ArcSchool Reader
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Calendar: Key Events
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- Local GIS User Group Meetings
- GLOBE at Night
February 25-March 8, 2008
Worldwide
- GeoTech Conference
February 27 - March 1, 2008
Dallas, TX
- Microcomputers in Education Conference
March 10-12, 2008
Tempe, AZ
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Conference
March 15-17, 2008
New Orleans, LA
- American Education Research Association Annual Meeting
March 24-28, 2008
New York City, NY
- National Science Teachers Association Conference
March 27-30, 2008
Boston, MA
- Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting
April 15-19, 2008
Boston, MA
- ESRI Education User Conference
August 2-5, 2008
San Diego, California
- ESRI International User Conference
August 4-8, 2008
San Diego, California
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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 GIS technology in elementary and secondary schools (K-12 education).
In This Issue
Software News
ArcGIS Explorer: New Version
ArcGIS Explorer, a free 3D globe application that consumes online GIS services and local data, continues to evolve. The latest version (#450) was released in late 2007. The new version improves performance when accessing ArcIMS sites, improves KML support, expands controls, and provides great new billboarded point symbology. The best place to learn more is at the ArcGIS Explorer Resource Center. This is where you can download the application, but exploring the site's various tabs will lead to some useful discoveries. For other ArcGIS Explorer resources, be sure to visit the ESRI Education Community ArcGIS Explorer page.
ArcGIS 9.2 SP4 - Includes Support for Vista
ArcGIS 9.2 Service Pack 4 (SP4) is now available and includes support for running ArcGIS Desktop 9.2 products (ArcReader, ArcView, ArcEditor, ArcInfo) on Windows Vista. In addition to service pack 4, two patches from Microsoft are required to support ArcGIS on Vista. For more information about ArcGIS support for Windows Vista, see this technical article on the ESRI Support site.
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Data News
ArcGIS Online
ArcGIS Online is a data resource for users of ArcGIS Desktop tools including ArcMap, ArcGlobe, ArcReader, and ArcGIS Explorer. It provides a series of 2D map and 3D globe services that you can use to support your GIS work. This includes seamless imagery at approximately 1-meter resolution for the conterminous United States and 500- and 15-meter resolution for the world. These ready-to-use services can also be accessed by Web mapping applications created with ArcGIS Server.
National Historical GIS
National Historical GIS (NHGIS) provides, at no cost, aggregate census data and GIS-compatible boundary files for the United States between 1790 and 2000. There are two options for mapping NHGIS data: download boundary files for use in GIS software or create maps using Social Explorer, an online mapping application. The geographic boundary files include states and counties from 1790 to the present plus tracts and statistical areas for varying periods. The statistical data available varies by geographic unit and time frame.
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Support News
Placing History
A fascinating new book walks readers through the use of GIS in exploring historical questions. Placing History: How Maps, Spatial Data, and GIS Are Changing Historical Research offers case studies and essays on key issues involving historical GIS. China, Rome, Gettysburg, and more come under 21st century exploration. The book includes a supplementary CD containing PowerPoint presentations, instructional videos, notes, and map layers for use with either ArcGIS or ArcExplorer-Java Edition for Education.
Learn to Develop Spatial Thinking Skills
Spatial thinking has been receiving increased attention recently. One reason could be the rapid expansion of geotechnologies such as recreational GPS, in-car navigation devices, and virtual globe software. We're also starting to realize that global issues such as biodiversity loss and urban sprawl are beginning to affect our everyday lives. To grapple with these issues in the 21st century requires a populace adept at using GIS and other geotechnologies. Read the full essay.
Mapping Center
GIS makes it easy to make a map, but there are both art and science behind making a great map. The Mapping Center is about the use of ArcGIS in the graphic delivery of geographic information. Its goal is to help users make great-looking maps by understanding and using the same cartographic concepts that professional cartographers use. The Maps zone provides a set of example maps with detailed explanations of why different elements of the maps work well and instructions on how to accomplish similar tasks on your own maps. The Ask a Cartographer section has an archive of common questions plus answers linked to key screen shots or important explanations within the online help system.
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User News
Palm Beach County School Locator
Many school districts spend a lot of time and manpower answering questions from residents about school locations and attendance zones. Some districts have made online mapping applications to help anxious residents and beleaguered staff. The locator application recently released by Palm Beach County, Florida, shows how an application can be both a key tool for administrative tasks and, at the same time, a powerful resource for classroom instruction.
GLOBE at Night
From February 25 through March 8, 2008, the GLOBE program is conducting a world-wide analysis of the nighttime sky, through the "GLOBE at Night" project. Participants of all ages and backgrounds, in any of the 110 GLOBE countries, are asked to look at the constellation Orion and report what they see. Ambient light will affect which stars are visible, so the project is a way of looking at light pollution. After entering data on the GLOBE at Night website, viewers can explore the entries on a map. All the necessary instructions, data entry, and mapping pages, are accessible at the GLOBE at Night web site.
ESRI Education User Conference
Plan now to attend the ESRI Education User Conference in San Diego, California, August 2-5. This event overlaps with the ESRI International User Conference, August 4-8, so there will be plenty of competition for hotel rooms. Make your plans early!
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