Geo-Spatial Technologies in
the K-12 Classroom
Brief Background
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Geo-spatial technologies are the twenty-first century mechanisms for more rapidly
obtaining, managing and utilizing data to solve problems from a geographic, or
spatial, perspective.
Historically, obtaining data took much time: coastal mapping with compass and
sextants, sailing ships, paper and pen; walking the Santa Fe Trail with paper and pen
and journal; economic/resource mapping by foot, horse, camel, elephant, or ship. All of
these methods took significant amounts of time. And the information was available on
the one piece of paper (or copied to a few other papers). The information could not
easily be obtained. Each time an individual or organization needed to collect
information (population, natural resources, agriculture, habitat, climate, economic goods
and products, best trade routes…), they would need to go into the field and gather the
information (provided they did not have access to the original information). Soon,
though, several organizations began to create a collection of information (United States
Coastal Survey) that could be catalogued at a library or museum or office. But the
information could not be obtained by everyone readily.
In the past twenty years or so, new technologies have made the collection and sharing
of information (data) more permanent. With the advent of GPS (global positioning
systems), exact locations of data on the Earth’s surface can be collected and
permanently stored. The stored data can be accessed and utilized by almost everyone
through software designed to utilize the data (GIS – geographic information systems).
GPS tools and GIS software are fairly easy to use and fun to use in the classroom!
Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships
Begin with information students may already know:
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A single point of data/information --- their desk in the classroom, the restroom in the school
building, a tree location on the school’s property, the stop sign into the school’s parking lot, the
monkey bars on the school’s playground, place of employment, friend’s house, movie theatre…
Use the example of basic map skills (where is something located) to introduce GPS (global
positioning systems) – which is the twenty-first century technology tool to find a single point of
data location (desk, restroom, tree, stop sign, monkey bars). For older students, many have a
GPS in their cellular telephones or in a family vehicle. Although GPS units are fun to use,
students do not need to use one to understand the basic concepts behind a GPS.
Also, introduce orienteering (work with a compass) as a way to get from point A to point B
(from here to there): my desk to the teacher’s desk, my desk to the restroom, monkey bars to
the swing set, one tree to another tree, my home to my job, my job to the movie theatre, the
movie theatre to my friend’s house… Orienteering offers the opportunity to work with a math
teacher to review geometry skills (triangulation).
Once students understand the ideas of data, single point of data location, GPS, and
orienteering, work toward the use of a GIS (geographic information systems), which is the
twenty-first century mechanism to obtain, manage and utilize data (collected from millions of
single points) to analyze and solve problems. The school does not need to purchase a GIS
software, several are available on-line for free.
In a GIS is “where” students can also utilize aerial photography (also called orthophotography) and satellite imagery, which are very cool ways to view the Earth.
Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships
Orienteering
GPS
GIS
Aerial & Satellite Imagery
Geography and History of the World
Indiana Social Studies –
Geography = Academic
Standard 3,
Grades K-8
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Kindergarten - 2
Grade 1 – 2 & 7
Grade 2 - 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7
Grade 3 – 1, 3, 4, 6, & 7
Grade 4 – 1, 2, 5, 8, 9 & 10
Grade 5 – 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 & 11
Grade 6 – 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14
& 16
Grade 7 – 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14,
15 & 16
Grade 8 – 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11
Standard 1. Culture Hearths. Standard 2. World
Religions. Standard 3. Population Characteristics,
Distribution, and Migration.
Standard 4. Exploration, Conquest, Imperialism, and
Post-Colonialism. Standard 5. Urbanization.
Standard 6. Innovations and Revolutions. Standard
7. Conflict and Cooperation. Standard 8. Trade and
Commerce. Standard 9. Human and Environmental
Interactions: Resources, Hazards, and Health.
Standard 10. States, Nations, and Nation-States.
Standard 11. Sports, Recreation, and Tourism.
Standard 12. Global Change.
Indiana Geography Standard 1 , High
School - The World in Spatial Terms
Students will use maps, globes, atlases, and gridreferenced technologies, such as remote sensing, Geographic
Information Systems (GIS), and Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
to acquire and process information about people, places, and
environments.
Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships
Orienteering is a great place to start – a 2 dimensional introduction
to space
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Highlights basic map skills
Incorporates basic geometry skills
Allows for observation journaling
Includes drawing and inventory
identification
Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships
For great orienteering lessons/resources:
Resources
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Boy Scouts of America - http://scoutstuff.org/cgi - Silva 1-2-3 Starter compass, $10.25. Other options at various
price ranges and with various capabilities. Hiking supplies also.
Scouts Orienteering information - http://www.scoutorienteering.com/ , http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/080.htm
Camping Gurus – http://www.campinggurus.com – compasses and other orienteering supplies.
Hearth Song – http://www.hearthsong.com – a very good compass for $4.95, $3.95 for two or more; item
#724503.
Indiana Department of Natural Resources – topographic maps and other maps: Map Sales, 402 West Washington
Street, W160, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2741, 1.877.463.6367;
http://www.in.gov/dnr/publications/mapsandmore.html
Topozone – http://www.topozone.com – access topographic maps, shaded relief maps and aerial photographs of
the region under study.
TrueNorth and Associates – orienteering and mapping specialists with outreach for youth and adults http://www.truenorth360.com/
Orienteering Unlimited - http://www.orienteeringunlimited.com/announcements.htm
Orienteering Louisville - http://www.olou.org/index.html
Lesson Plans
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Schoolyard Compass Game: Outdoor Practice - http://www.iupui.edu/~geni/lsort/schoolyardcompass.doc
Compass Competition: Outdoor Practice - http://www.iupui.edu/~geni/lsort/compasscomp.doc
Determining Distance: Outdoor or Indoor Practice - http://www.iupui.edu/~geni/lsort/determinedist.doc
Three-Legged Compass Walk: Outdoor Practice - http://www.iupui.edu/~geni/lsort/threelegged.doc
Compass Crusaders - http://www.iupui.edu/~geni/lsort/CompassCrusaders.doc
Orienteering: Math, Science and Social Studies Integration http://www.cwu.edu/~jefferis/unitplans/orienteering/
Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships
From orienteering, move to GPS – a 3-dimensional study of
space
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation
system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the
U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was originally intended for military
applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system
available for civilian use. More satellites are currently being added.
How it works GPS satellites circle the earth twice a day in a very
precise orbit and transmit signal information to earth. GPS receivers
take this information and use triangulation to calculate the user's exact
location.
GPS is a great way to connect Earth Science, Social Studies and Math.
Image borrowed from Garmin
Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships
For great GPS resources and lessons:
Resources
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Basic GPS Exercises – http://www.gps-practice-and-fun.com/gps-exercises.html
Garmin equipment purchasing and technical support – http://www.garmin.com – click on Resources for guides and background
information; good visuals for classroom explanations and classroom/field ideas.
Geocaching – http://www.geocaching.com
GPS4Educators – http://www.gps4educators.com – equipment purchasing, training, and technical support. Resource section
with ideas, explanations, and imagery.
Trimble Corporation – http://www.trimble.com/gps - Internet tutorial, equipment purchasing and technical support.
Lesson Plans
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M & M’s Community and Geo-Spatial Thinking Activity - http://www.iupui.edu/~gst/gps.html
Introduction to GPS Geocaching – http://www.iupui.edu/~gst/gps.html
GPS Meets Orthophotography – http://www.iupui.edu/~gst/gps.html
Surveying with GPS – http://www.iupui.edu/~gst/gps.html
Connect the Dots – http://www.iupui.edu/~gst/gps.html
It Happened on this Spot – http://www.iupui.edu/~gst/gps.html
Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships
Once the concepts behind GPS are understood, students can
begin to implement a GIS
For example
Buildings
Roads
Water
Images from ESRI and IGIC.
Better Information, Better Communication, Better Emergency Response
Like most county governments, Allen County wants to provide taxpayers the best services possible, especially when it comes to
public safety. One of the best ways to improve emergency response services is to improve communications - give responders better
information faster.
GIS has been integrated into the emergency communications center shared by the City of Fort Wayne and Allen County. The 911
dispatchers on duty can see property lines, aerial photography, streets and addresses. When a call comes in, dispatchers can see the
location and relay important information directly to the people who need it most - the responders.
