Practical ways of making GIS accessible to all students

1. Practical ways of making GIS accessible to all students RACHEL ADAMS

2. Rachel Adams • Head of Geography at Wimbledon High School for many years • Now part-time, allowing time to develop resources for students using GIS • Link tutor at St Mary’s University • Member of Post 16/HE Committee • Wimbledon GA: lectures for 6th form students and host to annual Teacher Conference on Geography AL run by Post 16/HE Committee • NOT an expert! Contact: rachel.adams@wim.gdst.net

3. Quick survey • Who uses GIS regularly with their students? • Used Google Earth in class recently? • Familiar with ArcGIS? • Familiar with other GIS systems? • Anyone developed resources to use GIS with students? • Used mobile phones to collect field work data?

4. Session outline • Rationale: why use GIS? • GIS: Geographical Information Systems • GIS Platforms: Google Maps, Google Earth, ArcGIS • Developing GIS skills: teachers and students • GIS resources for developing skills and enhancing understanding of geographical concepts • GIS in the field: collecting data using Survey 123 • Story Map: keeping the independent investigation focused on geographical anaysis through maps

5. Rationale • An understanding of GIS is a requirement for students doing public exams and is a huge asset to presenting and analysingdata for AL coursework • Huge gulf between technical wizards in this field and the average classroom teacher who doesn’t have the time to get to grips with it • GIS is increasingly readily available and has become massively easier to access and use in the last few years • ArcGIS is the commercial version provided by ESRI with massive capacity, but available to schools for only £100 plus VAT including OS maps and soon historical maps • Need to develop GIS skills from Y7 upwards so that when students reach Y11/12 they have the ability to use this effectively in preparation for public exams/coursework • Students are often ahead of teachers when it comes to new technology so learn quickly if given the opportunity, also this is very motivating (great for engagement, differentiation, challenging very able, increasing uptake etc) • Need to provide resources that can be used ‘off the peg’ by students without too much input by teachers

6. Geographical Information Systems GIS lets us visualise, question, analyse and interpret data to understand relationships, patterns and trends • Data presented on interactive maps • Data supporting the maps in form of CSV files • Located data (latitude/longitude, postcodes…) • Can deal with huge datasets (big data) or field work data • Base map (topographical map, OS map satellite images) • Data normally shown as layers that can be switched on or off to make analysis easier • Analysis tools enable searching and presentation of data

7. GIS Platforms Exploring ArcGIS Online for schools: https://sway.com/nKEtI-M9Al6MYl-L

8. Starter skills for teachers: • Find out what ArcGIS Online can offer schools: https://sway.com/nKEtI-M9Al6MYl-L • Essential ArcGIS skills: get started with an interactive session: • Open a map in ArcGIS online and complete the guided tours • http://learn.arcgis.com/en/projects/get-started-with-arcgis-online - Story Map • https://www.lynda.com/ArcGIS-tutorials/ArcGIS-Essential-Training - Lynda training • http://geospatialrevolution.psu.edu/episode1 - excellent MOOC with great videos • Understand the difference between Maps and Apps • Web map = map with layers on which data is displayed • Web mapping application = Story Map, elevation tool

9. Next steps skills for teachers: • Make a map that you can use with a class, maybe importing layers from the internet, and then devise a lesson where students use the map in class • Make the most of available resources in class • Learn how to use Story Map: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/en/resources/ • Learn how to set up a form online so that students can collect data in the field using hand held devices (easiest way to do this is using Survey 123, rather than ArcGIS Collector app) http://doc.arcgis.com/en/survey123/

10. Key skills for school administrators: • Annual subscription: £100 + VAT Includes OS maps at all scales and in the near future historic maps • Management of account, including inviting other staff and students as users (can be done so that staff & pupils use school log-in: IT staff need to set this up, maybe in discussion with Jason Sawle at ESRI) • Setting up groups of users eg Year 7 for Y7 maps and apps etc. • Sharing maps with groups of users for above

11. Key skills for students: • Access ArcGIS online, preferably via school log-in • Become familiar with the map layout, including use of Content and Legend sidebar • Locate places using search tool, zooming in and out for different scales • Use measure tool to measure distance, area and location (latitude and longitude) • Switch layers on and off to investigate issues • Click on place-marks to find out more • Change the base map to one that best suits the purpose of the task (includes satellite images, OS maps, oceans)

12. Intermediateskills for students: • Add place marker with text and image • Change the transparency of layers • Use apps such as elevation tool • Change style of data presentation (eg located pie charts or choropleth maps or heat maps) • Download data from a website as CSV file and add this to a map • Create their own CSV file from fieldwork data and add this to a map • Collect field work data using Survey 123

13. Advanced skills for students: • Search for layers (ie data from the internet on a topic eg crime or earthquakes) • Search map datasets for relevant information • Change symbols to show data more effectively • Change the way in which data is presented • Analyse data effectively • Set up form in Survey 123 to collect fieldwork data • Use Story Map to present research data

14. YOUR TURN! • On your own, consider where are you in terms of GIS skills and what steps you need to take in order to progress on the basis of what we have covered so far. What about your students? Make a note of these (maybe a SMART target?!) • In groups of 3, share what your experience of GIS is and how you use it (or would like to) in lessons.

15. GIS in the curriculum: Y7

16. GIS in the curriculum: Y8

17. GIS in the curriculum: GCSE

18. GIS in the curriculum: GCSE

19. GIS in the curriculum: KS5

20. Credits • Jason SawleESRI • Raphael Heath Royal High School, Bath • Brendan Conway Notre Dame High School • Thierry Torres Dover Grammar School for Boys • David Holmes Freelance Geographer, OCR • Jason Locke FSC HUGE THANKS TO ALL THESE PEOPLE FROM WHOM I LEARNT SO MUCH

21. YOUR TURN 2! Discuss ONE or BOTH of these with your neighbours: • Consider the resources that have been shared in the session. Which ONE would you like to use with a class and how would you fit it in with your existing scheme of work? • Think about GIS skills progression in your school. What could you do to improve this with your students so that by the time they are doing AL coursework they are able to to make the most of GIS for data research, presentation and analysis. Access the presentation and resources here: www.dropbox.com/sh/e3sgbzhztxy0n2o/AACw55BnL6TYGCTAPfzUFM5Ha?dl=0