Abstract

Integrating Geospatial Data into Freshman Information Literacy Instruction
Track: Using GIS in Libraries and Museums
Author(s): Joshua Been, Gretchen Trkay

The integration of geospatial datasets into an academic library's freshman instruction program provides transferable information literacy skills within an active learning environment. Using Esri software and Google Maps, we designed and implemented two customized web mapping applications used by over 30 freshman classes (600+ students) between Fall 2006 and Fall 2007.

Designed for the Fall 2007 semester, 'Sho'ah's Lasting Impact: Mapping Jewish Migration' (http://gis.uta.edu/maus) was developed to supplement the reading of 'Maus: A Survivor's Tale', by Art Spiegelman. Using this website, students are able to locate and track the Jewish population changes and migration patterns before, during and after World War II.

Data sources were created using ArcINFO Desktop, stored in an ArcSDE database, and published as web services using ArcIMS. ASP.NET integrates the ArcIMS services into Google Maps, and a Python geoprocessing script exports feature classes into an XML file for the displaying of point and line features.

Joshua Been
University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at Arlington Library
PO Box 19497
Arlington , Texas 76019
United States
Phone: 817 272 5826
E-mail: been@uta.edu

Gretchen Trkay
University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at Arlington Library
PO Box 19497
Arlington , Texas 76019
United States
Phone: 817 272 7434
E-mail: gtrkay@uta.edu