Orientation Blog

My name is Jason Wenzel and I am a professor at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida. I am an anthropologist with a specialization in historical archaeology and GIS (Geographic Information Science). I earned a Ph.D. in anthropology at the University of Florida in 2018 and a graduate certificate in GIS at the University of West Florida in 2024. I was raised in Panama City Beach and enjoy biking, hiking, surfing, among other activities.

I created an Orientation Lab for one of the first main assignments in World Regional Geography (GEA 1000).  This lab provides students with a basic introduction to the ArcGIS platform.  As part of the lab, students create a map of the Panama City area showing data points from the Bay County Box Turtle Survey, and areas of critical habitat and range for the Panama City Crayfish (Procambarus econfinae). Students also respond to questions related to GIS and the lab such as on metadata, attributes, information in pop-up windows, and what patterns of data on a map reveal about the relation among its elements.

Orientation Lab map showing Bay County Box Turtle Survey points, and areas of critical range and habitat of the Panama City Crayfish (Procambarus econfinae).

Here is link to the map: Dr. Wenzel's Orientation Lab Map