GEOG 370 Quantitative Methods in Geography

Required texts

• Rogerson, Peter. 2015. *Statistical methods for geography: A student’s guide (4th edition).** Sage publications: Los Angeles, CA.

Grading scale

Weighting

Reflections

Each day you will complete a short survey on Canvas at the end of the lecture. These responses will be graded will count toward your reflection grade. If you leave class early, you won’t be able to complete the reflection. Each student is able to drop their lowest reflection grade. Students missing class for documented absences (official university activity or hospitalization) will be excused.

Participation

The Classroom Etiquette section below outlines expected behavior, and your grade will be impacted if you do not follow these guidelines. Each student will start out with 5 points in their participation grade. Being disruptive, showing up late, or missing class without an excuse will result in a reduced grade at the instructor’s discretion. This grade item can have a negative score.

Labs

Labs will focus on applications of the course material. I encourage students to work together on the labs as long as all parties involved are learning the material. All technical questions about the labs must be posted to the class Discord chat rather than sent through email. I often receive many duplicate questions by email, and this ensures that I only have to respond to each question once. Labs are due on Friday at 5:00 PM, and even though there is a generous late policy, I likely won’t be able to respond to questions after 5:00 PM on Friday or on the weekends. You will often have to produce screenshots in your labs. To do this, use the “snipping tool” on Windows rather than taking a picture with your phone. Labs must be submitted as a .pdf. Note: do not use the ‘print’ function in Word or Google Docs to create a .pdf. That will convert the text to an image rather than leave it as plain text.

Exams

Exams must be completed on your own and will be taken in class. You will need to study for the exams by practicing questions rather than just by looking at the material. Exams will be comprised of a combination of multiple choice, short answer, computation, and essay questions. Like the other exams, Exam 4 will be taken in-person during finals week in our normal classroom. According to the Faculty and Academic Staff Rules and Procedures, we are required to meet in-person during our regularly scheduled finals time, so there is not an option to take the final exam early.

Short tasks

These items will not be worth points directly, but I expect you to complete them before the class period on their noted date. Failure to complete these and/or adequately discuss them will potentially result in a reduced participation grade. For short tasks that include a question requiring a response, put them in your short-tasks folder on the Q:\ drive. Name them according to this convention:

• short-task-01.docx
• short-task-02.docx
• short-task-03.docx
• ...

Attendance

Keeping an appropriate attendance record is required by the university, and it can play an important role in the administration of financial aid, especially in the case of unexpected withdrawal from classes. Attendance and participation are vital to succeeding in the course. Reflections can only be completed during class and in person.

In this course in the past, the instructor has had frequent issues with students not attending class and/or leaving class early, and then finding those students asking an excessive number of questions outside of class. The instructor reserves the right to not address questions asked outside of class by students who have missed class during that week. Additionally, after any absence, students are responsible for watching the recorded the lecture and completing all necessary preparation work before the next class period.

That said, if a student attends class, uses their time well, and asks questions during class, I am more than happy to address questions outside of class! Please reach out if you are in this situation.

Due to the interactive and technical nature of the course, all students should sit next to at least one other student. I.e., you should not sit alone where you cannot collaborate with others.

Communication

For technical issues related to GIS software, this class uses a Discord server for communication. All technical issues should be addressed there, but logistical issues (absences, grading questions, course policy clarifications, etc.) should be handled by email. For all emails about the course, use the subject heading “GEOG 337”. This helps me organize student issues more effectively and solve your problems faster. During the work week, I try to respond to emails within 24 hours. I generally do not check my work email between 5:00 PM Friday until 8:00 AM Monday.

Working with others

I strongly encourage you to work with others on everything except for the Exams, provided that everyone is learning and no one is simply sharing answers with others. At times you will encounter errors, and it will be immensely helpful for you to view the screens of other students to diagnose and fix errors.

