This is a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) data visualization project that will enhance and support the FYE interdisciplinary (Languages – HFLM/ Sociology – HSOC) Morehouse Pan African Global Experience (MPAGE) course. This new interdisciplinary course focuses not only on increasing Black male students’ exposure and access to international education experiences but also on Black life, history, and cultures of Africa and its Diaspora. In the target country, students engage in observations, interactions, and analyses of contemporary social issues affecting Afro- descendant communities by visiting cultural heritage sites and attending multidisciplinary presentations. In Metro Atlanta, students use the current Census data to map communities from the target country and survey their collaboration in the Atlanta community.

Upon the completion of the course and project, students will:

• Identify Afro-Latin American cultural figures of the target country
• Explain the cultural practices, products, and norms of Afro-Latin communities
• Apply analytical and data skills to map Latin American communities in Metro Atlanta
• Analyze definitions of identity and the experience of equity within the Afro-Latin communities through their service-learning project
• Compare and connect the Afro-Latin experiences to the African American experiences and culture in the U.S. and the historical relations they share
• Interpret the local Latin American communities’ contributions to Metro Atlanta

Procedure For Mapping

0. Introduction to GIS Data Visualization. The new FYE course will have a unit related to data visualization. In that unit, students will learn basic concepts such as:
   • Introduction to Cartography
   • Introduction to GIS framework
   • GIS methodologies and tools (QGIS)
   • QGIS tutorial
   • Modes of representations
1. Data Collection. To collect the data, students will use their cell phones and the web app Kobocollect and KoboToolBox.
   • Cellular phone (camera and GPS)
   • KoboCollect app (Android or iOS)
2. Data Processing. The data recorded by the cellular phone is automatically uploaded into the cloud. After that, data is transfer to an Excel file and media data.
   • KoboToolBox
   • QGIS
   • Microsoft Excel
3. Web Publishing. Data is transferred to QGIS, and proper adjustments are made to the media variables displayed in HTML format.
   • FTP
   • QGIS
   • Qgis2Web plugin (Export to an OpenLayers/Leaflet Web Map)