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?

“…a digital map, data located on the map, and a software application

(GIS) that links the two together”

Diane Freeman (2004)

What counts as a GIS?

GIS ‘viewers’?

Google earth

Subscription GIS viewers?

infomapper

Digital worlds

‘Proper’ GIS?

AEGIS3

Should we be embracing GIS in Geography education?

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)

1. The Educative Justification

• Many argue that GIS helps students to learn geography by practicing spatial thinking

Sarah Witham Bednarz (2001)

Spatial Thinking Skills

Spatial Relations (one of the spatial thinking skills often used in geography learning)

Processes used in cognitive mapping and GIS

Recalling and representing layoutsConnecting locationsAssociating and correlating spatially distributed phenomenaWayfinding in real world frames of referenceImagining maps from verbal descriptionsOverlaying and dissolving maps (windowing)

CorrelatingEvaluating regularity or randomnessAssociatingAssessing similarityForming hierarchies Assessing proximity (requires knowing location) Measuring distanceMeasuring directionsDefining shapesDefining patterns

Adapted from Bednarz (2001)

“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.” Bednarz (2001)

“It has been suggested that cognitive maps are an internalised geographic information system.”

improved spatial thinking

improved cognitive mapping

GIS in school

Improved

decision-making improved geography

learning

…but more research needed to explore the claim that GIS improves cognitive mapping & spatial thinking skills

Is GIS the preserve of Geography?

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?

• “…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)

Develop geographies and pedagogies through GIS

Barriers to GIS in schools

Barriers to GIS in schools

Access to hardware/ software/ data

Training resources

Clear pedagogic & geographic rationale

Curriculum space & priorities

Case of the IOE, Londona) ICT assignment

1. Find opportunity for geographical enquiry in the curriculum using GIS (should have important human implications e.g. hazard, urban planning issue)

2. Plan a sequence of 2-3 lessons using GIS3. Evaluate how the ICT (through GIS) affected

the geographical learning and the learning of generic skills (including ICT skills)

• 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)

b) GIS support & resources for students

How has it gone?

Google earth

AEGIS3

arcview

GA projects: GIS

“Train the Trainers” Ordnance Survey

• Nov 17, 2005…an annual event?

• GA website

• Support from GIS providers

• Discussion forum

GA website

‘Spatially speaking’ GA/ESRI UK (arcview)

HEIF3 project bid

In conclusion…

Should GIS be seized by beginning teachers to re-state the power of Geography in school?