Track: Universities and Higher Education
Learning with GIS: A Candid Look at ArcView GIS
Derek ThompsonUniversities have many courses about GIS technology but there is not yet much evidence showing students learning with GIS in traditional academic disciplines. Under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Education, geographers and planners at the University of Maryland and five other institutions are developing a special pedagogic ArcView GIS application, UrbanWorld. This toolbox has many features including a portfolio, electronic submission of assignments, spatial analysis tools, examples of cartographic practice, and context-sensitive metadata. The presentation will demonstrate the interface and the special resources and tools in the UrbanWorld system. We have seen many benefits in using ArcView GIS for the desired pedagogic functionality, but we also have many frustrations. In suggesting directions for the future, we present a synopsis of what we would like students to do when using ArcView GIS in an active, authentic learning environment.
Derek Thompson
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
USA
Telephone: 301-405-4050
Fax: 301-314-9299
E-mail: dt11@umail.umd.edu