Integrating GIS and Community Mapping into Secondary Science Education: A Web GIS Approach

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Integrating GIS and Community Mapping into
Secondary Science Education A Web GIS Approach
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Introduction

• GIS program combining mapping, data, and
  analysis tools
• GIS and Secondary education
• Growing interest
• Slow growth in use
• Success limited (time, resources)
• Time wasted teaching technology
• Global data common, local data desired
• Less complex GIS options needed

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Web GIS as potential solution

• What is web GIS?
• Basic GIS functions with Internet technology
• Accessible via the Web
• Less complex interface
• Easier to use as tool

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Objectives

• Is web GIS a viable option for GIS in education?
• What are the benefits and limitations of web GIS
  use in education?
• What are some factors of success?

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The Tahoma Virtual Atlas

• Model online physical geographic
  community atlas
• Created for Tahoma School Districts secondary
  science classes
• Developed using
  Arc Internet Map Server

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Benefits of GIS in Education

• Provides new perspective
• Interactive nature increases learning
• Ideal for student-centered classrooms
• Problem solving and spatial reasoning skills
• Interdisciplinary real world
• Complements science curriculum nicely
• Exposure to modern mapping methods

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Current Status

• 2 of high schools own a GIS
• Only half of those schools use it

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Why so low?

• Full GIS too technical for most teachers
• Time consuming
• Learning
• Teaching (takes away from core curriculum)
• Lack of resources
• Training
• Adequate technology
• Money to support these
• Few curriculum resources

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Efforts to Increase Use

• Organizations
• Nonprofit, government, university
• Software
• ArcExplorer, ArcVoyager
• Trainings

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Web GIS

• Recent technology
• Static maps vs. functionality
• Local GIS programs and data not required
• Used by GIS novices and experts
• Can be tailored to meet needs

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Arc Internet Map Server (ArcIMS)

• Advanced web GIS
• Product of ESRI
• Simplified ArcView
• Basic GIS functions
• Single interface
• Uses ArcView
  Shapefiles

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Viewers
Client  
Server
Web Server
ArcIMS Connectors
Application Server
Spatial Server
Manager
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The Tahoma Virtual Atlas

• Tahoma School District, Washington
• Online physical geographic community atlas
• Secondary integrated science curriculum
• Tool that compliments
  field trips

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Planning

• Initial design
• Physical geographic theme
• Integrated geology, hydrology, climate,
  vegetation
• Pierce and King Counties
• Field trip locations
• Goals
• Provide teachers access to local data
• Tool to build upon

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Data
Base Data Layers Physical Geog. Layers
Roads Land Cover
Streams Land Use
DEMs (contours, aspect, slope) Geology (surface, faults, earthquakes, slides)
Political Boundaries Wetlands
Watersheds Precipitation
PLSS Grid
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Data Compilation

• Internet download, CDs, tables
• Acquired from various sources
• County governments
• University of Washington
• Federal Government Agencies (BLM, USFS, USGS)
• Created (contours, slope, aspect, earthquakes)

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Data Processing

• Most time consuming
• Many formats, projections
• Final format
• State Plane WA, North Zone Projection
• ArcView Shapefiles
• grids and images GeoTIFF format

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Data challenges

• Scale issues
• Original scale large more detail
• Joining Layers
• Matching features
• Matching tables
• Differing scales
• Most added separately (too time consuming)

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ArcIMS Installation

• ArcIMS 3.1 Installed
• Dell Precision Workstation
• Windows 2000 Workstation
• Requires web server and Java components to be
  installed first
• Apache Web Server, Jakarta Tomcat
• Secure and stable
• Long, painful process

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Site Creation

• ArcIMS Manager easy to use

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Authored Map Service
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Designed Web Site
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Site Customization

• Default site unattractive
• Manual edits to HTML and JavaScript files
• Changed colors
• Added links to accessory pages created
• Introductory page
• Help page
• Metadata page
• Disclaimer

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Page Overview
Overview Map
Layers/ Legend
Toolbar
Map Frame
Text Box
Links
Mode Frame
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Implementation

• Introduced atlas to teachers
• brief training
• Sample lesson
• Survey
• Teacher using in class 3 days later!
• Migration from OSU to high school
• Train future site manager

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The Final Product

• Many functions
• Choose layers to display
• Zoom/pan
• Identify, search, query features
• Measure, buffer features
• Print layout

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Metadata
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Uses of the atlas

• Enhance science lessons with local data
• Volcanic activity, earthquakes
• Watershed studies
• Mapping skills
• Local affects of global warming
• Investigate study sites
• Add new layers
• Develop temporal database (i.e., water quality)

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Data Observations

• Factors of consideration
• Scale
• Quality
• Metadata quality variable
• Area too large

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ArcIMS Observations

• Challenging to install
• IMS Manager and site sometimes quirky
• Slow site speed frustrated students
• Customization challenging
• Need programming skills
• Maintenance may be too challenging for teachers

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Web GIS in Education

• Addresses time issues
• Less training needed
• Focus on educational standards
• Addresses resource issues
• Web browser only requirement
• Use from any computer
• Lead to increased GIS use in education
• Same data sets accessible with ArcView

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Community Mapping

• Local data more interesting
• Students relate better
• Local issues Global issues
• Incorporate hands-on learning
• Create new data in the field
• Web GIS makes access easier
• Connect students with community

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Conclusions

• Not answer for everyone
• As technology improves, feasibility will
  increase
• Success depends on teachers

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Conclusions (contd.)

• Easy to access and use
• Tool to enhance curriculum
• Use ArcView for more depth
• Atlas can be expanded
• Web GIS and fieldwork unique opportunity

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Future Work

• Curricula development
• Follow-up study of use in classrooms
• Create new atlas pages, tailored to lessons
• Simpler web GIS greater use

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Thank You!
http//www.geocities.com/gisliz2002