Field Techniques in Remote Sensing: Learning by Doing

Abstract

The paper summarizes one professor's observations and resulting approach to teaching a semester‐long course on the subject of field techniques as they relate to remote‐sensing campaigns. The text describes how a “learning‐by‐doing strategy” is applied to such a course. More specifically, the paper describes how the instructor requires students to design, construct, and actually implement “hardware solutions” to problems involving collection of spectral (and ancillary) data in the field. Pupils must test their developed methodologies and “technological creations” with regard to a focused research problem undertaken in a difficult field setting during a week‐long outdoor experience. The students are expected to evaluate, and possibly modify, their methods and procedures “on‐the‐fly.” Individual group research problems, methods, and hardware solutions are briefly described, and selected student evaluations of the experience are provided.