mapping and other cool tools

8/14/2019 mapping and other cool tools

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G E O T E C H i n g :

M a p p i n ga n d O t h e rC o o l T o o l sf o r t h eC l a s s r o o m

ESRI Schools and Libraries Program, 1997www.esri.com/base/markets/k-12/k-12.html

Interest in bringing mapping, GIS (geographic information system) technology, and active spatial inquiry into the classroom can lead to an

interest in adding other tools and capacities as well.

Educators and students wishing to engage in personal geographic explorations are also finding that they want to:Create and add their own data to existing map displaysCapture photographic images and embed them into projectsUse mapping tools as cartographic clip art enginesProduce electronic publications and multimedia presentations incorporating personal maps and chartsRetrieve and use data sets from the web that are in compressed, text, and other formatsShare data and images as well as projects with teachers and students in other locations.

What are some other tools I should have hanging from my technology tool belt?

In the following pages, we suggest a number of software applications and electronic devices that will support interests in undertaking these activities.


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G E O T E C H i n g :M a p p i n g a n d O t h e r C o o l T o o l s f o r t h e C l a s s r o o m 2

Below are software application suggestions that can add new dimensions to your classroom.

S o f t w a r e W h a t s i t f o r ? L o w c o s t W h e r e c a n I l e a r nA p p l i c a t i o n s u g g e s t i o n s ? m o r e ?C a t e g o r y

Personal mapping Design and presentation of user-defined maps, charts, graphs BusinessMAP 2.0 or Pro www.esri.com/base/markets/k-12/k-12.htmlDevelopment of simple spatial queries and searches [w/MAPables data, tutorials, [email protected] coding of personal databases (e.g. ZIPs, addresses) lessons for K-12 use] (WIN) 612-454-0600

GIS (geographic Design and presentation of user-defined maps, charts, graphs ArcView 3.0 [w/ArcVoyager, a www.esri.com/base/markets/k-12/k-12.html

information system) Creation of new geographic areas and data sets tiered K-12 companion for ArcView [email protected] of simple/sophisticated spatial queries and including on-line learning aids, 612-454-0600searches prepared geographic projects, and

Analysis of spatial patterns and relationships tailored data sets as well as conceptCreation of geographic multimedia presentations mater ials and lessons] (WIN/MAC)

Database or Creation and editing of geographic data bases Microsoft Works, ClarisWorks Numerous sourcesspreadsheet (WIN/MAC)Word processors for ASCII text

files (WIN/MAC)

Screen capture Creation of personal clip art image files for inclusion in print Computers print screen functionand electronic documents and presentation applications (WIN/MAC)

JASC Professional Capture Systems www.jasc.com

(WIN)BSG ScreenShot 2.5 (MAC) www.beale.com

Illustration--Image Image creation, painting, retouching, cropping...think pixels Windows Paint(brush), Mac Paint, Numerous sources

painting/editing Conversion of image files to alternate formats (e.g. PCX to TIF, etc.

PICT to GIF) JASC Paint Shop Pro (WIN), www.jasc.comGIFConverter (MAC) www.kamit.com/gifconverter.html

Illustration--Draw Creation and editing of images based on points, lines, Windows Draw, ClarisDraw, Numerous sourcespolygons...not good for photographic work CorelDRAW, Freehand

(WIN/MAC)

Presentation-- Creation, editing, and display of slide based presentations Astound, Hyperstudio, Powerpoint Numerous sources

Design/editing (WIN/MAC)

Presentation--Slide Organization and display of previously prepared images JASC Media Commander (WIN) www.jasc.com

show GIFConverter, GraphicConverter www.kamit.com/gifconverter.html(MAC)

After Dark, those in prior section Numerous sources(WIN/MAC)


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Below are additional software application suggestions that can add new dimensions to your classroom.

S o f t w a r e W h a t s i t f o r ? L o w c o s t W h e r e c a n I l e a r nA p p l i c a t i o n s u g g e s t i o n s ? m o r e ?

C a t e g o r y

Electronic Creation of and/or viewing, printing, navigating, and searching Adobe Acrobat and/or Adobe www.adobe.com

publishing electronic documents Acrobat Reader (WIN/MAC)HTML editor and viewer Numerous sources(WIN/MAC)

Image sources-- Use of existing digital photographic images and clip art in print/ Corel Photo CDs (WIN/MAC), Numerous sources

Royalty free image electronic presentations and documents numerous public domain Web sites

files (e.g. NASA, NOAA, USGS)

Image sources-- Creation and use of personal digital photographic images in Kodak Photo CDs from local Reputable photofinisher

Personal print/electronic presentations and documents photofinisher

photography Seattle Filmworks disks www.filmworks.com(WIN/MAC)

Computer video Creation and sharing of computer movies by capturing computer Lotus ScreenCam (WIN) www.lotus.com/screencam

capture and viewing screen images in video form much like using the computers Instant Replay by Strata (MAC) www.videomaker.com/edit/MAG/st6z.htmsound recorder

Useful in sharing mapping projects as video reports or showinga group the steps involved in accomplishing a task on thecomputer

Computerized video Multimedia tools used to create and deliver synchronized QuickTime (WIN/MAC) www.quicktime.apple.com

creation, editing, graphics, sound, video, text, and music Computers media player See Mac or Windows documentation

and/or viewing Computer users require a viewer for movie and sound playback

such as for viewing a Connectix Quickcam generated video

File compression Reduction of file sizes for easier migration from machine to WinZip (WIN) www.winzip.commachine and across the Internet Aladdin Systems Stuff It (MAC) www.aladdinsys.com

Machine to machine Movement of large files from one machine to another machine FastMove, LapLink, Numerous sources

file transfer Win95 Network (WIN) See Mac or Win95 documentationAppleTalk (MAC) [All must havespecial cabling]

Internet, FTP, and Access to the growing wealth of geographic data, image files, Local Internet Service Provider Numerous sources

e-mail access and research/reference information and sources of guidance and (ISP), America Online, Microsoftideas Network, Prodigy, Compuserve

Ability to retrieve and deposit files and mail


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Below are suggestions of a number of electronic devices that can add new dimensions to your classroom.

D e v i c e W h a t s i t f o r ? A n y s u g g e s t i o n s ? W h e r e c a n I l e a r nC a t e g o r y m o r e ?

GPS (global Geographic positioning, mapping, and navigation on the Earth. Personal GPS receivers, e.g. Garmin and Camping, outdoor, map stores

positioning system) Determining X,Y,Z coordinates (longitude, la titude, altitude) and sets of Magellan ($150 to $300) www.trimble.com

receiver user-defined locations and geographic shapes. Coupled with manual or Professional series GPS receivers with www.garmin.comautomated data logging a GPS is a powerful data creation tool. Used for location correction software/aids, e.g. www.ascsci.com/geotoolspersonal navigation (+/- 100 meter accuracy) to professional data Trimble ($20,000)gathering and location monitoring (submeter accuracy).

Digital camera Composing, processing, and viewing of personal digital photographic Kodak DC20/DC50, Apple QuickTake Camera and computer stores

images much faster than having the film processed by a photofinisher. 150/200 (WIN/MAC), Casio QV10A/100, www.kodak.comInstantaneous response to image capture and processing opportunities Epson PhotoPC, Fuji Photo DS-7 imaging.apple.commay need to be weighed against loss of image quality of 35mm cameras. ($300 to

mapping and other cool tools

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