Montgomery College - Rockville Campus- Department of Applied Technology

Spring 2006

Introduction to Map Design -  Geog 251          Tues 6:00pm

Philip M. Mobley

Dept phone number: 240-567-5142 (leave message with secretary) (571)236-7580 (voice mail)

email address: pmobley@gmu.edu  (I try to read this on a daily basis) 

Lab Manager: Mr. Karl Reis   - office phone (240) 567-8079

Office hour: TBD – Please check with me to arrange pre or post class-meeting times.

Required Text:

Thematic Cartography and Visualization  Terry A. Slocum et. al.., 2nd ed.,  Prentice Hall, NJ, 2002

Reference Text:

Goodes WorldAtlas   (or similar) 21^st or latest edition

Materials:

1.     Five CD-R’s. (there will be a lesson on saving to the disk)

2.     Project submission folio with pockets (to hold your written and disk submissions)

4.     Notebook and pencil or pen

Course Objectives:

1.     Learn about the various styles and techniques associated with map design.

2.     Effectively analyze map design parameters to better understand maps as a communication tool.

3.     Create thematic cartographic projects that employ good design based on fundamental mapping principles.

4. Experiment with map design to enhance effectiveness and use of the product.

Grading and Attendance Policy:

Final grading policy is determined upon performance in three areas.  Sixty percent (60%) is based on project submissions.  Each project will possess a specific minimum requirement.  Additional points may be achieved (raising the project grade) by including further refinement to the project as specified.  Twenty percent (20%) is based on an average of grades received from examinations.  Twenty percent (20%) is based on attendance, classroom participation, and discussion. Excessive absenteeism will result in a lowering of the grade. Please do not miss more than three (3) class lectures.  Further absences will result in a one-grade reduction per absence.  After five absences, the student will be dropped from the class. ***Please let me know if you decide to drop the class.***

Assignments- Exams- Honor Code:

Assignments will be expected on the due date assigned.  Late acceptance will extend to one class meeting beyond original date with no penalty.  Any assignment turned in after this grace period will be subject to grade reduction.  Final projects will be required on the assigned due date with no grace period.  Missed exams will need to be scheduled during the week immediately following the original test date.  An Honor Code will be in effect for the student in the performance of class participation, assignments, and examinations.  Work groups and research teams are encouraged as long as the individual effort is recognizable in the final product.

Classroom Etiquette:

Please do not eat or drink around the computers or in the lab.  Clean up all papers around your desk area before leaving class.  Make sure all computer equipment has been turned off and that you have removed your diskettes from the drives.  Many students will lose hours of work when they forget their disks.  Be aware that other classes also use the computer lab and that information that you save to the hard disk is periodically checked and erased without discretion.  If you have a computer system at home or at the office please be especially aware of computer viruses.  The lab can be particularly susceptible to viruses, which could easily be carried by diskette to other systems.  If you encounter a virus DO NOT use the disk or the computer until the lab manager or class instructor checks it.

Course Procedures:

1.     Lectures by instructors and or guests.

2.     Projects using application software packages and/or manual techniques.

3.     Selected visual presentations - slides, videotapes, and movies.

4.     Demonstration of map design production techniques.

5.     Two major exams (midterm and final).

6.         Reading assignments and creation of a map design folio.

Disability Support Services:

Any student who may need an accommodation due to a disability, please make an appointment to see me during my office hour. A letter from Disability Support Services authorizing your accommodations will be needed. Any student who may need assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation must identify to the Disability Support Services Office, which  is located at 122CB.

COURSE OUTLINE AS OF 22 Jan  2006

Send mail to karl.reis@montgomerycollege.edu with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: December 06, 2005