1. GIS in the Classroom: A Report from the Field Chris Bunin The Virginia Experiment “TAH” Grant & The Virginia Geographic Alliance

2. “We tell our students about change over time, and we have them read about change over time. With GIS my students are able to SEE change over time.” -Teresa Goodin, Walker Upper Elementary School

3. Key Spatial Concepts In the classroom: When does location matter? When does location matter? Distance? Direction? Distance? Direction? Neighborhood? Region? Territory? Neighborhood? Region? Territory? Scale? Scale?

4. Classroom Strengths Interactive and Dynamic (It is not, “what you see is what you get”) Interactive and Dynamic (It is not, “what you see is what you get”) “Democratizes” Maps/Supports the SOL “Democratizes” Maps/Supports the SOL Supports Differentiation Supports Differentiation Facilitates Higher Order Thinking Facilitates Higher Order Thinking Helps students “understand” maps Helps students “understand” maps Practical 21 st Century Skill Practical 21 st Century Skill

5. Successes State Site License: ArcGIS 9.2 State Site License: ArcGIS 9.2 Project GRASP and the Geospatial Semester (James Madison University) Project GRASP and the Geospatial Semester (James Madison University) The “Our World” Series The “Our World” Series Evolution of GIS for McIntosh (MyWorld GIS & AEJEE) Evolution of GIS for McIntosh (MyWorld GIS & AEJEE)

6. Challenges/Needs Professional Development and on-site instructional & technical support. Professional Development and on-site instructional & technical support. Data sets and Lesson Plans that fit the realities of the classroom Data sets and Lesson Plans that fit the realities of the classroom Number of Teachers and Divisions willing to embrace the technology Number of Teachers and Divisions willing to embrace the technology On-Line GIS that supports spatial analysis and problem solving On-Line GIS that supports spatial analysis and problem solving