Technology usage

• Please refrain from using cell phones during lecture. Rationale:

  • Taking a break from your cell phone is a healthy practice that most people could use much more of. Our brains were not designed for the continual dopamine rush that cellar notifications and social media provide. Take a break from your phone for an hour while in this class!

  • Cell phone use is distracting to you, your classmates, and the instructor.

• No photographs may be taken in class. Rationale:

  • You can refer to lecture recordings to retrieve images or certain slides from the text.

• Laptops cannot be used for taking notes in class. Rationale:

  • Research indicates that writing notes by hand results in improved processing of information, greater classroom performance,¹ and fewer distractions.² Conversely, students who use laptops in class are less satisfied with their education³ and perform worse.^{4 5}

  • Taking notes on a keyboard may be efficient for recording text, but in this course we will regularly draw charts, diagrams, and maps which lend themselves much better to freehand note taking.

  • And I know how it goes. You start the semester with good intentions: “I will only use this device for taking notes! I will not get distracted!” But inevitably, the university classroom simply cannot supply the dopamine rush provided by TikTok, NBA trade rumors, the pending assignment due in your next class, and the like. So you login in to your World of Warcraft account. Not to play, of course – that would be absurd. You just want to check the patch notes. But the patch is intriguing, and you want to see how it will affect your copper mining. So you mine a little copper. It’s not really playing after all. You don’t need to make any serious decisions when mining, so you can play AND listen to the lecture at the same time. So you mine a little more. And then a little more. And you might as well slay that boar that’s in your way because…why not? And before you know it, you are in the middle of a full 40 player raid in the middle of class. The other half of class can’t focus due to the flashing lights, the cursing, and the person in the back who keeps scrambling to plug in their laptop to the half broken outlet. The students involved in the raid receive a D on the exam because they didn’t pay much attention in class. The students not involved in the raid all receive a C due to the distractions. The instructor is disappointed – not only because students under-performed, but also because you could have waited an hour and invited him to join the raid too.

Software Access

You will have several options for accessing software.

1. Use the lab computers in P275 and P268. While you may need to install an R package from time time, the core software packages will always be available in these labs. You can access the building after hours by scanning your Blugold ID at the SW entrance of Phillips Hall. Then, you can access the labs using the codes provided by the instructor by email.

2. Access the Virtual Labs at https://virtual.uwec.edu. in. If you receive an error accessing the virtual lab, clear your browser’s cache and try again.

3. Download and install the software on your own computer. R, RStudio, and GeoDa are free and open source! R and RStudio are also cross platform, meaning that they can be installed on Windows, Mac, and GNU/Linux. You can find the software programs here:

   • R
   • RStudio Desktop (open source license)
   • ArcGIS Pro (only available on Windows; email Martin Goettl for instructions)
   • GeoDa

The only software that you cannot download for free on your own is ArcGIS Pro.

Generative AI usage

Use of generative AI is allowed in specific circumstances in this course; use of AI outside of the stated boundaries of the assignment is not authorized and will be treated as academic misconduct.

Mandatory reporting

As a Wisconsin State employee, I am obligated to report any claims of sexual harassment or sexual assault. Please know that any such information revealed to me will be forwarded to the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students’ office may reach out to you to offer resources and support. If you wish to disclose this information to a confidential resource, you may speak to someone in the Center for Awareness of Sexual Assault, Counseling Services, or Student Health Services.

Troubleshooting

Statistical and GIS work can be tedious, and it is sometimes difficult to figure out how to solve your problem. It often takes persistence, so experiment with as many different approaches as you can. If you get stuck, follow the steps below before coming to me with a question:

