Case Studies

GIS in the Classroom

South African Educators Teach GIS—With or Without Computers
The South African National Department of Education included GIS in the curriculum for the first time in 2006. "Paper GIS" was developed for schools lacking computer resources.
—ArcNews, Spring 2008

Teaching GIS at Rwandan Secondary Schools
In the National Vision 2020, Rwanda states its commitment for education for everyone and targets information and communication technology (ICT) as the primary national goal.
—ArcNews, Spring 2008

Geospatial Summer Camp
A summer camp program for children in Massachusetts has combined geospatial technologies with its aquatic science education and environmental stewardship activities. These activities are centered on the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, a U.S. national park which encompasses 34 islands that have a rich history and diverse wildlife population.
—ArcUser, Jan.–March 2008

New Ways to Teach about Africa
ESRI created a new set of teaching resources about Africa to support the 2006 Geography Awareness Week and as part of ESRI's role as a member of the National Geographic My Wonderful World coalition.
—ArcUser, April–June 2007

Students and Farmers Become Citizen Scientists
Waterville Elementary School students observed short-horned lizards in farm fields in areas that conflicted with the modeled range distribution maps.
—ArcUser, Jan.–March 2007

Santa Fe Indian School [MP3]
Students apply GIS to community, environmental, agriculture, and even utilities mapping projects.
—Podcast by Mark Ericson, Environmental Science Instructor

Spatial Thinking, Education, and the Workforce
The importance of incorporating geospatial skills into the curriculum.
—ArcUser, July–September 2006

A Fun Way to Promote Geography
A new program from the National Geographic Society will offer today's youth a valuable resource to increase their geographic knowledge and embrace the world around them.
—ArcUser, July–September 2006

National Geographic Society Launches My Wonderful World
Giving Today's Youth the Geographic Knowledge They Lack
—ArcNews, Summer 2006

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Education
English Independent School Implements GIS
—ArcNews, Summer 2006

GIS Hero: Science Instructor Mark Ericson At the Santa Fe Indian School
"The learning is exponential!"
—ArcNews, Winter 2005/2006

King's School, Parramatta, Australia, Motivates Students With a Diverse Array of GIS Projects
Enhancing the Geography Curriculum Since 2000
—ArcNews, Spring 2004

Seattle Eighth Graders Investigate the Health of Their Neighborhoods
—Pacific Publishing Company, December 23, 2004

Exploring Montserrat, British West Indies, With GIS
Students on the Caribbean isle of Montserrat use GIS to study their environment, including the active volcanoes on their island.
—ArcNews, Fall 2003

In Lewiston, Idaho, GIS Students at Jenifer Junior High School Solve a "Grave" Problem
Students study the relocation of a graveyard using GIS and ground penetrating RADAR.
—ArcNews, Winter 2002/2003

South Dakota Classroom Projects Honored
Three classroom projects in South Dakota were selected as outstanding examples of use of GIS technology in a K-12 instructional program.
—ArcNews, Spring 2002

Middle School Students Put GIS to Work
A project in Seattle, Washington, integrates field work, creative writing, and GIS in some delightful student projects.
—ArcNews, Winter, 2002

Electronic Mapping in Education: The Use of Geographic Information Systems
Electronic mapping can serve as a powerful educational tool in the instruction of classroom students and in the administration of campuses and school districts.
—Journal of Research on Technology in Education Volume 34, Number 2, 2001–2002

Documenting a Culture
The felling of the huge willow oak trees, symbols of stability and permanence, mobilized teachers and spurred collaboration with Ligon alumni to document the school's history.
—ArcNews, Fall 2000

Class Uncovers Historic Census Information
Students team up with the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission.
—ArcNews, Fall 2000

Community Atlas Students
Barrington Middle School of Barrington, Rhode Island, was awarded the designation of Model Project during the User Conference.
—ArcNews, Fall 2000.

Jumpstarting GIS use in the Classroom
The Center for Image Processing in Education (CIPE) has developed instructional materials that use ArcView GIS to help teachers and students in grades six through 10 learn about science, mathematics, and technology.
—ArcUser, July–September 2000

Learning with GIS
GIS is a tool not only for students, but for educators and administrators as well.
—ArcUser, July–September 2000