GIS for Educators and Administrators

1
GIS for Educators and Administrators

• Aaron Doering, Ph.D.

2
Objectives

• General Introduction to GIS
• How would you like to use GIS?
• ArcView vs. ArcVoyager
• Installing ArcView and ArcVoyager
• General Introduction to ArcVoyager
• Quick Start Tutorial
• Navigating the environment
• Case of the Missing Ship
• Address Matching
• Linking Images to Places

3
What is GIS?
GIS Geographic Information System

• GIS is a combination of
• Robust hardware
• Powerful software
• Special data
• Thinking explorer

4
Thinking Explorer

• Far and away the most important element of the
  quartet above is the thinking explorer -- the
  user. The user manipulates the hardware, which
  engages the software, to work on the data. The
  process is easy to describe
• Think about a place or a topic ...
• Ask a question about it ...
• Make a map ...
• Explore the patterns that appear ...
• Enhance the data or modify the analysis
  ...
• Ask a new question ...
• Repeat ...

5
GIS is not "canned maps."

• It is, instead, the ability to construct maps
  "on the fly," showing what you want (and have
  data for) in the way you define. The software
  draws the integration of data geographic
  features (or "where things are") and sets of
  attributes (or "what things are like"), processed
  according to rules you set.

6
Why use GIS?

• To explore relationships between features that
  are distributed unevenly over space. The user can
  seek patterns that may not be apparent without
  using advanced techniques of query, selection,
  analysis, and display.

7
Examples of situations where GIS can help

• Does it make sense to put a megamall here?
• Should legislative district boundaries go here or
  there?
• Do we expand the existing airport here or build a
  new one there?
• Will there be enough schools for students here in
  10 years?
• Which pockets of endangered environment should we
  protect?
• What is the impact of released waste on local
  health patterns?
• Where might restocking of native species be
  environmentally wise?
• Are we adequately prepared to service the local
  and surrounding population in the event of
  various possible disasters?

8
Static Maps No More
9
Earthquakes of 1977
10
Tracking Butterflies with Journey North and GIS
11
World Population Density
12
ArcVoyagerGeographic Information System for
Schools
13
Online Mapping
14
Online MappingFinding a place in the US
15
Online MappingWorld Cinema Visits
16
GIS Research

• Preservice teachers require a clear understanding
  of the use of Geographic Information Systems
  (GIS) in order that they can comprehensively
  teach the National Geography Standards within the
  K-12 classroom (Bednarz, 1995 Sui, 1995).
• Many teachers understand the value of GIS, but
  they truly do not understand how to use GIS,
  and/or they do not know the best pedagogy within
  their K-12 classroom.
• No exemplary models for integrating GIS into
  preservice teacher preparation programs exist.
  (Bednarz Audet, The Status of GIS Technology in
  Teacher Preparation Programs, 1999)
• Studies have found GIS not being used in the K-12
  classroom because of inadequate training
  (Bednarz, 1999, p. 61).

17
Questions?
18
Lets Get Started!

• http//www.geographyeducation.com/gisweb