Geotechnology in K12 Education

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Geotechnology in K-12 Education

• Wednesday, May 25, 2006

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Introductions

• Colleen Raymond
• Education Industry Manager, ESRI Canada
• Dino Crapsi
• Westdale Secondary School

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Agenda

• What is geotechnology?
• Skills gained through geotechnologies
• Role of geotechnology in the Ontario curriculum
• Why was it included
• How is it incorporated
• GIS in Ontario schools
• Career connections
• Questions

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A couple definitions

• Geotechnologies
• The various hardware and software platforms and
  peripherals that make possible the electronic
  creation, storage, manipulation, and analysis of
  geographic data (e.g., GIS)
• Geographic inquiry
• The process of collecting, organizing, analysing,
  and communicating geographic information

Source The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 10
Canadian and World Studies, 2005
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Geography and Technology

• Geography affects us in many ways
• Our natural environment
• Our human environment
• Geography has become a high tech discipline
• Earth Observation
• Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

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Earth Observation
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Global Positioning Systems

• GPS is a revolutionary navigation system
• 24 satellites orbiting the earth
• Provide location within metres or less anywhere
  on the globe.
• Now available in many cars as an option
• Created and operated by the US Department of
  Defense

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Geographic information systems

• A GIS is an integrated software package for the
  input, management, analysis, and display of
  spatial information.
• In a GIS, different types of information are
  represented as separate map layers
• Each layer is linked to descriptive information
• Layers are combined to make a map

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GeotechnologiesBenefits and skills
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Benefits in Classrooms

• Previously used lesson with paper maps
• Now with GIS students can get right to the
  analysis
• Students develop new skills

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Benefits to Students

• Understanding of spatial relationships is
  increased
• Increased interest in social studies classes
• Students are excited and interested
• Revitalized discipline of geography
• Students see potential for future
• Infusion of technology
• Marketable skills
• Post secondary education

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Skilled Workforce

• Students are stronger in many skill areas
• Critical thinking
• Pattern recognition
• Design
• Technical expertise higher
• Programming
• Database management
• File management
• Geographically literate
• Increased awareness about GIS

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The role of geotechnology in the Ontario
curriculum
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GIS in the curriculum

• To teach or
• Not to teach GIS?

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Technology in Canadian and World Studies

• Information and communications technology (ICT)
  provides a range of tools that can significantly
  extend and enrich teachers instructional
  strategies and support students learning in
  Canadian and world studies.
• Technology also makes possible simulations of
  complex systems that are useful for
  problem-solving purposes or when field studies on
  a particular topic are not feasible.
• Students are able to develop job-related computer
  skills through the use of industry applications
  such as GIS and GPS.

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Incorporating geotechnology

• Methods of Geographic Inquiry and Communication
  strand exists in each geography course
• Geographers use a wide array of approaches and
  tools in their work. Some of these, such as
  fieldwork and computer analysis, are used in
  various disciplines others are specific to
  geographic studies. The latter include mapping,
  interpretation of aerial photographs, remote
  sensing, and image analysis using GPS and GIS.
• The study of geography is especially relevant to
  contemporary students because, in addition to
  teaching them to view the world from both spatial
  and ecological perspectives, it familiarizes them
  with this broad range of new and traditional
  techniques and approaches.

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Grade 9, Geography of Canada

• By the end of this course, students will
• use the methods and tools of geographic inquiry
  to locate, gather, evaluate, and organize
  information about Canadas natural and human
  systems
• analyse and interpret data gathered in inquiries
  into the geography of Canada, using a variety of
  methods and geotechnologies
• communicate the results of geographic inquiries,
  using appropriate terms and concepts and a
  variety of forms and techniques.

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Geotechnology courses

• Geographics The Geographers Toolkit
• Grade 11
• Workplace Preparation
• Geomatics Geotechnologies in Action
• Grade 12
• University/College Preparation

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GIS for Ontario schools

• When geotechnologies were added to the revised
  Canadian and World Studies curriculum in 1999,
  the Ontario Ministry of Education (through
  OSAPAC) established a license for all publicly
  funded schools
• ArcView GIS v3.2 (software)
• ArcCanada v3.1 (data)
• Online training

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The Schools and Libraries Program

• Focus on three core areas
• Software
• Data
• Support

http//k12.esricanada.com
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Career connections
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Careers

• Almost any career a student is interested in can
  involve GIS
• Engineering
• Psychology
• Business
• Planning
• Emergency (police, fire)
• Disaster response

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Agriculture / Suitability Analysis
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Municipalities / Planning
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Health Care
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School District Admin

• School mapping and redistricting
• Enrollment analysis
• Facilities management
• School transportation
• Staff/student location analysis
• School safety

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Questions