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Liz O’Dea Department of Geosciences

Explore how integrating Web GIS technology into secondary science education can revolutionize teaching methods. Discover the benefits and limitations of using Web GIS in education, with a focus on the Tahoma Virtual Atlas, a valuable online tool developed for Tahoma School District's secondary science classes. Gain insights into the current status of GIS in education, challenges faced, and efforts to increase its use. Learn about the potential of Web GIS to provide interactive learning experiences, improve problem-solving skills, and complement the science curriculum effectively.

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Liz O’Dea Department of Geosciences

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  1. Liz O’Dea Department of Geosciences Integrating GIS and Community Mapping into Secondary Science Education: A Web GIS Approach

  2. Introduction • GIS: program combining mapping, data, and analysis tools • GIS and Secondary education • Growing interest • Slow growth in use • Success limited (time, resources) • Time wasted teaching technology • Global data common, local data desired • Less complex GIS options needed

  3. Web GIS as potential solution • What is web GIS? • Basic GIS functions with Internet technology • Accessible via the Web • Less complex interface • Easier to use as tool

  4. Objectives • Is web GIS a viable option for GIS in education? • What are the benefits and limitations of web GIS use in education? • What are some factors of success?

  5. The Tahoma Virtual Atlas • Model online physical geographic community atlas • Created for Tahoma School District’s secondary science classes • Developed using Arc Internet Map Server

  6. Benefits of GIS in Education • Provides new perspective • Interactive nature increases learning • Ideal for student-centered classrooms • Problem solving and spatial reasoning skills • Interdisciplinary = “real world” • Complements science curriculum nicely • Exposure to modern mapping methods

  7. Current Status • 2% of high schools own a GIS • Only half of those schools use it

  8. Why so low? • Full GIS too technical for most teachers • Time consuming: • Learning • Teaching (takes away from core curriculum) • Lack of resources • Training • Adequate technology • Money to support these • Few curriculum resources

  9. Efforts to Increase Use • Organizations • Nonprofit, government, university • Software • ArcExplorer, ArcVoyager • Trainings

  10. Web GIS • Recent technology • Static maps vs. functionality • Local GIS programs and data not required • Used by GIS novices and experts • Can be tailored to meet needs

  11. Arc Internet Map Server (ArcIMS) • Advanced web GIS • Product of ESRI • Simplified ArcView • Basic GIS functions • Single interface • Uses ArcView Shapefiles

  12. Viewers Client Server Web Server ArcIMS Connectors Application Server Spatial Server Manager

  13. The Tahoma Virtual Atlas • Tahoma School District, Washington • Online physical geographic community atlas • Secondary integrated science curriculum • Tool that compliments field trips

  14. Planning • Initial design: • Physical geographic theme • Integrated: geology, hydrology, climate, vegetation • Pierce and King Counties • Field trip locations • Goals: • Provide teachers access to local data • Tool to build upon

  15. Data

  16. Data Compilation • Internet download, CDs, tables • Acquired from various sources • County governments • University of Washington • Federal Government Agencies (BLM, USFS, USGS) • Created (contours, slope, aspect, earthquakes)

  17. Data Processing • Most time consuming • Many formats, projections • Final format: • State Plane WA, North Zone Projection • ArcView Shapefiles • grids and images: GeoTIFF format

  18. Data challenges • Scale issues • Original scale: large = more detail • Joining Layers • Matching features • Matching tables • Differing scales • Most added separately (too time consuming)

  19. ArcIMS Installation • ArcIMS 3.1 Installed • Dell Precision Workstation • Windows 2000 Workstation • Requires web server and Java components to be installed first • Apache Web Server, Jakarta Tomcat • Secure and stable • Long, painful process

  20. Site Creation • ArcIMS Manager easy to use

  21. Authored Map Service:

  22. Designed Web Site:

  23. Site Customization • Default site unattractive • Manual edits to HTML and JavaScript files: • Changed colors • Added links to accessory pages created: • Introductory page • Help page • Metadata page • Disclaimer

  24. Page Overview Overview Map Layers/ Legend Toolbar Map Frame Mode Frame Text Box Links

  25. Implementation • Introduced atlas to teachers • brief training • Sample lesson • Survey • Teacher using in class 3 days later! • Migration from OSU to high school • Train future site manager

  26. The Final Product • Many functions: • Choose layers to display • Zoom/pan • Identify, search, query features • Measure, buffer features • Print layout

  27. Metadata

  28. Uses of the atlas • Enhance science lessons with local data • Volcanic activity, earthquakes • Watershed studies • Mapping skills • Local affects of global warming • Investigate study sites • Add new layers • Develop temporal database (i.e., water quality)

  29. Data Observations • Factors of consideration • Scale • Quality • Metadata quality variable • Area too large

  30. ArcIMS Observations • Challenging to install • IMS Manager and site sometimes quirky • Slow site speed = frustrated students • Customization challenging • Need programming skills • Maintenance may be too challenging for teachers

  31. Web GIS in Education • Addresses time issues: • Less training needed • Focus on educational standards • Addresses resource issues: • Web browser only requirement • Use from any computer • Lead to increased GIS use in education • Same data sets accessible with ArcView

  32. Community Mapping • Local data more interesting • Students relate better • Local issues Global issues • Incorporate hands-on learning • Create new data in the field • Web GIS makes access easier • Connect students with community

  33. Conclusions • Not answer for everyone • As technology improves, feasibility will increase • Success depends on teachers

  34. Conclusions (cont’d.) • Easy to access and use • Tool to enhance curriculum • Use ArcView for more depth • Atlas can be expanded • Web GIS and fieldwork = unique opportunity

  35. Future Work • Curricula development • Follow-up study of use in classrooms • Create new atlas pages, tailored to lessons • Simpler web GIS = greater use

  36. Thank You! http://www.geocities.com/gisliz2002

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