GUI-Free GIS Instruction in the Library
DISCLAIMER:
We all love Esri...
...but...
ESRI!
There are other ways of doing things!
Outline
-
aka: Why go from GUI to Coding?
- + +
aka: Python + Notebooks + the Cloud
What's wrong with the GUI?
Nothing.
but...
Breaking Out of the Box is Good!
- The strengh of desktop GIS is also its weakness
- Disconnect between GIS concepts & GIS button pushing
Benefits of Coding
- More reproducible
- Forces a stronger grasp of spatial concepts & computer literacy
- Creative problem solving/aka: coding is fun!
Oh, and by the way...
"Data Science" is having a moment...
Python as well...
The Library's Role
Libraries may be the only option on campus for learning about alternative approaches to GIS
There are great, free and open Python-based GIS tools available
Coding can improve data, computer, and spatial literacy
Yes, coding is hard...but:
We have an opportunity to bridge a gap and push our students to new heights!
Notebooks Rule
Jupyter Notebooks
- Document that combines executable code, visualizations, and annotations
- Made for Python, but can also run R
- Executing code in small chunks makes debugging easier (aka: great for beginners)
But wait...
I don't want to spend the whole class period doing tech support on everyones' laptops
JupyterHub
[Insert Heavenly Sound Effect]
What is JupyterHub?
- A cloud-based environment for running Jupyter Notebooks
- Essentially one cloud computer that all class participants use
- This means minimal (if any) technical hiccups
- Because web-based, equal access for any user no matter OS or device (Yay Equity!)
Set up is pretty easy
My instructions for setting up JupyterHub based workshops
Parting Thoughts
- Libraries have a vital role to play in facilitating open, reproducible scholarship
- This increasingly means code-based methods in open source languages
- Geography and GIS Librarians have a great opportunity to bridge the gap between conventional GIS and data-science approaches