GIS in K-12 Education[PDF-1.45 MB, 8 pages]
—a quick introduction to the ArcView for schools bundle, plus other options.
Introductory Materials and White Papers
Exploring Common Ground: The Educational Promise of GIS[PDF-26 KB, 4 pages]
—a of the potential benefits of bringing GIS into the pre-college classroom, and the educational characteristics that effective use of GIS relies on.
Geographic Inquiry: Thinking Geographically[PDF-700 KB, 4 pages]
—an introduction to an investigative method for engaging in geographic research: Asking geographic questions, acquiring geographic resources, explore geographic data, analyzing geographic information, and acting upon geographic knowledge.
Geohistorical Inquiry: Connecting Place and Time and Critical Thinking[PDF-1.7 MB, 13 pages]
—a perspective on linkages between historical and geographic research, similarities in inquiry methods, the importance of local investigations, and a technique for engaging in geohistorical studies.
GIS in K-12 Education, rev.2[PDF-0.2 MB, 40 pages]
—a primer (first published spring 1995, revised spring 1998) on the basic aspects of using GIS in schools. It includes suggestions on hardware, activities, contacts, and classroom strategies.
GIS in School Curricula[PDF-22 KB, 4 pages]
—a summary of ways in which GIS might be incorporated into thinking about school curricula. Significant attention to educational vision here.
Techniques for Using GIS in the Classroom[PDF-22 KB, 4 pages]
—a summary of ways in which GIS might be incorporated in different classroom settings. Includes attention to alternatives not commonly considered.
GEOTECHing: Mapping and Other Cool Tools for the Classroom[PDF-0.4 MB, 4 pages]
—a listing of tools (software and electronic devices) to consider adding to a GIS user's technology tool belt. It also gives descriptions and info on where to find out more.
Intro to Making Maps[PDF-0.2 MB, 10 pages]
—a primer on some of the basic issues of cartographic design.
Lesson Materials
Explore Your World[PDF-1.0 MB, 50 pages]
—a set of six lessons, in black and white, designed for grades 5-12, with no computer required. The lessons introduce the ideas of spatial thinking and geographic problem solving, looking at where people live in the USA. The lessons work in conjunction with the Explore Your World with a GIS poster.
