the 'where' in education

University Libraries

Map and Geographic Information Center - MAGICMap and Geographic Information Center - MAGIC

Digitizing the Past … to Empower 21st Century Research magic.lib.uconn.edu

The 'Where' in Education: Integrating Curriculum through

Spatial ThoughtJeffrey Dunn

Michael Howser


Map and Geographic Information Center - MAGIC


Outline

• Background– MAGIC– GIS in K-12– Common Barriers

• Interactive Spatial Activities– Map of the Week– How in the World– Map Mash-ups– VirtualTours

• Conclusions




MAGIC 2.0

• University of Connecticut Libraries Map and Geographic Information Center – MAGIC has been re-inventing itself into MAGIC 2.0– Focused on general users– Classroom resources– Multiple formats & platforms– Collaborative– “Liberal Education” mindset




Background

• 2009 Horizon Report– “Geo-everything”

• Becoming quicker and easier to geolocate a multitude of information

• Everything “Geo” is now easily leveraged for in classroom use in a quick, affordable fashion.

http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2009/chapters/geo-everything/




GIS in the Classroom

• Examine:– Demographic Data

• Social studies

– Natural Features• Sciences

– Areal concepts• Mathematics

– Historical Maps• History

• Collect & Create– Point, Line and

Polygon Data• GPS• Digitizing

– GIS analysis




Barriers to GIS in K-12

• Common barriers– Ease of use

• Steep Learning Curve

– Time– Data– Support– Cost $$

• Computers• Software

– Support?• Who will be my safety net?




Interactive Spatial Activities

• ArcGIS Explorer• Google Earth• National Geographic

Fieldscope• Connecticut GIS Data

• Google Maps• Outside the Neatline

• Map of the Week• How in the World?

• MAGIC Map Mash-ups• VirtualTours




Map of the Week

http://www.flickr.com/photos/uconnlibrariesmagic/4390646212/sizes/l/




Static Maps - Map of the Week

• If a picture is worth 1,000 words…

• A map can be priceless!– Deliver

interdisciplinary content

– Link to Teacher created content

– Link to additional content on the web

http://outsidetheneatline.blogspot.com/2009/09/map-of-week-5-chicagos-world-fair-1893.html




Outside the Neatline: How in the World?

Hey Brandon, want to go fishing this weekend?

Okay, sounds like fun! Where are we going?

I think there’s a boat launch near New London, CT that we can use.

Great! Um… I don’t have a fishing pole, do you know where we can get one?




Mash-ups

• Mash-ups allow:– Places to be linked to

external websites– Address searching– Temporal analysis

• MAGIC’s Role– Creation– Support– Education




Virtual Tours




Future directions

• QR Codes (Quick Response)– Allows mobile phones to access data using a camera

– Links to custom content

– Treasure hunts, GIS Data, Historical Maps, Web Content

http://qrcode.kaywa.com/




ArcGIS Mobile Application

• Use of different mobile platforms to discover and interact with spatial data.

• Dynamic platforms allow spatial questions to be explored further.– Link to additional data sources and web

content.




Conclusions

• Process matters, not the platform (LaFone, 2010)

• Important considerations– Platforms must be intuitive with minimal IT

support– Data must be easy to obtain or create– Support services other than “Google it”

• Geography can deliver content rather than be delivered with other content




Future directions

• Implement The Connecticut State Data Center’s new website

• Connecticut Geographic Alliance – August 02, 2010

• Teachers Workshop (C.E.U’s)• Implementing Web based GIS and other platforms

in the classroom




The Synergy of Collaboration

• The best ideas come from multiple perspectives

• Reaching out to the community

• Creating new and exciting opportunities.




Acknowledgements

• Michael Howser & Bill Miller – University of Connecticut Libraries Map and

Geographic Information Center.

• William DeGrazia & Tom Brodnitzki– Connecticut Geographic Alliance

• Institute for Applied Geographic Technology – Cayuga Community College NY– TWiST Summer GIS Workshop




References

• National Geographic Fieldscope– http://www.fieldscope.us/

• BILKO Remote Sensing– http://www.noc.soton.ac.uk/bilko/#

• Google Maps– http://maps.google.com/

• Google Earth– http://earth.google.com/

• Arc Explorer– http://www.esri.com/software/arcexplorer/index.html

• Map and Geographic Information Center (MAGIC) of the University of Connecticut Libraries– http://magic.lib.uconn.edu/connecticut_data.html

• Outside the Neatline Blog– outsidetheneatline.blogspot.com/

• Kaywa QR-Code Generator– http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

• Dougherty, Jack, Dunn, Jeffrey & Howser, Michael. “Interactive Mapping for Education: Collaborations for Success" on May 11, 2010 at 2010 Northeast Arc Users (NEArc) Spring Meeting (Northampton, MA).

• Dunn, Jeffrey. “MAGIC 2.0: Using GIS to Empower K-12 Curriculum Development " on April 17, 2010 at Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting (Washington, D.C.)

• Rouse, J.L., Bergeron, S.J., LaFone, F. and Dunn, J.J. 2010. "Digital Media and Learning in Geography". Panel Session at the Association of American Geographers Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.

the 'where' in education

Education

geographic information center

connecticut libraries map

map

kaywa

world

magic 2

gis

week