“Geospatial” technologies–which include geographic information system (GIS), global positioning system (GPS), and remote sensing (RS) tools–are becoming increasingly important in our everyday lives. These technologies use “smart” maps that can display, query, and analyze geographic databases; receivers that provide location and navigation; and global-to-local imagery and tools that provide context and analysis.
As these tools become vital to helping community leaders ask and answer questions with both local and global implications, the ability to think spatially is an increasingly important skill for students. Hundreds of jobs–in such areas as planning, law enforcement, environmental management, business, public safety, health, and agriculture–now require key geographic inquiry skills.
Though GIS technology appears in the National Geography Standards, teachers in earth, environmental, biological, and general science also are incorporating geospatial technologies into their lessons. The growing use of these tools in an array of social studies and STEM subjects supports authentic, problem-based instruction, helping students tackle real social and environmental research projects in their communities.
School leaders, too, are using geospatial technologies to help with their planning and decision making. These tools can help districts make more informed decisions related to facilities planning, student transportation, school safety, and more.
With the generous financial support of ESRI, the editors of eSchool News have compiled this special collection of news stories, best practices, and other resources–all designed to help you integrate GIS and other geospatial technologies into your classrooms and district offices.–The Editors
eSchool News Articles
Geographic software helps teach critical skills »
Thanks to a new statewide license, all schools in Arkansas will have access to geographic information system (GIS) technology--software the Arkansas Department of Education (DOE) hopes will continue to give students 21st-century skills and community service opportunities......
Dec 11 2009 / Read More »‘Augmented reality’ helps kids learn »
Researchers at Harvard, MIT, and the University of Wisconsin at Madison have developed a project that uses "augmented reality" to teach students math and literacy skills. The project involves teams of students gathering data on handheld computers to explain why aliens have landed, and in the process students "interview" virtual characters they encounter at certain GPS hot spots. The researchers say the project holds great potential for engaging students and teaching high-level skills....
Feb 5 2007 / Read More »Tech helps slash costs, enhance safety »
With increasing budgetary and safety concerns, school transportation officials are cutting costs and increasing safety by using new software and technology that can improve: route management, safety and security, and savings on fuel and operation costs. Software can now enable school transportation officials to adjust routes and schedules on the fly to better manage fleets to accommodate needs. Schools are also turning to alternative fuels to alleviate the burden of high gas prices. In addition, video cameras and other technology are increasing bus safety by monitoring behavior, as well as driving violations by adults on and around buses....
Jun 7 2006 / Read More »Young Americans geographically challenged »
To combat what a recent poll reveals as a striking lack of knowledge about geography among young Americans, National Geographic is leading a new multimedia campaign to boost the geographic literacy of today's students. The campaign, which includes a new web site with classroom resources for educators, comes as an awareness of the world around them is increasingly important for students to succeed in today's global economy. ...
May 4 2006 / Read More »Schools urged to teach ’spatial literacy’ »
The National Research Council, which advises the federal government on critical issues in science and technology, has issued a report calling on schools to incorporate "spatial literacy" into their curricula. Spatial thinking is an increasingly important skill for living and working in the 21st century, the council said, and geographic information system (GIS) technology can help schools teach this skill to their students....
Apr 12 2006 / Read More »Soaring fuel costs threaten school budgets »
The fuel panic that ensued after Hurricane Katrina interrupted oil production and transportation in the Gulf Coast region has heightened concerns over rising fuel costs that already had existed before the storm. These soaring costs have put a serious strain on school budgets, prompting school leaders to examine ways they can save......
Sep 12 2005 / Read More »Google Maps inspire creativity »
A new technology from internet search behemoth Google Inc. is making innovators out of some educators, who have begun envisioning practical uses for the company's new Google Maps feature to make previously unavailable graphic representations of everything from school district bus routes to geography lessons... ...
Jun 15 2005 / Read More »Students use computers to design real-world service projects »
The term "spatial technology" refers to the function of any number of different hardware and software tools that help students engage with the physical world. In a spatial technology lab, students use technologies that teach them computer-aided design, engineering design, visualization, database design, web page design, programming, office automation, global positioning systems, and geographic information systems. ...
Jun 1 2005 / Read More »GIS technology aids school planning »
Before administrators for the 8,300-student Fayetteville Public School District in Arkansas decided where to build their new K-7 school, they set out to find the perfect location--one that would benefit the greatest number of families while causing the least disruption in traffic patterns and other geographic variables. The decision proved to be an easy one, thanks to the aid of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. ...
Dec 27 2004 / Read More »Royalty-free video: Geography »
Discovery Education is offering its unitedstreaming video-on-demand service subscribers access to more than 1,000 video clips that have been copyright-cleared by their producers for editing or reproduction by teachers and students in class projects. ...
Nov 30 2004 / Read More »Additional Resources
Geography across the curriculum
Exploring Common Ground: The Educational Promise of GIS (Downloadable Paper)
http://www.esri.com/industries/k-12/download/docs/xcg.pdf
Geographic Inquiry: Thinking Geographically (Downloadable Paper)
http://www.esri.com/industries/k-12/download/docs/geoginquiry.pdf
Learning to Think Spatially new report from the National Research Council
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11019.html
Geography across the community
4-H GIS Program
http://www.esri.com/4-h
EAST Initiative (Multi-state program on student-centered technology education)
http://www.eastproject.org
My Community, Our Earth (Ongoing project to engage youth in sustainability issues)
http://www.aag.org/sustainable
Geography and careers
Career Voyages: Geospatial Technology
http://www.careervoyages.gov/geospatialtechnology-main.cfm
Geospatial 21 (Part of the Kidz Online Network)
http://www.geospatial21.org
Mapping out a GIS career
http://www.gis.com/careers
President's High-Growth Job Training Initiative--Geospatial Technology
http://www.doleta.gov/BRG/Indprof/Geospatial.cfm
SPACESTARS (GIS, GPS, RS Curricula)
http://www.spacestars.org
Geography and school administration
Chicago launches online school locator
http://schoollocator.cps.k12.il.us
Detroit tackles facilities and transportation with GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall05articles/earning-all.html
GIS Best Practices
http://www.esri.com/industries/k-12/user-showcase/case-studies.html
Online Mapping
Community Information Resources Center (Try interactive mapping)
http://circ.rupri.org
ESRI ArcWeb Explorer
http://www.arcwebservices.com
Geography Network
http://www.geographynetwork.com
GLOBE at Night (Special activity begins March 8, 2007)
http://www.globe.gov/GaN
National Geographic Society MapMachine
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine
USGS National Atlas (Try the MapMaker)
http://www.nationalatlas.gov
GPS resources
Garmin: About GPS
http://www.garmin.com/aboutGPS/
NASA: GPS Applications Exchange
http://gpshome.ssc.nasa.gov/
Sam Wormley's GPS Resources
http://www.edu-observatory.org/gps/gps.html
Trimble: About GPS
http://www.trimble.com/gps/index.html
Remote sensing resources
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: Remote Sensing Data and Information
http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/rsd/RemoteSensing.html
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: Visualization of Remote Sensing Data
http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/rsd
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Shuttle Radar Topography Mission
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm
NOAA Satellite's Eye Art Gallery
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ol/satellite/satelliteseye/satelliteseye.html