1. Ensure that you have read the step thoroughly and followed it’s instructions correctly. Minor deviations from instructions can result in unintended results.
2. Google it! Chances are that others have had the same problems as you at some point. There are great GIS and statistical help resources available on the internet, notably GIS Stack Exchange and Cross Validated.
3. Unfortunately, most desktop GIS programs have a wealth of bugs. Often times saving your work, closing the program, and restarting fixes technical issues.
4. Check the class Discord server posts on the current lab to see if other students have had similar issues.
5. Ask your classmates! Like it or not, a major determining factor in your long-term career success will lie in your ability of effectively work with others. If you don’t like group work in college, just wait – nearly everything is group work in industry! Don’t constantly pester a classmate for answers, but ask questions of others if you get stuck, and be willing to help others solve their problems too.
6. Ask the instructor during our lab time.
7. If you still have problems after this or you are working on the lab outside of class, create a post in the class Discord server. I require technical questions to be posted here rather than sent by email since multiple students often ask the same question, so having them out in the open helps everyone. I get a notification every time a post is created, so there is no need to email me after you send a message. If I have not responded within 24 hours, feel free to send me a follow up email. Discord posts should follow these guidelines:
   • In your question, state what you’ve tried so far and what specifically is not working.
   • If someone responds to your post (including the instructor), always follow up and state whether or not their solution solved your issue.
   • If you are posting an image, use the snipping tool to take a screenshot or export the image as a traditional image file (e.g., .png, .jpg) rather than taking a picture with your phone.
   • If you are posting code, use markdown formatting rather than screenshots.
   • Consider helping your fellow classmates if you see that they have an issue. Though I don’t offer extra credit, these actions do not go unnoticed and I keep these in mind when employers call me to ask about your potential as a future colleague!

While the processes above may seem laborious, developing your GIS problem solving skills is much more valuable than just being able to come up with the correct answers. One major goal of this class is to make you self sufficient in your GIS work.

When you ask me a question, note that I will ask you what you’ve tried so far, and I will encourage you to follow the steps above first if you haven’t done so already. It’s not that I don’t want to help students; it’s that developing your statistical problem solving skills is much more valuable than simply giving you the answer.

Late work

All items are due on the date specified on the schedule (usually Fridays) at 5:00 PM. It is expected that assignments will be completed by the deadline. However, there is a 48 hour extension period in which material may be turned in without penalty. Assignments are usually graded on Monday, and there is no need to contact me if your assignment was submitted late (after 5:00 PM) but before the dropbox closed. After this extension period, the Canvas drop box will close and will not be reopened. Don’t get into the habit of abusing the extension time! There will not be consideration of any additional extension time over the weekend for technical issues, travel, having to take a roommate to urgent care, or other reasons, but if you run into those issues before 5:00 PM on Friday, you still have some time to complete the assignment.

That said, each student is eligible for one “amnesty” assignment throughout the semester. This means that you can turn in one item after its dropbox is closed and still receive full credit. The amnesty dropbox closes at 5:00 PM on the last class period of the university calendar before finals week. This will usually be the Friday before finals week. If you use the amnesty option, be sure the title of the assignment is clearly visible.

Classroom etiquette

• Do not talk with fellow classmates during lectures outside of formal discussions. If you have a thought or idea worth sharing, raise your hand and let me know! The university classroom is not the place to catch up with your friends.

• Come to class prepared having read the assigned readings and watched the assigned videos.

• I ask that you do not pack up your materials until class is dismissed for the day. If we reach the end of class and I have not stopped lecturing, kindly let me know by raising your hand.

• I encourage you to challenge my ideas as long as you do so respectfully.

• I do not make presentation files available digitally, so during lectures it is expected that you will rigorously take notes on the presentation content, demonstrations, and anything written on the drawing pad. Rationale:

  • My experience has shown that attendance rates are higher when notes are not made available online.

  • I frequently make adjustments to my slides up until just before the lecture starts, which results in students in not having the same lecture material as what I have in my slides if I provide them for students to print off.

  • I attempt to structure my slides in a way such that they are not sufficient on their own; they complement my lectures. In my view, making slides available encourages students to merely “fill-in-the-blanks.” Students should be taking notes throughout the lecture on information that is spoken, written on the drawing pad, and embedded on the slides.

