1. GIS in Initial Teacher Education David Mitchell, Institute of Education, London

2. What do we mean by GIS? Should we be embracing GIS? GIS and the PGCE course GIS and the GA

3. What does GIS mean?

4. …a digital map, data located on the map, and a software application (GIS) that links the two together Diane Freeman (2004)

5. What counts as a GIS?

6. GIS viewers?

7. Google earth

8. Subscription GIS viewers?

9. infomapper

10. Digital worlds

11. Proper GIS?

12. AEGIS3

13. Should we be embracing GIS in Geography education?

14. We do not wish to fall prey to technocentrism, the justification for the use of technology because of the so called Mount Everest rationalewe use it because it is there Bednarz and Ludwig, (1997)

15. 1. The Educative Justification Many argue that GIS helps students to learn geography by practicing spatial thinking Sarah Witham Bednarz (2001)

16. Spatial Thinking Skills Spatial Relations (one of the spatial thinking skills often used in geography learning) Processes used in cognitive mapping and GIS Recalling and representing layouts Connecting locations Associating and correlating spatially distributed phenomena Wayfinding in real world frames of reference Imagining maps from verbal descriptions Overlaying and dissolving maps (windowing) Correlating Evaluating regularity or randomness Associating Assessing similarity Forming hierarchies Assessing proximity (requires knowing location) Measuring distance Measuring directions Defining shapes Defining patterns Adapted from Bednarz (2001)

17. Cognitive maps are the store of knowledge an individual has about environments organised as internal models of the world. Cognitive maps are the basis of both spatial and non-spatial decision-making. Bednarz (2001) It has been suggested that cognitive maps are an internalised geographic information system.

18. improved spatial thinking improved cognitive mapping GIS in school Improved decision-making improved geography learning …but more research needed to explore the claim that GIS improves cognitive mapping & spatial thinking skills

19. Is GIS the preserve of Geography?

20. 2. The Workplace Justification: GIS as an Essential Skill knowledge workers able to collect data, calculate and analyse data, and communicate knowledge ….but should this drive GIS in schools?

21. …we need to make a strong geographic and pedagogic case for or against GIS/GISci We do not need to join a technology- driven-workplace-oriented crusade on behalf of GIS/GISci unless we are convinced that it is in the best interests of students and their personal, social, and spatial development. Sarah Witham Bednarz (2001)

22. Develop geographies and pedagogies through GIS

23. Barriers to GIS in schools

24. Access to hardware/ software/ data Training resources Clear pedagogic & geographic rationale Curriculum space & priorities

25. Case of the IOE, London a) ICT assignment 1.Find opportunity for geographical enquiry in the curriculum using GIS (should have important human implications e.g. hazard, urban planning issue) 2.Plan a sequence of 2-3 lessons using GIS 3.Evaluate how the ICT (through GIS) affected the geographical learning and the learning of generic skills (including ICT skills)

26. Teaching sessions, aegis, arcview, infomapper & free web GIS viewers, used to support enquiry learning Free trial periods with AEGIS & infomapper, to partner schools ICT observation days in partner schools (currently these are not exclusively GIS focused) b) GIS support & resources for students

27. How has it gone?

28. Google earth

29. AEGIS3

30. arcview

31. GA projects: GIS

32. Train the Trainers Ordnance Survey Nov 17, 2005…an annual event? GA website Support from GIS providers Discussion forum

33. GA website

34. Spatially speaking GA/ESRI UK (arcview)

35. HEIF3 project bid

36. In conclusion… Should GIS be seized by beginning teachers to re-state the power of Geography in school?