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| navigate: home: magazine: spring 2001: article | |
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Five PennDOT employees earn GIS certificates By Cole Hons | ||||||
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Five Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) employees made a special trip to Penn State to receive certificates for completing the Penn State World Campus’ on-line Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate program. Dr. Roger Downs, professor and head of the Department of Geography, and Dr. Gary E. Miller, associate vice president for Distance Education and executive director of the World Campus, were among the presenters. The graduates, from district offices all across Pennsylvania, were happy to share their feelings about the experience: “Thank you. This program has definitely benefited not only me, individually, but the entire Department of Transportation,” said Mark Schultz of the Clearfield Engineering District office. “I gained a lot of knowledge, especially during the course projects, where I actually got to see things happen,” said Dave Parise, Westmoreland County highway maintenance manager. “It was very beneficial.” The on-line Certificate in Geographic Information Systems, developed and maintained by Penn State’s nationally renowned Department of Geography, takes students through four 10-week courses designed to help them master the principles and practices of a geographic information system. The program uses state-of-the-art mapping software that links a landscape’s geographic features with its physical, environmental, cultural, economic or political attributes. Students work individually, and in teams, on projects modeled after real-life situations — all through the Internet. According to the PennDOT graduates, the physical distance between themselves and their instructors was not a barrier to the learning process. “Instructors were always available,” Schultz said. Parise added, “It strengthened communication within PennDOT. I know a lot more people in the department than I did a year ago.” During their visit to Penn State, the graduates discussed their experiences as on-line students and their particular needs as PennDOT employees with David DiBiase, faculty coordinator for the World Campus Certificate in Geographic Information Systems and senior lecturer in the Department of Geography. He was eager to hear suggestions for improving future versions of the course and very pleased to hear that the graduates are already benefiting from the program. “This is the ultimate validation for this program — helping real people to do real work,” DiBiase said. “I’m thrilled!” The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is one of a growing number of organizations paying to educate their employees on-line, recognizing the benefits of up-to-date technical training that can be delivered to students in their own homes through the Internet. Cutting out the travel and housing expenses of traditional professional workshops, on-line classes are becoming increasingly popular with employers and individuals who are trying to keep pace with the rapid developments of the Information Age.
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