Emergency personnel know what to expect when they arrive at a scene - how big a yard is, if there are outbuildings, alleys, or
nearby schools. Dispatchers can also supply information from the GIS while responders are in transit. During a pursuit, police can herd
the offender's car into a cul-de-sac, ending a potentially dangerous situation even if they are not familiar with the area.
The GIS also works with the Federal E911 mandate that requires cell phones be locatable. In one instance, a woman called 911,
said she was going to commit suicide, but hung up before dispatchers could get any other information. Using the GPS technology in
her cell phone, dispatchers were able to pull up the woman's precise location and EMTs arrived within minutes.
Results
Safer Responders - forewarned is forearmed, especially in dangerous or unpredictable situations
Safer Public - when emergency personnel can do their jobs better and more efficiently, lives are saved.
Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships
For great GIS resources:
GIS Resources
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Center for Earth and Environmental Science (CEES) – http://www.cees.iupui.edu – data, maps, site visits, and ideas. Click on GIS Data
and Maps.
Earth Explorer by United States Geological Survey – http://edcsns17.cr.usgs.gov/cgi- bin/EarthExplorer/phtml/BrowserTest.phtml – data
and satellite imagery.
Electronic Atlas of Central Indiana – http://atlas.ulib.iupui.edu – archived data, images and documents.
ESRI – http://www.esri.com – On-line workshops, educator resources, and chat support. GIS and mapping software.
Geography Network – http://www.geographynetwork.com/home.html - view data, aerial photographs, satellite imagery, remote sensing,
regional map sets, and on-line mapping.
Indiana GIS Initiative – http://www.in.gov.ingisi – collection of geo-technology users and providers forums, workshops/conferences, and
potential linkages for classroom assistance.
Indiana Geological Survey – http://igs.indiana.edu/survey/index.cfm - for a variety of Indiana physical landscape/geologic maps.
Indianapolis/Marion County GIS Team – http://www6.indygov.org/gis - for lots of central Indiana geo-technology applications, data,
create your own maps, and project ideas that students can apply in own region.
Introduction to GIS – http://www.gis.com
National Geographic Map Machine – http://www.nationalgeographic.com/education - on-line student adventures, create your own
black-line maps, lesson plans, teacher forums and purchasing.
The POLIS Center – http://www.polis.iupui.edu – GIS mapping applications and SAVI (Social Assets and Vulnerabilities Indicators) for
central Indiana. Classroom ideas for any region.
Population Reference Bureau – http://www.prb.org – lots of global population statistics/data, articles, lesson plans, and information
pertinent to the global, 21st century world.
Terraserver – http://www.terraserver.com
Topozone – http://www.topozone.com – access topographic maps, shaded relief maps and aerial photographs of the region under study.
United States/Indiana Geological Survey Interactive Maps – http://www.igs.indiana.edu/arcims.index.cfm .
USGS Rocky Mountain Mapping Center – http://rmmcweb.cr.usgs.gov/outreach - Resources, tools, maps, activities, lessons, and on-line
tutorials.
U.S. Census Bureau – http://www.census.gov – for population statistics, maps and other information.
The World Bank – http://www.worldbank.org – for population statistics and world development indicators and additional information
regarding large-scale, global prioritization for development.
Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships
For great GIS lessons:
GIS Lessons and Activities
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IndianaMap, IGIC - http://www.in.gov/igic/
A Time of Peace: Where Should the X-Men Live? - http://www.iupui.edu/~gst/gis.html
GIS: Elementary Speaking, “Me on the Map” - http://www.iupui.edu/~gst/gis.html
Indiana Tornado Project – http://www.iupui.edu/~gst/gis.html
Rivers and Capitals - http://www.iupui.edu/~gst/gis.html
Overhead Transparencies Jump to the 21st Century - http://www.iupui.edu/~gst/gis.html
Center for Earth and Environmental Science (CEES) - http://www.cees.iupui.edu – data, maps, site visits, and ideas.
Click on GIS Data and Maps.
