Presentation for the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) 2021 Virtual Aviation Day Conference

1. Infusing Geographic
Tools into Your
Classroom
RICH SCHULTZ, PH.D.
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY (IMSA)
CENTER FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING
2021 Virtual Aviation Day Conference
NSF: DUE 1304591, DUE 1644409 and DUE 1700496

2. This slideshow is available in .pdf form at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H6N2BPskgoLROa_1zRqxTn_ONB4jvT_t/view

3. This Session
• This session emphasizes the world around us and uses technology to develop
spatial thinking in the classroom.
• Using “smart maps” or a geographic information system (GIS), students in any
discipline and at any grade level will increase geographic awareness and develop
spatial problem-solving skills.
• Using ArcGIS Online, a free software package, a step-by-step exercise is
presented, and attendees will have the opportunity to access exercises within
their own area of expertise.
• All exercises aligned with national standards.
• STEM focus; but could be any discipline

4. Agenda
• What is GIS?
• Why GIS?
• FREE software
• Teaching with GIS
• Implementation
Roadmap
• Resources

5. What is GIS?
• GIS is a real-world, problem-solving tool.
• GIS as also used outside of the educational setting—government, business,
natural resources management, health care, and many others.
• It is, by far, the most versatile and effective spatial problem-solving tool available.
• Whether the subject is science, math, or economics; whether the classroom is
elementary, middle school, high school, or university-level—when students learn
with GIS, they learn how to use technology effectively to holistically address
problems. Thus, they are better prepared to meet the challenges of work and life
in the 21st Century.
What is GIS?

6. What is GIS?
What is GIS?
https://www.esri.com/en-us/what-is-gis/overview#image1
1:47 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrU8GX7manc
“Esri” is the Environmental Systems Research Institute
and is the industry standard for GIS software for
professional and educational users.

7. Here, GIS is used to illuminate issues that are driven by
geography. This map of the pandemic reveals the geographic
patterns that emerge when data is mapped and displayed.
Case Study:
The Pandemic

8. Darker color means higher number of cases
1. What spatial patterns do you observe?
2. Why is Brazil the highest recently in
terms of the daily confirmed cases?
3. Why are Asia and Australia low in terms
of daily confirmed cases?
4. What can be inferred based on the
geography?

9. Why GIS?
Education for Brighter Future
LEARN-MENTOR-TEACH
Share Ideas
Spatial Thinking
Explore Issues
Solve Problems
1:09 https://youtu.be/7fnaOWfP-9A

10. Why GIS for K-12?
By teaching others, educators introduce their students to the tools they’ll use
to build their futures. As such, it is important to make resources available to
support educators – especially in rapidly changing fields. Here are some
resources and tools for educators interested in incorporating spatial thinking
into their curriculum: https://www.hamilton.edu/offices/lits/rc/spatial-thinking-and-analysis
In the words of Dr. Joseph Kerski, renown geographer and
educator, “Teaching with GIS is not just a way of enriching
the curriculum. Students using it will develop relevant skills
and perspectives such as scale, working with data, problem-
solving, and critical and spatial thinking: It is absolutely
essential if we hope to create a sustainable, healthy, and
happy future.“

11. FREE Software
FREE “ArcGIS for Schools” Bundle
• https://tinyurl.com/ybh79rdv
• The ArcGIS for Schools Bundle is available at no cost for instructional use to ALL K–12 classrooms,
schools, libraries, and districts in the United States.
• Every public, private, home school, and youth-service club is eligible.
• The software bundle includes the following:
• – ArcGIS Online organizational and user accounts for teachers and students.
• – Ready-to-use web and mobile apps.
• – ArcGIS Community Analyst licenses.
• – ArcGIS Desktop Advanced licenses.
• – Option of 50, 500, 2000, or 10,000 named users (Class, School, District).

12. Teach with GIS:
Implementation
Roadmap for Schools
https://learn.arcgis.com/en/educators/

13. Teach with GIS:
Implementation
Roadmap for Schools
https://learn.arcgis.com/en/educators/

14. https://learn.arcgis.com/en/educators/

15. Resources and
Further Learning
https://www.esri.com/en-us/industries/education/schools/instructional-resources
Each of these are hyperlinked on the webpage

16. http://learn.arcgis.com/en/gallery/
FREE Lessons!

17. The ArcGIS Book
• FREE book (online and .pdf version) with more applications and
exercises: http://learn.arcgis.com/en/arcgis-book/
• FREE Instructional Guide complete with exercises
here: https://tinyurl.com/sshhxnt

18. GeoInquiries
• GeoInquiries™ are 15-minute instructional activities that use interactive maps (geographic)
to enhance your academic instruction of standards-based topics from grades 4-12.
• GeoInquiries are available for many subjects:
• American Literature
• Earth Science
• AP Environmental Science
• Government and Civics
• AP Human Geography
• Mathematics
• U.S. History
• Upper Elementary
• World Geography
• World History
• GeoInquiries tie to relevant national curricular standards (C3, NGSS, AP, Common Core, etc.),
use common inquiry instructional models, tie to the most common textbooks, and license
under Creative Commons for easy reuse.

19. https://tinyurl.com/y6cnozpd
Choose a collection and have students go
on a journey to discovery-based learning

20. 5 E’s
• ENGAGE
• EXPLORE
• EXPLAIN
• ELABORATE
• EVALUATE
“Then try this…”
• Creative Commons
• Available in .docx for customization
• 15 minute exercises
• Tie into discussions or current study topics
GeoInquiries
www.esri.com/geoinquiries

21. Dr. Rich Schultz
IMSA
Center for Teaching and Learning
rschultz@imsa.edu