This document discusses efforts to educate geospatial technology professionals through the GeoTech Center, which is supported by the National Science Foundation. It provides an overview of the Geospatial Technology Competency Model developed through the Department of Labor, which identifies the skills needed in the field. Research on Maine's geospatial workforce found strong demand for certificate and associate's degree programs to train people for jobs that support environmental, municipal and other public sector work. However, the educational opportunities in Maine have not fully matched this idealized workforce model, with gaps in offering the lower-level credential programs where there is demand.

1. Educating Indispensable
Geospatial Professionals
for the 21st
Century
Tora Johnson,
University of Maine at Machias
tjohnson@maine.edu ~ gis.maine.edu

2. GeoTech
Center
NSF Advanced
Technological
Education Program
Center for
Excellence
Supporting
2YCs in improving &
expanding
geospatial technology
Education
http://www.geotechcenter.org/ NSF ATE Program: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5464

3. Meta-DACUM
What GIS technicians do: a Synthesis of dacum Job analyses
John Johnson
8 GIS technician job analyses from across
the country
Identifies, ranks & documents...
•55 common task categories
•35 knowledge and skill categories, and
•27 behavior categories that are ranked and
documented.
URISA Journal • Vol. 22, No. 2 • 2010, p. 31
http://www.urisa.org/files/2010%20URISA%20Journal%20Vol.%2022%20Issue%202.pdf

4. Geospatial Technology
Competency Model (GTCM)
US Dept of Labor & GeoTech Center
Draws on MetaDACUM, DOL & other
research
•Personal Effectiveness
•Academic
•Workplace
•Industry-wide
•Sector-Specific
•Management/ Occupation (incomplete)
http://www.careeronestop.org/competencymodel/pyramid.aspx?geo=Y

5. GTCM & DOL
Occupations
So now what?
Assess, adapt & evolve
Get to know YOUR
workforce
http://www.geotechcenter.org/Resources/Resource-Center/Featured-Items/GTCM-Curriculum-Guide

6. http://www.geotechcenter.org/GTCM/Model-Courses/Model-Courses-Server
Model Courses
- Spatial Awareness & Literacy
- Introduction to GIS Technology
- Data Acquisition & Mgt
- Remote Sensing
- Open Source GIS
- Cartography & Visualization
- Aligned with GTCM
- Developed by 2YC instructors
- Recommended content, syllabus, texts,
modules, and more

7. Maine Workforce Studies
Curriculum Needs
- Independent problem solving
- Data management, processing, stewardship
- Linkages to many real-world via service learning/ internships
- Basics & fundamentals
- Understand how to qualify for GISP certification
- Understand their role as trainers in the workplace
http://gis.maine.edu/workforce_summit.htm

8. Lessons Learned about
Maine’s Geospatial Workforce
– Even non-techies can learn to solve problems
with instruction in heuristics & support
– In a rural workforce, most GIS users are ancillary users
– The geospatial workforce in Maine is aging & changing
~ More users ~ New applications ~ Web applications
– Huge, growing demand among incumbent workers & would-be ancillary
~ Environmental ~ Municipal ~ Marine Sciences ~ Public Health
– Growing demand for 2 year certificates & degrees
–It’s hard to build enrollment with so little awareness
http://gis.maine.edu/workforce_summit.htm

9. Geospatial Technology Users: Idealized Workforce
http://gis.maine.edu/workforce_summit.htm

10. GST Offerings in Maine
Mirrored top-heavy
Maine Geospatial
Workforce
http://gis.maine.edu/workforce_summit.htm

11. GST Offerings vs. Idealized Workforce
Educational Capacity Idealized Workforce
Lack certificates &
associate’s degree programs
http://gis.maine.edu/workforce_summit.htm

12. GST Offerings vs. Idealized Workforce
Educational Capacity Idealized Workforce
Falling short in building
awareness
http://gis.maine.edu/workforce_summit.htm

13. Educating Indispensable
Geospatial Professionals
for the 21st
Century
Tora Johnson,
University of Maine at Machias
tjohnson@maine.edu ~ gis.maine.edu
This program is funded, in part,
by the National Science
Foundation. Views presented do
not necessarily reflect those of
the funding agency.