For faculty

Classes

We support faculty teaching as well as scholarly research. The lab can enrich classes in many ways: 

  • Teaching and collaboration space – A modern computer lab with 20 workstations, and central tables, which can also serve as collaboration or discussion space. The lab can be reserved for classes using mapping concepts or spatial software, for one or more sessions or possibly the entire semester. Pending availability, the lab can also be reserved for other classes. To make a reservation, please email Heather Rosenfeld (hrosenfeld@smith.edu).
  • Course consultation and curriculum development – For faculty who wish to introduce a spatial component to a course, but are less familiar with the technologies and geographic concepts. SAL staff will discuss and develop spatial thinking or analysis exercises conducive to enhancing class material and skillbuilding goals.
  • Guest lectures – SAL staff will meet with classes, either in the SAL or the course’s regular classroom, to deliver a guest lecture about one of our areas of expertise that is in line with the course goals. We can work with you to tailor a lecture or activity to your course’s subject matter. Examples include:
    • Spatial data collection, using GPS, drones, and/or participatory mapping approaches and technologies
    • Cartography, spatial storytelling, and narrative mapping
    • Spatial statistics and analysis to identify geographic patterns
    • Spatial literacy and spatial thinking
    • Counter-mapping, or mapping that challenges the status quo
    • Using maps to explore and better understand cultural or socioeconomic patterns
    • Satellite imagery interpretation and analysis
  • Labs or activities – SAL staff will meet with classes, either in the SAL or the course classroom, to facilitate an activity about one of our areas of expertise that is in line with the course goals, along the lines of the above examples of guest lecture foci. We have ran activities along the lines of the following:
    • Single session combined lecture and active learning activity
    • Multiple sessions within a short time period with a guided and then an open-ended exercise
    • Semester-long project including or focused on spatial analysis/spatial thinking, with an introductory session and additional session(s) throughout the semester
    • Open or guided work session with SAL support
    • Behind-the-scenes support for spatial data collection or processing

Research

  • One on one consultation for research planning – SAL staff are available to provide instruction or guidance on how you can incorporate GIS, maps, and/or spatial thinking into your research. 
  • Tool and software guidance – The SAL lends out GPS/GNSS receivers and other equipment, and SAL staff can share instructions or walk you through how to use SAL tools and software.
  • Data collection/curation – If your project is local or regional, the SAL may be able to collect spatial data for you or work with you on data collection. If you are looking for pre-existing data or to process data for mapping and spatial analysis, we can also help you with that.
  • Maps and figures – Depending on the scope of your project, the SAL team is available to create maps and other figures using spatial data (broadly defined) for presentation or publication.