Lyndon State College - The Natural Resource GIS Mapping and Planning concentration includes classroom and extensive field experiences that provide a theoretical and practical understanding of planning and management techniques for land and water based recreation resources.
• GIS at Middlebury College - The Geography Department manages four laboratories that support digital cartography, geographic information systems, and remote sensing. The dept. offers an introductory GIS class and an advanced GIS class, as well as opportunities to participate in research and other projects.

Overview
VCGI will offer a 12 hour introductory GIS course for municipal officials, K-12 educators, and others. The class is offered over two consecutive days at several different locations around the state.

Course Content:
This course provides training designed to teach basic Geographic Information Systems (GIS) knowledge and skills. It is not required that the intended participant have any prior experience using GIS, but familiarity with using computers (especially basic file management) is important.

Using free, open source software (Quantum GIS), participants will explore mapping options and resources that they can continue to use when they return to their office or classroom. Exercises and supplemental information provide additional opportunities for exploration.

The successful completion of these exercises will give participants the skills necessary to:

• Acquire, evaluate, and use digital geographic data in a GIS application
• Modify the appearance of geographic data layers
• Perform simple queries and analyses
• Create and export maps and data, and
• Use a consumer grade GPS unit to collect, download, and upload geospatial information.

Exercises use Quantum GIS. Quantum is a free and open source, downloadable software package specifically designed to explore geographic data for Windows, Macintosh, and Linux operating systems. You can download the software here (it will be provided on CD if you participate in the course): Link to Quantum

• About_Workbook&Exercises.pdf
• Before_You_Begin.pdf
• Table_of_Contents.pdf
• chapter_1.pdf
• chapter_2.pdf (2 MB)
• chapter_3.pdf (1.3 MB)
• chapter_4.pdf (1.3 MB)
• chapter_5.pdf (1.7 MB)
• chapter_6.pdf (3.5 MB)
• chapter_7.pdf (1.2 MB)
• chapter_8.pdf
• chapter_9.pdf