ESRI – 56 page downloadable pdf of GIS lessons and activities - http://www.esri.com/industries/k12/download/docs/explore.pdf
ESRI GIS in K-12 Education information - http://www.esri.com/industries/k-12/education/teaching.html
Specialized GIS Applications to Historic Solutions-Finding – “The 5th Street Cementary Study” –
http://www.lewiston.k12.id.us/staff/sbranting/5thcem/5thcem.htm
Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships
Orthophotography (Aerial) plays a key role in many areas:
Field studies of Indiana marshes –
plant diversity, water quality, and
wildlife diversity – help to better
understand water filtration for
improved water quality. Utilizing aerial
photography and satellite imagery
highlight areas to study, relationships
of watershed areas, vegetation needs,
and places of similar concerns around
the globe.
Images from City of Indinaapolis/Marion Co. GIS Team and NASA image files.
Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships
Satellite Imagery and Remote Sensing are amazing tools; the
Earth is a beautiful home
How do Indiana water
issues impact the rest of
North America or the
Western Hemisphere?
How do they relate to
water issues around the
globe?
Mississippi River Delta
Turbid waters spill out into the Gulf of Mexico
where their suspended sediment is deposited to
form the Mississippi River Delta. Like the
webbing on a duck's foot, marshes and mudflats
prevail between the shipping channels that have
been cut into the delta.
Jau Park
Bolivian Deforestation
Fed by multiple waterways,
Brazil's Negro River is the
Amazon River's largest
tributary. The mosaic of
partially-submerged islands
visible in the channel
disappears when rainy season
downpours raise the water
level.
Once a vast carpet of healthy
vegetation and virgin forest, the
Amazon rain forest is changing rapidly.
This image of Bolivia shows dramatic
deforestation in the Amazon Basin.
Loggers have cut long paths into the
forest, while ranchers have cleared
large blocks for their herds. Fanning
out from these clear-cut areas are
settlements built in radial arrangements
of fields and farms. Healthy vegetation
appears bright red in this image.
Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships
For great aerial photography or satellite imagery resources:
Resources
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Geography Network – http://www.geographynetwork.com/home.html - view data, aerial photographs,
satellite imagery, remote sensing, regional map sets, and on-line mapping.
Indianapolis/Marion County GIS Team – http://www6.indygov.org/gis - for lots of central Indiana geo-technology
applications, data, create your own maps, and project ideas that students can apply in own region.
NASA – http://www.nasa.gov – LOTS of satellite imagery, Earth as Art, on-line activities for students, and lessons for
educators.
Terraserver – http://www.terraserver.com for variety of maps, topographic.
Topozone – http://www.topozone.com – access topographic maps, shaded relief maps and aerial photographs of the
region under study.
USGS – http://www.usgs.gov/ or http://edc.usgs.gov for variety of aerial and satellite imagery, topographic maps,
Remote sensing and “Earth as Art” images.
The College of Natural Resources GEOSpatial Sciences Teaching Lab – good explanations and visual about remote sensing
– http://www.nr.usu.edu/~bbanner/intrsgis/intrs.htm
Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships
For great aerial photography or satellite imagery lessons and
activities:
Lesson Plans
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Association of American Geographers (AAG) – http://www.aag.org – ARGUS compiles activities
about the United States;
“Geographers in Action” series of articles about geographers in various fields.
Geography Educators’ Network of Indiana (GENI) – http://www.iupui.edu/~geni – link to the
Lesson Plans, sort by topic or grade
level.
Michigan Geographic Alliance – http://www.wmich.edu/mga - Select Assessment and scroll down
to view a grid of activities, grade
levels, and standards.
Mission Geography – http://missiongeography.org – Series of classroom activities focusing on the
national geography standards and
missions, research and science of NASA.
Population Reference Bureau – http://www.prb.org – follow the Educator link to Lessons.
GPS Meets Orthophotography - http://www.iupui.edu/~gst/ortho.html
Happened on this Spot - http://www.iupui.edu/~gst/ortho.html
Are You Looking at Me? - http://www.iupui.edu/~gst/ortho.html
GIS Then and Now - http://www.iupui.edu/~gst/ortho.html
Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships
Wrapping it all together: single point to layers
By reinforcing the basic knowledge of single points of
data (GPS),
layers of data, and
multiple layers of data (GIS)
students gain a better
understanding of geospatial
technologies today BASED
on their already existing
foundation of knowledge.
Coordination of Indiana GIS through dissemination of data and data products, education and outreach, adoption of standards, and building partnerships