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GIS in Initial Teacher Education

GIS in Initial Teacher Education . David Mitchell, Institute of Education, London. What do we mean by GIS? Should we be embracing GIS? GIS and the PGCE course GIS and the GA. What does GIS mean?.

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GIS in Initial Teacher Education

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  1. GIS in Initial Teacher Education David Mitchell, Institute of Education, London

  2. What do we mean by GIS? • Should we be embracing GIS? • GIS and the PGCE course • GIS and the GA

  3. What does GIS mean?

  4. “…a digital map, data located on the map, and a software application (GIS) that links the two together” Diane Freeman (2004)

  5. What counts as a GIS?

  6. GIS ‘viewers’?

  7. Google earth

  8. Subscription GIS viewers?

  9. infomapper

  10. Digital worlds

  11. ‘Proper’ GIS?

  12. AEGIS3

  13. Should we be embracing GIS in Geography education?

  14. We do not wish to fall prey to technocentrism, the justification for the use of technology because of the so called Mount Everest rationale—we use it “because it is there” Bednarz and Ludwig, (1997)

  15. 1. The Educative Justification Sarah Witham Bednarz (2001) • Many argue that GIS helps students to learn geography by practicing spatial thinking

  16. Spatial Thinking Skills Adapted from Bednarz (2001)

  17. “Cognitive maps are the store of knowledge an individual has about environments organised as internal models of the world. Cognitive maps are the basis of both spatial and non-spatial decision-making.” “It has been suggested that cognitive maps are an internalised geographic information system.” Bednarz (2001)

  18. GIS in school improved cognitive mapping improved spatial thinking Improved decision-making improved geography learning …but more research needed to explore the claim that GIS improves cognitive mapping & spatial thinking skills

  19. Is GIS the preserve of Geography?

  20. 2. The Workplace Justification: GIS as an Essential Skill • “knowledge workers” able to collect data, calculate and analyse data, and communicate knowledge ….but should this drive GIS in schools?

  21. “…we need to make a strong geographic and pedagogic case for or against GIS/GISci” • “We do not need to join a technology-driven-workplace-oriented crusade on behalf of GIS/GISci unless we are convinced that it is in the best interests of students and their personal, social, and spatial development.” Sarah Witham Bednarz (2001)

  22. Develop geographies and pedagogies through GIS

  23. Barriers to GIS in schools

  24. Barriers to GIS in schools Clear pedagogic & geographic rationale Access to hardware/ software/ data Training resources Curriculum space & priorities

  25. Case of the IOE, Londona) ICT assignment • Find opportunity for geographical enquiry in the curriculum using GIS (should have important human implications e.g. hazard, urban planning issue) • Plan a sequence of 2-3 lessons using GIS • Evaluate how the ICT (through GIS) affected the geographical learning and the learning of generic skills (including ICT skills)

  26. b) GIS support & resources for students • Teaching sessions, aegis, arcview, infomapper & free web GIS viewers, used to support enquiry learning • Free trial periods with AEGIS & infomapper, to partner schools • ICT observation days in partner schools (currently these are not exclusively GIS focused)

  27. How has it gone?

  28. Google earth

  29. AEGIS3

  30. arcview

  31. GA projects: GIS

  32. “Train the Trainers” Ordnance Survey • Nov 17, 2005…an annual event? • GA website • Support from GIS providers • Discussion forum

  33. GA website

  34. ‘Spatially speaking’ GA/ESRI UK (arcview)

  35. HEIF3 project bid

  36. In conclusion… Should GIS be seized by beginning teachers to re-state the power of Geography in school?

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