Elementary Course in Using GIS in Geography Curriculum 在地理課程中運用地理信息系統初級課程 Pui Ching Education Centre

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Course Objectives 1. Introduce to teachers the basic concepts and techniques in using Geographic Information System (GIS) 2. Equip teachers with the knowledge and skills in using GIS in learning and teaching of geography

Course Contents Session 1 (3 hours) 1. Introduction to GIS * Functions and Application of GIS to * Functions and Application of GIS to Geography curriculum Geography curriculum 2. Map creation demonstration and practice * manipulation of map layers * manipulation of map layers * adding data on maps, changing * adding data on maps, changing symbols symbols

Session 2 (3 hours) 3. Creating a map with data manipulation * Choropleth maps * Choropleth maps * Map with chart or graphs * Map with chart or graphs * Creating buffer zone * Creating buffer zone Session 3 (3 hours) 4. Geographic data provided in Hong Kong * Data conversion and correlating data * Data conversion and correlating data among layers among layers * Consolidation of GIS skills * Consolidation of GIS skills

Session 4 (3 hours) 5. Presentation of homework assignment – lesson plan using GIS for learning and lesson plan using GIS for learning and teaching geography teaching geography * Comment and feedbacks by instructor * Comment and feedbacks by instructor * Q. & A. on implementing GIS in * Q. & A. on implementing GIS in geography lessons geography lessons * Summary and Conclusion * Summary and Conclusion

G eographic I nformation s ystem

A GIS is “ an organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographic data, and personnel designed to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced information. ” Environmental Systems Research Institute, 1990

“ GIS is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating, analyzing and displaying data related to positions on the Earth ’ s surface. ” Stanford University Stanford University

A GIS is “ an organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographic data, and personnel designed to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced information. ” “ GIS is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating, analyzing and displaying data related to positions on the Earth ’ s surface. ” More definitions of GIS: Google / Yahoo search engines ( see handout p.2 )

GIS has 5 integrated components 1. People – computer staff, GIS experts … 2. Data – spatial, temporal or attribute 3. Engines – for data storage, retrieval, analysis, reporting and analysis, reporting and communication communication 4. Interfaces – e.g. Microsoft Windows 5. Hardware – workstations, networks, disk storage, digitizers … disk storage, digitizers …

GIS – Geographic Information Systems GEOGRAPHIC tells us where things are (location) (location) INFORMATION tells us what these things are (what details at this location) (what details at this location) SYSTEMS are computers, software, data and people using the system to analyze and combine geographic information to create geographic models

Thematic overlays (GIS model) GIS is a stacked set of (thematic) map layers ( see handout p. 7 )

Hardware and Software of GIS GIS hardware * computers * computers * data storage - disks, tapes * data storage - disks, tapes * data input – paper maps, aerial photos, * data input – paper maps, aerial photos, GPS (Global Positioning GPS (Global Positioning System) coordinated System) coordinated data, satellite images data, satellite images * data output – printers, plotters * data output – printers, plotters

Major GIS software packages a. Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) 1969, makers of ArcGIS … (serving 300,000 organizations worldwide) b. MapInfo Corporation, founded in 1986, makers of MapInfo … c. Clark Labs, founded in 1987, makers of Idrisi … d. Golden Software Inc., founded 1983, makers of Surfer, Grapher, Didger … e. and others … ( Config. setup handout p. 5 ) ( Config. setup handout p. 5 )

Why GIS matter ? “ During the past three decades, a powerful technology has quietly changed the way people view and live in the neighborhoods, towns and cities … GIS available to be used by people to solve real problems. ” Jack Dangermond (ESRI founder/chairman) Jack Dangermond (ESRI founder/chairman)

Geography Matters – To You Every Day GIS touches all Our Lives, Every Day, beginning at 6:00 a.m. … everyday.html

General Applications of GIS Urban planning Urban planning Public safety Public safety Natural resource management Natural resource management Environmental analysis Environmental analysis Utilities management Utilities management Hazards management Hazards management Emergency planning Emergency planning Transportation forecasting Transportation forecasting Government / municipalities (landuse) Government / municipalities (landuse) …. ….

Implementing GIS into school curriculum may encourage students to examine data and their inter-relationships from a variety of fields / inter-disciplines emphasize the value of spatial thinking in geography >> THINK SPATIALLY (spatial patterns spatial interaction spatial association spatial analysis)

× How can we get GIS into the × How can we get GIS into the geography curriculum? geography curriculum? ✔ How can GIS help meet geography curricular goals? curricular goals? “IT should be used only where it really adds value to the learning of geography.... Avoid using IT simply for the sake of using IT.” HKCDC HKCDC

Examples of GIS in Education 1. 3D analysis of a watershed 2. Examining Pacific Ring of Fire 3. Determining of ecological relationship of a local pond 4. Studying impact of local rivers 5. Analyzing tree species 6. Examining history of mining 7. Managing park resources

How does GIS apply to the learning and teaching of geography? GIS provides techniques and opportunities to further students ’ geographical learning by: Overcoming mechanical aspects of mapping Overcoming mechanical aspects of mapping Improving students visualization of landscape through overlays on maps or 3D imagery Improving students visualization of landscape through overlays on maps or 3D imagery

Enabling access to up-to-date locational data on the internet Enabling access to up-to-date locational data on the internet Enabling students to work with cartography by choosing colours, graphical techniques to present data on maps Enabling students to work with cartography by choosing colours, graphical techniques to present data on maps Allowing more time to achieve higher level thinking, manipulate digital maps, display and interpret spatial patterns and relationships Allowing more time to achieve higher level thinking, manipulate digital maps, display and interpret spatial patterns and relationships

Some impediments to the introduction of GIS into schools Low levels of computer literacy Low levels of computer literacy Poor knowledge of GIS potentials Poor knowledge of GIS potentials Scarcity of curriculum materials Scarcity of curriculum materials Fears of technology Fears of technology Cost of purchasing hard/software, Cost of purchasing hard/software, in-service training and time in-service training and time

Mapping of GIS application of New Senior Secondary Geography Curriculum (see handout p.6 )

A GIS Journey “ 千里之行始於足下 ” 老子 the WOW of GIS >>> Geography is FUN deo/player/science/technology- sci/gis_journey.html

Demonstration of using GIS software >> learning basic tools of ArcMap >> practical exercise on manipulating GIS layer data and creating GIS layer data and creating charts charts >> case study 2 ( handout p. 19 ) Pearl River region and its Pearl River region and its industries industries

Practical exercise to be done by teacher participants 1. Complete the climatic graphs of a. San Francisco (California) a. San Francisco (California) b. Miami (Florida) b. Miami (Florida) c. New York C P (New York) c. New York C P (New York) 2. Browse selected websites of GIS

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