learngis: a novel, top-down approach to learning about gis

2014 AAG Annual MeetingApril 8-11, 2014 | Tampa, FL

LearnGIS: A Novel, Top-down Approach to Learning about

GISAileen Buckley, Esri

aileen buckley | research cartographeresri | 380 new york street | redlands, ca 92373-

8100O: 909.793.2853 x2997 | C: 909.289.1798

abuckley@esri.com

An interactive and engaging social

environment to help people learn how to

develop geographic knowledge and solve

spatial problems

Goal

Focused on questions and problems

Where?

Why there?

A new introduction to what GIS is…

• Enables you to build knowledge and solve problems• Includes rich data sets and powerful analytical tools• Lets you creates maps and other useful information products

• Allows you to interact with data in a meaningful way

• And…perhaps most importantly…

GIS helps you communicate your information and knowledge

“GIS condenses down all the data and our information and our knowledge and our science into a kind of language that we can easily understand—maps.” – Jack Dangermond

http://www.esri.com/about-esri/vision/jack_dangermond

Office

Professional to Consumer GIS

Enterprise

Web

• Maps• Data• Analysis

Individual

Powered by . . .

Maps & Apps

DevicesDesktops

• Ready-to-use information

• Analysis in the cloud

• Online maps and layers

ArcGIS is Web GIS

Approach

• Uses inquiry-based learning to enhance/enrich traditional approaches

• Focused on realistic spatial questions and geographic problems

• Leverages rich GIS datasets and analytical tools

• Uses online technology to enable you to use and share information and resources

• The social setting allows you to participate in the community

Inquiry-based learning

• “Involvement leads to understanding”

• Useful application involves: - a context for questions- a framework for questions- different levels of questions

• Inquiry-based learning produces knowledge that can be widely applied

• Use of technology is focused on its application to enhance learning rather than learning about the technology itself

Case-based learning

Challenge-based learning

Community-based learning

Design-based learning

Game-based learning

Inquiry-based learningLand-based learning

Passion-based learning

Place-based learning

Problem-based learning

Project-based learning

Proficiency-based learning

Service-based learning

Studio-based learning

Team-based learning

Work-based learning

. . . and the new fave . . .

Zombie-based learning (look it up!)

Complexity

Inquiry implies a “want or need to know" premise,

so…

Who is the audience?

• Self-motivated learners, such as:- Academic students who want or need to learn about GIS - Professionals who want or need to learn more about GIS- Managers who want to learn more about how GIS can be

used in their organization

• Teachers who want to get or share resources to teach GIS

• Map and GIS librarians who teach, formally or informally, about GIS

GIS Professionals Consumers“-ologists”

Developers Educators Students

Managers

GIS Librarians

Journalists

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33

11

Lesson example

11

The Power of Maps

22

The Power of Maps - Windows22

The Power of Maps - Stories

22

The Power of Maps - Analysis

22

Get Started Now

33

Spatial Problem Solving44

Not a linear process—you iterate, diagnose, review, and backtrack as you make progress

Explore an issue & fram

e a spatial

question

Mod

el the

app

roac

h an

d pe

rfor

m the

anal

ysis

spatial PROBLEM SOLVING

Shar

e yo

ur

resu

lts

Interpret the

results

Explore the issue to find out about important topics

Frame the questionor questions that youwant to investigate

Model the analysis approach Figure out the approach that will be used to generate the

results Identify assumptions that have a bearing on how you will

perform the analysis or what results will be generated  Gather and understand the data  Gather, manipulate, visualize, and explore meaningful and useful

geographic data 

Perform the steps in the analysis  Process the data analytically to draw out essential characteristics

Display and assess the results  Manipulate and display the results graphically to reveal something interesting or useful Examine the results to identify and understand unusual or interesting patterns Determine if special considerations about the data, analysis methods, or mapping methods would alter the results

Understand the meaning of what you see on the maps, tables, graphs,

etc…

Make sense of these results

Evaluate whether the results provide a satisfactory explanation

or

answer to the spatial question or questions you asked

Share your findings with

others through thoughtfully-

presented geoenriched

online maps and apps

Application areas

Aid & Development

Business

Defense & Intelligence

Education

Government

Health & Human Services

Mapping & Charting

Natural Resources

Public Safety

Transportation

Utilities & Communications

Spatial questions – based on Andy Mitchell’s books

Spatial Analysis - Lesson

44

Concept topics – based on content in books

Concept topics – based on content in books

Online analysis

Rich data sets

• Living Atlas• Landscape Layers• Elevation Layers• USGS historic topo quads

Analysis tools:•Summarize Elevation•Profile•Trace Downstream•Viewshed•Watershed

Use Story Map templates

Builder apps

Include core topics from GIS&T BoK

LearnGIS Body of Knowledge

Manipulate and display the

results in a way the

reveals the solution, i.e., the thing that is interesting

or useful about the

environment• Maps, graphs,

reports, information graphics

• Symbolization• Qualitative

thematic maps• Quantitative

thematic maps• Image maps

Deconstruct the environment into

constituent parts, then

gather meaningful and accurate data

about the labeled features, attributes, and

phenomena that we have

identified• GIS basics• The earth and earth

coordinates• Map scale• Map projections• Grid coordinate

systems• Land information• Geographic data and

primary data sources• Data quality and map

accuracy• Data modeling and

data manipulation

Process those data

analytically to draw out essential

characteristics and produce a

solution

• Analysis and geoprocessing

• Geometric measures

• Overlay• Analytical

Methods• Surface Analysis• Spatial statistics• Geostatistics• Data mining• Network analysis• Optimization• Location

allocation

Ask something interesting or useful about the

environment

• Learning objectives

• What• Where• How much• Why

Integrate the solution

into frameworks, workflows,

environments, or

processes

• GIS and maps in society and organizations

• GIS workflows• Coordinating

organizations• Organizations

structures• Organizational

procedures• GI system

operations• GI system

infrastructure

• Reading, analysis, interpretation

• Read a map• Read multiple

maps• Look for patterns• Look for

correspondence• Explain the

patterns or correspondence

Learn something interesting or useful about the

environment

Communicate what you

have learned to

others

• Maps, graphs, reports, information graphics

• Compilation and page construction (includes map elements and page layout)

• Symbolization• Production

and publication

Consider Khan Academy Knowledge Map approach

Knowledge Map for LearnGIS

In the very near future…

• Release: Prior to UC in July• More…

- Lessons- Examples- Concept topics

• Enhancements for more community involvement

• Guided GIS Analysis

aileen buckley | research cartographeresri | 380 new york street | redlands, ca 92373-8100

O: 909.793.2853 x2997 | C: 909.289.1798 | abuckley@esri.com