• Disruptive behavior will result in a reduction to your participation grade, being reassigned to a different seat, and/or being dismissed from class for the day.

Stress management and well-being

College can be challenging. Everyone can benefit from placing their personal well-being as a top priority throughout the semester. Should you want some emotional support for any reason, you can access FREE counseling services (even one short session to problem-solve solutions) from the UWEC Counseling Services on campus. They are providing a variety of online and in-person services, including some virtual wellness workshops. Call them at 836-5521, stop by Vicki Lord Larson Hall room 2122, or check out the website to make an appointment: https://www.uwec.edu/counseling-services/.

Students also have FREE access to UW System Mental Health Support through Mantra health – a telehealth service available 24/7 days a week (call or text: 888-531-2142 or go online at: app.mantrahealth.com; sign up using your UWEC email address). You can also reach out to the WI-branch of the national crisis/emotional support text line by texting ‘HOPELINE’ to 741 741 or use the national suicide prevention lifeline: 988 Please use these resources to support your mental well-being and success as a Blugold!

Services for students with disabilities

Any student who has a disability and is in need of classroom accommodations should contact the instructor and the Services for Students with Disabilities Office in Centennial Hall 2106 at the beginning of the semester. I will work you to find appropriate accommodations.

Non-native speakers of English

Students who are non-native speakers of English may request extended test-taking time (time and a half). To determine eligibility, English proficiency is evaluated by the Academic Skills Center (for U. S. permanent residents/citizens) or by the Department of Languages (for international students). Students approved for the accommodation are given a verification form to present to their course instructors. Students must provide verification during each semester at least one week before the test for which accommodation is needed. Verification is valid for one semester.

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) indicates that students have a right to see their records and that you cannot release any information about them to a third party without written permission from the student that clearly spells out what type of information may be released. In other words, if your parents email me and ask me about your grades, I’m not going to tell them anything! For more information, see here.

Dropping or withdrawing from class

The last day to drop full semester fall courses with no record is February 6. The last day to file withdrawal from full semester fall courses with a “W” on your record is April 10. For a full list of relevant dates, see here.

Generative AI usage

Use of generative AI is allowed in specific circumstances in this course; use of AI outside of the stated boundaries of the assignment is not authorized and will be treated as academic misconduct.

Mandatory reporting

As a Wisconsin State employee, I am obligated to report any claims of sexual harassment or sexual assault. Please know that any such information revealed to me will be forwarded to the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students’ office may reach out to you to offer resources and support. If you wish to disclose this information to a confidential resource, you may speak to someone in the Center for Awareness of Sexual Assault, Counseling Services, or Student Health Services.

Academic integrity

As described in the Blugold Student Conduct Code under student academic misconduct, ‘Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for the respect of others’ academic endeavors. These student responsibilities are important, and deviations from these responsibilities have consequences. The disciplinary procedures and penalties for academic misconduct are described on the UW-Eau Claire Dean of Students web site: https://www.uwec.edu/offices-services/dean-students-office/how-dos-supports-students. Additionally, requesting to a receive a grade that was not earned is considered an academic integrity violation.

Distribution of class notes

I do not consent to having notes from my class uploaded to the internet, including commercial note-selling websites such as StudySoup. Some companies target students and solicit course material acting as if they are working in coordination with colleges and universities, but that is not true for this class. This means that you do not have the right to provide your notes to anyone else or to make any commercial use of them without express prior permission from me. Inappropriate use of notes may be in violation of the Blugold Conduct Code and sanctions will be pursued accordingly.

GIS and statistics help

• GIS Stack Exchange
• StatQuest
• Statistical Computing with R Subreddit
• GIS Reddit community
• Class help forum

Free online GIS and spatial analysis books

• Geocomputation with R
• Essesntials of Geographic Information Systems
• GIS Commons

Free online statistics, statistical programming, and data science books

• R for data science
• Python data science handbook

About me

• My personal web page
• LinkedIn
• My GitLab profile

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