Geomatics Academy
The Geomatics Academy is a partnership between Towson University and Fairmont Heights High School of Prince Georges County Public School System, to begin in the fall of 2008. The Academy is a College Preparation Intervention Program, funded by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, that is designed to:
- strengthen students’ understanding of Algebra I and Data Analysis concepts
- promote college awareness, and
- introduce students to a variety of careers within the environmental sciences through a series of Thursday / Saturday Activity Days.
The integration of mathematics, geography, and environmental science is a novel and engaging approach to generate enthusiasm for learning through hands-on, real-life activities that utilize a variety of technologies including:
- graphing calculator,
- Global Positioning System (GPS),
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and
- spreadsheet software.
Students will connect to their local environment as they
- collect and analyze environmental data from nearby Beaverdam Creek using both GIS and data analysis tools of statistics,
- discuss the history of the design of the layout of Washington, D.C. by L’Enfant and Benjamin Banneker, utilizing geometric properties of the city’s streets to then develop and strengthen understanding of algebra concepts,
- use a large-scale aerial photograph, whose image extends from Fairmont Heights High School to the Washington Monument, to build concepts of map scale based upon the length of the school’s football field, and
- learn navigation and orienteering skills on the Chesapeake Bay.
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Paporn Thebpanya, Martin Roberge, Ming Tomayko & Linda Cooper |
The Geomatics Academy is a community of learners, to be comprised of 27 tenth grade students and three staff members from Fairmont Heights High School, along with five faculty members from Towson University — Drs. Linda Cooper and Ming Tomayko from the Department of Mathematics; and Drs. John Morgan, Martin Roberge, and Paporn Thebpanya from the Department of Geography and Environmental Planning.
For more information see The Geomatics Academy Website.
The Jess and Mildred Fisher
College of Science and Mathematics
Smith Hall, Room 312 (campus map)
Phone: 410-704-2121
Fax: 410-704-2604
E-mail: fcsm@towson.edu
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