This document discusses how the MAGIC program is using GIS technology to enhance K-12 education. It outlines barriers to implementing GIS in classrooms and how MAGIC is helping address these barriers. MAGIC provides open-source GIS platforms, data, map mashups, and QR codes to teachers. A key partnership between MAGIC and Trinity College resulted in a $100,800 grant to create historical maps and datasets for public use.

1. MAGIC 2.0: Using GIS to Empower
K-12 Curriculum Development.
Jeffrey Dunn
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

2. Why GIS in the Classroom?
• Examine: • Collect & Create
– Demographic Data – Point, Line and
• Social studies Polygon Data
– Natural Features • GPS
• Sciences • Digitizing
– Areal concepts – GIS analysis
• Mathematics
– Historical Maps
• History
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

3. Barriers to GIS in K-12
• Common
Impediments
– Ease of use
• Steep Learning Curve
– Time
– Data
– Support
– Money h@p://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0910ar$cles/the-­‐importance-­‐of.html
• Computers
• Software
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

4. MAGIC – Web 2.0 and K-12
Education
• Outside the Neatline
– How in the World?
– Map of the Week
• Help implementing
free GIS platforms
• GIS Data
• Map Mash-ups
• QR Codes
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

5. Outside the Neatline: How in the World?
Hey
Brandon,
want
to
go
fishing
this
weekend?
I
think
there’s
a
boat
launch
near
New
London,
CT
that
we
can
use.
Okay,
sounds
like
fun!
Where
are
we
going?
Great!
Um…
I
don’t
have
a
fishing
pole,
do
you
know
where
we
can
get
one?
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

6. Outside the Neatline: How in the World?
• In the previous exercise geographic
information was:
– Loaded
– Queried
– Proximity analysis
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

7. Map of the Week
• If a picture is worth
1,000 words…
• A map can be
priceless!
– Deliver cross
disciplinary content
– Link to additional
content on the web
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

8. Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

9. Map of the Week & Mash-ups
• Mash-ups allow:
– Places to be linked to
external websites
– Address searching
– Temporal analysis
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

10. Future directions
• QR Codes (Quick Response)
– Allows mobile phones to access data using a camera
– Links to custom content
– Treasure hunts, GIS Data, Historical Maps, Web Content
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

11. Future directions
• Implement The Connecticut State Data
Center’s new website
• Connecticut Geographic Alliance
– August 02, 2010
• Teachers Workshop
• Implementing Web based GIS and other open
source platforms in the classroom
• Invitation for further collaboration!
outsidetheneatline.blogspot.com
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

12. Acknowledgements
• Michael Howser & Bill Miller
– Map and Geographic Information Center of
the University of Connecticut Libraries.
• William DeGrazia & Tom Brodnitzki
– Connecticut Geographic Alliance
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

13. The $100,800 Collaboration
Michael Howser with
Special Guest Jack Dougherty
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

14. In a room… just like this
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

15. One year ago…
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

16. In fact… it was actually here at
Smith College at NEArc 2009
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

17. A presentation about
MAGIC 2.0 sparked a
conversation
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

18. So what happened next?
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

19. MAGIC visits Trinity College
May 29, 2009
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

20. Conversation Begins
• Conversation began about collaborating to
increase access to GIS data
• Developed process for adding data to
MAGIC website
• And the dialog continued…
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

21. Which then led to…
• Application to 2 National Endowment for
the Humanities grants
• 1 American Council of Leaned Societies
grant application
• Collaboration between Trinity and MAGIC
for each grant to develop map and GIS
data sets for public use
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

22. Then something MAGICal
happened
• NEH funded $100,800 grant
– MAGIC is recognized as being a Digital
Humanities Center
– Collaborative development of maps, GIS data,
and map mash-ups
– MAGIC will provide access to datasets via
website
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

23. On The Line Project
• Forthcoming Book - “On the Line: How
schooling, housing, and civil rights shaped
Hartford and its suburbs”
– Focuses on Connecticut's capital region
during the twentieth century
– Examines how the “line” influenced lives
within Hartford region
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

24. Map Viewer - Prototype
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

25. More details soon!
• Check out the On the Line Project website
at: http://ontheline.trincoll.edu/
Special Thanks to Jack Dougherty
for making this opportunity happen!
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

26. Want to Collaborate?
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

27. Chat with any of us!
Or email MAGIC at
magic@uconn.edu
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

28. And Remember…Opportunities
Surround Us!
In
presenta$ons
At
tables
during
breaks
or
at
Lunch!
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

29. Join us for lunch!
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu

30. Questions?
Map and Geographic Information Center - MAGIC
University of Connecticut Libraries
369 Fairfield Way
Phone: 860-486-4589
E-mail: magic@uconn.edu
IM (AOL): uconnlibmagic
Digi$zing
the
Past
…
to
Empower
21st
Century
Research
magic.lib.uconn.edu