Putting Space and Place Together: GIS for Upper Elementary and Middle School Classrooms Dr. Mike Charles Pacific University Forest Grove, Oregon Dr. Mike.

Putting Space and Place Together: GIS

for Upper Elementary and

Middle School Classrooms

Putting Space and Place Together: GIS

for Upper Elementary and

Middle School Classrooms

Dr. Mike CharlesPacific University

Forest Grove, Oregon

Dr. Mike CharlesPacific University

Forest Grove, Oregon

GIS-Geographic Information SystemGIS-Geographic Information System

• Digital maps with multiple layers

• A map built from a database

• Wikipedia’s definition

• Digital maps with multiple layers

• A map built from a database

• Wikipedia’s definition

Mapquest-a familiar GISMapquest-a familiar GIS

GIS in classroomsGIS in classrooms

• GIS/GPS use is growing in K-12 classrooms (and in the rest of the world)

• Problem: Use is idiosyncratic and often not coordinated across grade level – typical of emerging technology use

• Curriculum development is difficult - bu worthwhile because…– Well suited to inquiry approaches– Aligns well with national standards

• GIS/GPS use is growing in K-12 classrooms (and in the rest of the world)

• Problem: Use is idiosyncratic and often not coordinated across grade level – typical of emerging technology use

• Curriculum development is difficult - bu worthwhile because…– Well suited to inquiry approaches– Aligns well with national standards

Google Earth

ArcExplorer-Java Edition for Educators (AEJEE)

My World - developed at Northwestern and distributed

by PASCO

We’ll focus on the first two today

Google Earth

ArcExplorer-Java Edition for Educators (AEJEE)

My World - developed at Northwestern and distributed

by PASCO

We’ll focus on the first two today

GIS toolsGIS tools

Google EarthGoogle Earth

• Open Google Earth• Fly to “Portland, Oregon”• Find and label the Oregon

Convention Center• What else can you find?

– Where you are staying– Your own home– Your own school

• Open Google Earth• Fly to “Portland, Oregon”• Find and label the Oregon

Convention Center• What else can you find?

– Where you are staying– Your own home– Your own school

Google EarthquakesGoogle Earthquakes

• Turn on the earthquake “layer”• Find the location of the earthquake

closest to the convention center• Is this actually the closest earthquake?• Visit http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ to find

recent earthquake information• Use Google’s “Add a placemark” tool to

locate the earthquake– Don’t miss the “Tilt up” and “Tilt down” tool

• Turn on the earthquake “layer”• Find the location of the earthquake

closest to the convention center• Is this actually the closest earthquake?• Visit http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ to find

recent earthquake information• Use Google’s “Add a placemark” tool to

locate the earthquake– Don’t miss the “Tilt up” and “Tilt down” tool

DiscussionDiscussion

• What might you do with your students with a tool that allows you to view both rich geospatial information and add placemarks of your own?

• What might you do with your students with a tool that allows you to view both rich geospatial information and add placemarks of your own?

Google Earth-potential problems

Google Earth-potential problems

• A commercial tool migrating to education– The invasion of “sponsored speech”– The “bars/clubs” layer

• May use more bandwidth than your school is able to provide

• A commercial tool migrating to education– The invasion of “sponsored speech”– The “bars/clubs” layer

• May use more bandwidth than your school is able to provide

AEJEEAEJEE

Invitation for collaborationInvitation for collaboration

Curriculum connections for the Google Earth tool

Mike CharlesCollege of EducationPacific UniversityForest Grove, [email protected]

Curriculum connections for the Google Earth tool

Mike CharlesCollege of EducationPacific UniversityForest Grove, [email protected]

Potential GIS benefitsPotential GIS benefits

• Attracts visual learners to studying science, social studies, mathematics and technology

• Can promote higher-order thinking skills• Facilitates the use of real data• Lets students connect with local spaces

and places (local data is available)

• Attracts visual learners to studying science, social studies, mathematics and technology

• Can promote higher-order thinking skills• Facilitates the use of real data• Lets students connect with local spaces

and places (local data is available)