On Saturday afternoon, conference participants separated into informal groups to identify important issues and themes which had arisen during paper sessions.

K-12 group

1. Show model projects
• Student presentations
• Also on the web
2. Regional Workshops for Teachers
3. Instructional Materials Developers should come as well

1. What standards can be addressed by GIS?
1. Include GIS in universal technical skills.
1. Integrate technology with curricula.

1. It should be GISxE - for all educators
1. Represent all stakeholders who are pontential users.
1. Find out what employers need.
• School-to-work partnership.
1. Intern teachers in business.
1. Have workshops.

Community College group A

• Develop a strategy/curriculum for "portable" training program [train future trainers]
• What major topics to cover? [needs to be interdisciplinary]
 
• Need a survey of the need for GIS employees and technicians.
• To be used to argue for administrative support and funding
• Must address both national and local needs
• How to reach the right industries and agencies?
• Create a survey template so it can be conducted locally
• Need to increase general awareness and commitment within administrations to ensure academic and financial support

• Collect model exercises and project work ideas

• Work with in-service K-12 teachers.
• target group [middle schooler?]
• what materials do they need?

• Develop national skill standards (including for CC’s and schools)
• this would be very good for obtaining administrative and financial support for programs

Community Collge group B

• Train the trainers/teachers
• Develop a manual on how to set up a program
• needs to include everything, all issues
• how to set up one course vs certificate vs AA/AS
• provide comprehensive checkist
• include information about:
• technology/Equipment
• faculty and staff
• tech support
• adminstrative support
• list of consultants who could help
• Funding sources
• Set up regional support groups
• Need regular updates on software and technology
• How to teach new pedagogy
• How to integrate GIS/GPS/Remote Sensing

Higher education group A

•  guidelines on implementing core curriculum across different disciplines/departments.
• specify key curriculum concepts and material required.
• customized interfaces for applications/disciplines.

• development of a tool kit for educational implementation.
• "needs assessment" decision matrix
 
•  development of a profile of skills and knowledge of the "GIS expert"
• formalization of job title

Higher education group B

• Foster the "Spatial Analysis in GIS" agenda at the next conference
• invite experts
• hold workshops/sessions
• identify what should be taught.

• Dissemination of teaching/education/training issues.
• The GIS Educator would be an excellent way to talk amongst ourselves.
• We also need to publish elsewhere to talk with others (eg. JGHE)
• Established jounals should publish teaching related articles

• Clearinghouse for "Innovations in GIS" across all levels
• format?
• needs peer review/comments

• Do market research to determine the different education levels needed (defines Marble's pyramid’s needs)
• encourage more
• share results (between academia and with industry
• make it a higher publication priority

• Debate the pros and cons of "Teaching GIS" vs. "Teaching with GIS"

• Relationship between academic and vendors needs to be improved
• more collaboration
• capitalize on mutual entrepreneurship
• coordination of efforts and "equal playing field"

• Spreading GIS to programs where Geography or other Mapping Sciences traditionally no taught.

Mixed group

• Develop a GIS Educators Directory.
• Create a learinghouse for sharing information on case studies, lab excercises, etc.
• Invite community leaders to the next conference.
• Consider how to deal with students with diverse backgrounds.
• Develop courses on GIS for the non-GIS specialist.
• Form interest groups based on different parts of the pyramid (refers to the education pyramid described by Prof. Duane Marble in his Luncheon Address).
• Create a web page outlining what people are doing in different parts of the pyramid.
• Merge Foote Virtual Department model with model curriculum.
• Need to do outreach to other disciplines.
• Vendors should provide info about job requirements at different levels of the pyramid.

International issues group

• How to keep each other informed on an international scale - of ‘teaching experience’ and good ‘case studies’
• needs to use appropriate ‘local’distribution methods
 
• Suggestion for communication:
• PHASE 1
• Create a website - "The International Yellow Pages for GIS education"
• needs a coding system for language and theme
• needs a quality stamp or means of assessment
•  PHASE 2
• CD Version
• action item: can an annual CD of education materials be produced and distributed??
• PHASE 3
• Produce local newsletters addressing local and regional issues
• Have a GIS education "Road Show" which can demonstrate good practice and encourge local institutional support