self-evaluation

ArcGIS:
     This program is really cool. I think that if this is open for anyone to make a map (geography or not) i think that there should be more step-by-step videos on how to work some of the things, like publishing maps, making labels annotative, putting a timeline on a map to provide some type of movement. The website itself, is very cool, and i am really glad that there is an application that anyone can use to make a map. It allows everyone to get excited about map making and geography.

Myself:
      I loved the freedom of this class. what I realized that I am better in the classroom then online. I really need a structured format of what i need to do and when it is done. I realized that I am a bigger procrastinator then I thought, and I am glad that I learned this now, because I have time to work on this. I love making maps, and learning at my own pace, but it would have been better if I either set deadlines at the beginning of the semester or if they were set for me. Time management and scheduling are skills I will improve on, especially now that I am not only starting my master's program in the Fall, and being a Grad. Assistant. I am going have to find a balance between what is required of me for my own coursework, as well as what I am supposed to do as a an assistant (grading papers, having office hours, helping students, etc).

Course:
     The course was exactly what I wanted it to be. I was able to make maps, while not being stressed out for my last semester of my undergrad. I looked at maps, and sports, and incorporated topics like my personal journey from 1992-2012, and my sisters future school. I didn't think geography and sports would have anything to do with each other but I was wrong. Geography can be used for any and everything, which is so cool! I knew I was making a good decision when I declared it as one of my majors 4 years ago.

the semester is over!

Hello All,

The semester is final over, and i have been working on my final project which is why I have not posted mini maps. I am however finished with the semester, and finished (for now) exploring ArcGIS. Here are some line to the things I have been doing these past few weeks:

Visual CV:
http://www.visualcv.com/deannw

Personal Journey:
http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=dc6dd4502822406386b35977329c2835


Final Project:
http://www.arcgis.com/apps/Compare/SideBySideViewer_Configure/index.html?appid=ab206858e3ee4e60a4206ad8da7ab7c5

I hope you like them!

Deann

map contents

In many of my mapping classes they tell you all the key components that a real map needs in order to be a complete map. Things like having a title, the authors name, comps, legend, source, a border, etc. I love that ArcGIS allows you to create these really cool maps, but I do not understand why basic components like adding a north arrow, scale, and legend are not available to the author--either that or someone knows something that I don't. I looked through the overview and how to work ArcGIS but don't know where to go to actually create these elements on the map itself. Even when you are making a map, the tab for a legend is there, but I do not know how to edit it, and that frustrates me. Why offer only a part of a great tool?

or maybe I am just missing something?!?

I'm stumped & tired, ill look around some more this weekend.

:/

Back from Spring Break

I hope everyone enjoyed their spring break. For the first time in four years, I actually got a spring break--I no longer run track so I got to leave for the whole week. And when I say I took the whole week off--I did!! Whenever I get the chance, I go home to visit my family; so that is where I went, instead of South Padre or Cabo. When I got home my parents and my little sister was just coming home from my sisters 4th official college visit. She is a senior in High school, and has been going through the process of finding out where she is going to continue her education, and start a new chapter in her life. She is a very good triple jumper (and even though I do not want to admit it, she is better than me) and many schools has expressed interest in her including LSU, Auburn, Stanford, University of Pittsburg, Kansas State, Indiana, University of New Mexico, TCU, a lot of places. She went to the schools, hung out with the team, but just was not ready to sign by the first high school signing date Feb 1, 2012.

So she waited, and when she came back from her visit (after she settled down from the surprise I gave her) she said that she wanted to sign with Missouri. She called the coach, they sent the papers, and now my baby sister is on a Full ride track scholarship to Mizzou.

In celebration of this, I decided to make a map of the schools she will be competing against next year, and some of the other schools in the SEC are ones that offered her track scholarships as well. (:

http://bit.ly/H9DMA1

London 2012 Olympics

Here is a basemap that could be used for my final project.

It is a neutral background with minimum labels, that can be used for a London 2012 Olympics map.

http://bit.ly/ymMJgg

IAAF World Indoor Championships

My Track Coach is the Olympic Relay Coordinator, and this week he was in Turkey for the IAAF World Championships. So I figured that would be my next Map. I made a map of the top 5 (so far) medal ranked countries at the meet. I included how many medals they have, who and what event the medals were received, as well as the total team points, and the overall place. All the information was retrieved from http://www.iaaf.org/Mini/wic12/Index.aspx && the flags were from google.

here is my map:

http://bit.ly/yj4TNE

enjoy.

Silly mistakes...

I have got to remember my log in information on ArcGIS before I make a map next time.

I guess I will make this map again once i recover my log in and password.

Better news:
I learned how to change the symbols on the maps (:
-You will see I was able to insert flags as the symbols, once I make my map again. It looked nice until it deleted...



I shall return....with a map

Eureka!

I just reached a turning point with this website. I was getting a little worried because I thought I would have to create layers manually, which was going to end up being a lot to handle. But I was clicking around and found that I can search layers, change the canvas, add demographic information, all kinds of things. The data was already collected. 

Needless to say... I just got very EXCITED!

I was looking at some tips on making great base maps, and people want simple background so that they can create their own maps--yes, I know it took me awhile to notice that. It is like when you are selling a house. You present the house with simple items, so that the potential buyer can visualize putting their own flare to the space, promoting them to buy the house; same with base maps.

For my end-of-the-year project, I have to figure out how to create simple base maps that people want to use. What am I going to do with my maps that sets them apart from other simple, base maps...hmmm?

back to thinking and wondering around on ArcGIS 

To Do list:

I apologize for being gone for a few weeks, I got caught up with other school work-->which is not an excuse. I am just being honest.

I was looking around on ArcGIS, and there are some really cool maps that I would love to try out.

For Example, this map http://bit.ly/z85cid has a really cool, vintage layout but I don't know how to even get my stuff to look like that.

Today, I am going to look around and see if I can figure out how to make a cartogram map. Hopefully, I figure it out.

Be back later

I want to do something like this...

Cherry & Silver Track Meet 2012

Link to my Cherry and Silver Track Map

http://bit.ly/wPqX2s

Notes for next time:
--> to make sure the area with the data only shows up in the screen instead of having to zoom into the area
--> figure out how to create a legend

First Upset

I have been working on a topographic map of all the schools that participated at University of New Mexico's Cherry and Silver Track Meet last weekend for a few hours now. I finally put the finishing touches on my map (after having to start over 3 times) and... it deletes!

Apparently I do not have an account on ArcGIS.com--even though I thought I did--so I need to work out those kinks first before I am going to slave over another map.

It looked very nice though, so I am going to re-due it and post it later on today.

Some notes I have on ArcGIS so far:
--> I don't like that I have to create a new layer for each school in order for them to be on map. I wish there was a layer already made for Universities, that I could just select those that participated through a search.
--> I liked that I could link webpages to the pinpoint, as well as a description and image.
--> I wonder if you could do 3D maps using ArcGIS.com?

Just some thoughts after working with this last map. Don't worry, I will figure out everything and have a map posted up soon!!!

My Motives

I walked into my adviser's office for my last advising meeting as an undergraduate and I sat down with the intension of just showing him the classes I was going to end up taking. He then asks me,

"What do you want to do with your Geography degree?"

I had to think about it, because I only planned to pursue Sociology. After sitting down with him he reminded me that Geography is connected to everything, and reminded me why I fell in love with Geography and decided to major in it in the first place. So we brainstormed, tossed around a few ideas, and ended with the Geography of Sports. He showed me an interaction map that was created on ArcGIS.com && I fell in love. This is what I want to do for my last semester of college, create maps about one thing near and dear to my heart; Sports.