Promoting GIS in the
Workplace with
Minimal Training Funds
Susan Cohn
KY Division of Water
KY GIS Conference
September 27, 2012
Purpose of This Presentation
Ô Outline practices in Division of Water
Ô Discuss ways to achieve GIS competency in the
workplace
Ô Share ideas of how to promote GIS in our
programs, agencies
Current Practices in
Division of Water
Ô DOW Workgroup
Ô It’s GIS Lunch
Ô GIS 101—In-House (coworker-led)
Workgroup Purpose
Ô Discuss GIS issues
Ô Identify issues in data development
& review from GIS perspective
Ô Develop GIS agency standards
Ô Make recommendations to
management
Workgroup Schedule
Ô Meet bi-monthly
Ô Meet additionally if project dictates
Workgroup Format
Ô Develop agenda and follow it
Ô Encourage both users and managers to attend
Ô Let the group decide what issues to address
Ô Keep participants and management informed
Ô Distribute/Post meeting minutes
It’s GIS Lunch
Ô Presentations
Ô Coworkers
Ô NGOs
Ô Other Agencies Ô Consultants
Ô University Staff
and faculty
Ô Basic theme
Demonstrate how they used GIS
to accomplish a task
DOW Launched
EEC Workgroup
Ô Energy and Environment Cabinet Group
ÔQuality Assurance & Standards
ÔApplication and Development
Ô Annual GIS Open House
EEC GIS Open House
Ô Formal introduction and keynote presentations
Ô Stations with different GIS tools and presentations
In-house Training
General
Ô Introduce GIS concepts
Ô Demonstrate GIS accessibility in DOW
Ô Present water-related information
Specific Topics
Ô Address many relevant functions available
through specific tools
Training Components of GIS 101
Ô Who to contact for server account
Ô How to log onto Remote Desktop Connection
Ô Basics of Toolbars and Projections
Ô How to set up workspace
Ô Where to save projects
Ô How to add layers
Ô Different uses for point, line or polygon layers
…GIS 101 Continued…
Ô Table of Contents and how layers load
Ô What is an Attribute Table
Ô Zoom To features
Ô Identify Tool/Latitude and Longitude
Ô Labeling
Ô Map Layout View versus Data View
Ô Cartographic Standards and Making a Map
…GIS 101 Concluded
Ô Exporting and Saving to PDF
Ô Printing
Ô Homework: Produce a map of where you live.
Export map and send pdf to instructor for
training certificate and credit in training
record.
Training Certificate
Initial Pilot Evaluations
Ô 33/41 students completed form
Ô Overall responses positive
Ô Participation from all branches
20
18
16
expectations?
14
12
10
8
6
1 (not at all)
4
2
2
0
3
1 (not at all)
1.5
2
Frequency
5 (much
more than
expected)
3
5 (much more
than expected)
3
3.5
4
3
2
4
5 (much more than
expected)
4
2.5
1 (not at all)
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1 (not at
all)
Frequency
Did the class meet your
Was the information clear and understandable?
4.5
5 (much more
than expected)
After first year of GIS 101
Overall Rating
32% of DOW staff had
attended training
14
1 (Poor)
12
1.5
10
2
8
2.5
6
3
4
3.5
4.5
35
5 (Excellent)
30
Frequency
5 (Excellent)
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
0
Would you recommend GIS 101 for other
staff?
4
2
1 (Poor)
Frequency
16
25
No
20
Did not answer
15
Yes
10
5
0
No
Did not
answer
Yes
Measures of Success (2009)
Ô Participation strong across branches
Ô Staff trained internally, estimated
savings to DOW: $16,000 (67 staff X $250
fee).
Ô Evaluations Overwhelmingly positive!
Ô Branch Managers’ recognizing of the
importance of GIS proficiency
“Command Performances”
Ô Continued to offer classes
Ô Developed GIS 201
Ô editing, labeling, spatial joins
Ô Converted GIS 101 into a Self-Study
course for new hires
Ô Recently updated for ArcMap 10
Ways to Promote GIS
Ô Establish Workgroups
Ô division, department, intra-agency
Ô Develop/Host Presentations
Ô for Management and Coworkers
Ô Create tailored Trainings
Ô Networking
Ô With other divisions, departments, agencies and
organizations
Results of Workgroup
Approach
Ô Smoother transitions with ESRI upgrades
Ô Better coordination among divisions
Ô Better understanding of data applications and
limitations between agencies
Ô Empowering employees to use available tools
Networking
Ô Formed a cabinet-wide workgroup to
strengthen data-sharing and skills development
Ô Participation in KAMP quarterly meetings and
annual meeting
Ô Discover other resources
Ôgovernment agencies
Ôuniversities
Ôlocal governments
Future Ways to
Promote GIS
Ô Do YOU have ideas to help DOW?
ÔPresentations
ÔWorkgroup Development
ÔAdditional in-house training
The End