Section 3: A guide to existing classroom exemplars of GIS use in teaching and learning appropriate to Key Stages 3 and 4
This section of the website provides examples of
GIS resources suitable for Key Stage 3 and 4 students. The websites refer
to a variety of GIS
software (mainly
ArcView and AeGIS) and some provide data resources as well as ideas for classroom
use. You should refer to these sources for ideas about what a GIS can be used
for.
QCA
Becta Multicultural Birmingham – this GIS case study involves “Using
mapping software to explore census data of Birmingham in an investigation of
migration at Key Stage 3.” The case study includes National Curriculum
links, lesson objectives and resource details. It refers to AeGIS 2 software
which is now available in an updated and more advanced version as AeGIS 3.
URL: http://curriculum.becta.org.uk/docserver.php?docid=3557
Hampstead
School Geography Department
A set of AeGIS 3 resources for Key Stage 3 produced by Noel Jenkins and dealing
with street crime in the local area. The resources include an AeGIS worksheet
plus all the data files needed.
URL: http://www.geography.ndo.co.uk/downloads.htm
Geomatics
for High School Curriculum – a Canadian project for G.C.S.E. equivalent
age groups.
“ The lessons are designed to provide the resources and data necessary
to explore ten geography topics using Canada's ecozones as a common base. As
well as resource and background information each lesson details a GIS exercise
and provides the data required to run it. The lessons also provide the users
with links to other data and information sites that can be accessed through the
Internet.”. It is based on the ESRI software called ArcView.
URL: http://www.ocdsb.edu.on.ca/woodsweb/geomatics/English/index.html
ESRI
GIS In Education – Arclessons - over 100 lessons submitted to ESRI by users
of the ArcView software. A useful resource bank of lesson materials, albeit with
a strong American bias, if you have the ArcView software available in your school.
It covers a wide range of topics and the materials vary in terms of the level
of difficulty. It is particularly useful to be able to look at each lesson and
read the comments about each one as it illustrates the many and varied possibilities
for using GIS in the classroom.
URL: http://GIS.esri.com/industries/education/arclessons/arclessons.cfm
AEGIS
3 – worksheet files – the AeGIS 3 website has a small number of
case studies online demonstrating various ways in which the software can be
used with different age groups. These have been submitted by users of the software.
URL: http://www.advisory-unit.org.uk/aeGIS3/aeGIS_home.html
GeoInteractive – GIS
files – the GeoInteractive teachers’ website contains a number of
tutorials which demonstrate the possible uses of GIS software with KS3, GCSE
and ‘AS/A2’ groups. These tutorials aim to give ideas for using GIS
in lessons and are not based on any particular piece of software.
URL: http://www.geointeractive.co.uk/GIS.html
GeoExplorer – Using
GIS in Geography – the GeoExplorer website has an excellent tutorial based
on the AeGIS 3 software which looks at the ability to link photos to specific
points on a map. This allows students to take a virtual field trip of a locality
calling up information (photos, data, etc) from the map.
URL: http://www.geoexplorer.co.uk/sections/GIS/aeGIS_tutorial/aeGIS_tut_index.htm