ArcSchool Reader: K–12 Education
Welcome to ArcSchool Reader, a periodic e-newsletter from the ESRI education team. Each issue provides
a quick glimpse of software news; user stories; reminders; and hints about tools, data, and support covering
the use of geographic information system (GIS) technology in primary and secondary schools (K-12 education).
In This Issue
Software News
Service Packs for ArcGIS 9.1 and 9.2
Many schools and educators have recently upgraded their Microsoft Internet Explorer to version 7 or upgraded their operating system to Vista, which includes Internet Explorer 7. For these users, it's imperative to get the latest service pack for ArcGIS products. For other users as well, service packs include important little tweaks that improve the user experience. ArcGIS users (even those with evaluation software) should be sure to install service pack 2 for ArcGIS 9.1 or service pack 1 for ArcGIS 9.2. If you are using ArcGIS Desktop but are not sure which version of the software or service pack you are running, engage the Desktop Administrator and see what it says on the right-hand pane of the opening screen. Download service packs here.
ArcExplorer–Java Edition for Education 2.3
The next version of ArcExplorer-Java Edition for Education is on its way! Built on MapObjects–Java 2.3, ArcExplorer–Java Edition for Education is a lightweight, downloadable, free GIS tool for Windows and Macintosh OS X. The newest version, due very soon, permits the use of relative paths, sorting selected records to the top of a table, and identifying according to the highlighted layer, among other improvements. ArcExplorer–Java Edition for Education is available for free download.
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Data News
ArcGIS Online
With the release of ArcGIS 9.2, ESRI is introducing ArcGIS Online, a family of Web-based products and services for ArcGIS users. Students and educators working with ArcGIS Desktop will be able to access maps, globes, and services directly via the Web through ArcGIS Online. A short video [WMV - 2:28] highlights the capacities and shows how easy it can be for users to make great maps.
Center For Image Processing in Education Offers Free GIS Materials
The Exploring Data with GIS to Experience Sanctuaries (EDGES) instructional materials, developed by the Center for Image Processing in Education (CIPE) in collaboration with four national marine sanctuaries, are now being offered as a free download. EDGES is posted in the registered users section of the Web site, so you'll need to create a login (e-mail and password). Once logged in, click the Free Instructional Materials link, then the Free GIS Materials link. The posted materials are designed for ArcView 3.x. ArcView 9.x map files are also provided. The entire package (book, data, and projects) is downloadable as a single compressed archive of 270 MB. There are also links to other instructional packages from CIPE.
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Support News
ArcView 9.2 Movies
A series of movies has been posted online introducing some of the new capacities of ArcView 9.2. Users can watch a single Flash movie (11:30 in length) or see the 16 individual elements that highlight new capacities of the software. Some that are sure to be favorites include Direct Connection to an Excel Spreadsheet, Go To XY Tool, and Exporting Maps to PDF Files.
Microsoft Vista and ArcView 3
Many schools and teachers are still using ArcView 3.x for Windows, but Microsoft's recent release of the Vista operating system is not compatible with it. ArcView 3.x is not supported on the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system, and there are no plans to support ArcView GIS 3.x on this operating system in the future. ArcGIS 9.2 technology is supported on Vista, so ArcView 3 users will want to upgrade their GIS along with any move to the Vista operating system. Read frequently asked questions.
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User News
MapPros! Careers in Geospatial Technologies
Three New Hampshire education partners (University of New Hampshire [UNH] Cooperative Extension and UNH Complex Systems Research Center with funding from the NH Space Grant Consortium) launched a Web site that educates students and others about career opportunities in geospatial technologies. MapPros! provides an opportunity to learn about the many options available to those with skills in these technologies. The site features personal profiles of professionals who use these technologies in a wide variety of fields and students currently pursuing geocareers. The site also does a great job of helping people understand what geospatial technologies (GIS, GPS, remote sensing) are via text and video.
2007 ESRI Education User Conference
The ESRI Education User Conference (EdUC) is coming to San Diego, California, June 15–18. Curt Sumner, executive director of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM), will give the Keynote Address. ACSM is an educational organization advancing the sciences of surveying, mapping, and related fields. Sumner will explore surveying and mapping in all levels of classroom instruction, types of curricular materials available and needed, and some key higher education programs. He will introduce the audience to an ACSM exhibit currently housed at the Library of Congress and available for exploration online: Maps in Our Lives! Read more about the ESRI EdUC.
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Calendar: Key Events
Local GIS User Group Meetings
GIS Day–Everywhere, any day
GeoTech
Dallas, TX
February 26–March 3, 2007
GLOBE at Night
Web Event
March 8–21, 2007
National Youth Service Learning
Albuquerque, NM
March 28–31, 2007
National Science Teachers Association
St. Louis, MO
March 29–April 1, 2007
Association of American Geographers
San Francisco, CA
April 17–21, 2007
Children, Youth, and Families at Risk
Chicago, IL
May 2–4, 2007
ESRI Education User Conference
San Diego, CA
June 16–19, 2007
ESRI International User Conference
San Diego, CA
June 18–22, 2007
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