GIS in Teacher Education
Dr. Marsha Alibrandi
North Carolina State University
Constructivist Methodology
GIS in Education: ECI 496e
• An Education course geared toward educational
applications
• Generated from learners’ (teachers) needs
Curricular/Interdisciplinary
• Based in NC Curriculum Frameworks
Administrative solutions for community
schools
Toward Teacher Professional Development
ECI 496e;
GIS in
Schools
1: 2000
Year 2: 2001
3: Summer
2002
Year 4:Year
2003
(Spring, Summer)
Year 5: 2004 Year
(Spring,
Summer)
Instructional
Team

Professor

Professor

2 TAs (former students from Year 1)
nd
rd Generation
2nd
GIS Doctoral
Doctoral
 Generation
In-service Instructional Tech teacher

3 Graduate students 2
of GIS** & 3

Professor (for students
at the graduate level)

2 Graduate student TAs
**1 an instructor in the previous year;
students

1 Eighth grade student TA
2 students in the previousstudents
year
Student
Population

4 Undergrad SS pre-service

Pre
&
In-service teachers,

7 M.Ed. students:
4 SS (1 IS)
School
IT Coordinators,
2 I Instructional
Technology (2 IS)
1 SPED
Professor
Total 3 Inservice) teachers (IS)
Texts &
Software
applications
Online
Components
Guest
speakers
Field
Experience
Products
ALL In-Service
Pre-service and
In-service
5 PBS (post-bacc)
2 Instructional Technology; 2
teachers Social4M.Ed:
Studies
8 M. Ed. Students;
6 Instructional Technology (5 IS)
2 Science Education
Total 5 In-service teachers (IS)
Getting to Know ArcView
All above
PLUS
ArcVoyager

2 Ph.D.

GIS in Schools

GIS in Schools

ArcVoyager

ArcVoyager

ArcView

Getting to Know ArcView

Getting to Know ArcView
GIS
the Maps
Classroom
CD (Alibrandi)
GIS in the Classroom
+ CD (Alibrandi)
 inBeyond
(1997) (selections+only)

ArcView

ArcView

Beyond Maps (2000)

Beyond Maps (2000)

Ground Truth: Social Implications of GIS
Mapping
Our World +CDs** (Malone
et al)
Mapping Our World
+CDs**
(Malone
et
(selections only)

Spatial
Anallyst
(previewing
Mapping Our
World)

www (class web site)
All above PLUS

www (expanded class web site)

al)
www (expanded class web site)

ESRI Virtualdata
Campus
Enhanced online data  ESRI Virtual CampusEnhanced online
resource availability 
resource availability

NCSU GIS Library resources w/ NCSU GIS
Librarian

NCGS technicians (on GPS)

Graphic Design Prof.

NCSU GIS Library resources w/ NCSU GIS
Librarian

NCGS technicians (on GPS)

(Possibly others)
Same PLUS K12 student TTAs

NCSU GIS Library resources w/ NCSU GIS
Librarian

NCGS technicians (on GPS)
Same PLUS K12 student TTAs

On campus with GPS guest speaker

On campus with GPS guest speaker
a local GIS agent toward
Same
(GPS + community
Same (GPSpartnership
+ Interview
community
for coming school year

Establish community partner connection &
visit a GIS office.
partner)
partner)

"Where are You?" Activity; layout with
questions on line (In ArcVoyager)

Problem-Based Learning Activity

Original .apr project with imported data, maps
and lessons

"Where are You?" Activity; layout with
questions on line (in ArcVoyager)

Power Point presentations

Problem-Based Learning Activity

Original .apr project with imported data,
maps and lessons
Same ( .apr PLUS Lesson
Plan)

"Where are You?" Activity; layout with
questions on line (in ArcVoyager)

Power Point presentations

Problem-Based Learning Activity

Original .apr project with imported data,
maps and lessons
Same ( .apr PLUS Lesson
Plan)
GIS Day registration
Outreach Activities
• In partnership with Martin Middle School,
two tracks of GIS instruction were initiated:
1. Semester-long student GIS electives (grades 6 & 7)
2. After-school GIS training for teachers (6 weeks)
• Student TTAs assisted teachers in the afterschool sessions
• Students were interviewed and asked to reflect
on the adults’ learning, identifying specific needs
Interdisciplinary
Teacher Professional Development
• School-wide introduction on GIS Day
• After-school teacher workshops
 Six consecutive weeks
 Technology re-certification credit
 Students as TTAs
 Field visit to the local GIS partner
offices to see local data and
applications
– BENEFIT TO SCHOOL: a hardware
transfer resulted--the school received
a used plotter from the County GIS
department
K-12 Students as GISTTAs
• The mirror effect of university practice where
graduate assistants, generationally more
technology-oriented become instructors and TAs,
became a model for K-12 settings
• Operationalizing the cultural practice of ‘bottomup’ learning by adults from adolescents in nonformal settings as an instructional model
New Directions
• NSF ITEST proposal:
Information Technology Experiences for Students & Teachers:
GIS Professional Residencies in Middle Schools
To train Students and Teachers in GIS skills
To identify community resources and partner schools toward
Digital Equity
To balance more equitable access to IT and experiences that
lead to IT careers
To help develop GIS Curriculum Integration toward
interdisciplinary and sustainable GIS integration
Upcoming Event!
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
PETER H. MARTORELLA COLLOQUIUM
welcomes
DR. JOSEPH KERSKI
Keynote speaker
GIS Specialist: US Geological Survey, Census Bureau
University of Denver
Sinte Gileska University Distance Educator, Rosebud Reservation
SPATIAL
THINKING:
Crossing Discipline, Campus and Societal Boundaries
with Geographic Information Systems
Thursday, April 29th, 6-7:15 p.m.
Poe Hall Room 216
ALL professors, students and classes
are invited and encouraged to attend
PLEASE COME WITH YOUR CLASS TO ANY OR ALL OF THE DAY’S EVENTS:


“An Introduction to GIS” (a workshop with handouts)
with Dr. Kerski: 2:30-4 p.m. — Poe 120
Graduate Student presentations: 4:15-5:15 p. m. — Poe 220
(Martorella Award recipient and others)

Reception: 5-6 p.m. — Poe Hall Atrium