Chapter XVIII An e 'Learn ing Portal to Teach Geog raph ic Information Sciences

In this chapter the authors describe the implementation ofan emerging virtual learning environment to teach GIS and spatial sciences to distance education graduate students. They discuss the benefits and constraints ofour mixed architecture with the main focus on the innovative hybrid architecture ofthe virtual GIS computer laboratory. Criteria that were lIsed to develop the virtual learning environment entailed thefol/owing: (i) Facilitating student-instructor, student-computer, andstudent-student interac­ tivity using a mix ofsynchronolls andasynchronous communication tools; (ii) Developing an interactive online learning environment in which students have access to a suite ofpassive and active multi-media tools; and (iii) Allowing student access to a mixed web-facilitated / hybrid architecture that stimulates their cognitive geographic skills and provides hands-on experience in using GIS.