During the multi-year SEP, the NCGIA facilitated dialogue between interested parties; collected, developed, and reviewed GIS instructional materials; pooled information on current and pending GIS activities in the schools; communicated this information; and provided specific activities that increase teacher and student awareness of GIS and that encourage the development of appropriate GIS instructional materials for the schools.
One of the first activities of the SEP was a seven-day workshop at UCSB in 1992 in which high school science, social studies, and computer teachers from the Santa Barbara area received a short course and hands on activities in GIS and also helped review the potential for GIS in the classroom.
The following summer another group of teachers from seven states, all participants in the National Geographic Society network of state-based Geographic Alliances, came to UCSB for a week-long workshop on GIS use in the classroom. These teachers returned to their respective Alliances and gave a series of GIS in-services for teachers in their state.
In the second half of the decade, NCGIA SEP continued its activities which include the development of GIS-based learning modules. In 1996 NCGIA hosted a short meeting to develop a Research Agenda for K-12 GIS (EDGIS'96 research meeting).
As we approach the end of the decade, NCGIA has passed the baton on to other organization and individuals who are doing wonderful things with GIS in the schools. A few contacts are listed below.
Other K-12 GIS Web Sites
ESRI's K-12 home page (Lots of materials both for their ArcView GIS software and other general resources).
TERC EDGIS Web Site (Links to resources for K-12 GIS including information on the EDGIS-L internet discussion list). [Direct access to the site is not currently working. See the project index and the Mapping Our City Project.]
