ArcSchool Reader: K–12 Education
Welcome to ArcSchool Reader, a periodic e-newsletter
from the ESRI education team. Each issue provides a quick
glimpse of software news; user stories; reminders; and hints
about tools, data, and support covering the use of GIS
technology in elementary and secondary schools (K-12
education).
In This Issue
Software News
ArcGIS
Service Packs
ArcGIS 9.2 Service Pack 3 is now
available for download! This is a cumulative patch, containing
all fixes from previous service packs plus important new
tweaks and fixes. Lab managers getting ready for the new
school year should be sure to install this latest service
pack. There are special downloads for ArcGIS Desktop and
ArcGIS Desktop Help, ArcReader, and ArcView 9.2 Evaluation
Edition. Download
now.
Updated
ArcGIS Explorer
A new version of ArcGIS Explorer is
ready for download! This no-cost, lightweight application for
Windows lets you connect to a variety of ready-to-use globes
hosted by ESRI. It can also connect to "tasks" that allow you
to do more than just visualize a simple map. You can use
ArcGIS Explorer to connect to 3D and 2D data, services, and
applications on the Web and integrate these with local
shapefiles on your hard drive or local network. Explore all
the resources available from the new Resource Center. Get
started.
ArcExplorer
- Java Edition for Education Version
2.3.1
ArcExplorer - Java Edition for Education is a
no-cost, lightweight, downloadable, introductory GIS for use
on Windows and Macintosh OS X. It has just been upgraded to
version 2.3.1. Users can create and share projects, analyze
data from online sources or local data (including GPS points),
and construct layouts. This is an excellent introductory GIS
for students and educators to use at school and install at
home. The help menu includes a direct link to the onboard
tutorial, so users can more easily learn to use the full
capacity of ArcExplorer-Java Edition for Education. A new
Introduction to ArcExplorer-Java Edition for Education page
has been constructed on the Education Community portal.
(Safety tip: Move any special data outside the
ArcExplorer-Java Edition for Education folder before
uninstalling an older version.) See ArcExplorer
- Java Edition for Education.
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Data News
Education
Community Data Tab
The Education Community portal
is a collaboration zone for educators. One area of keen
interest for educators (and confusion for new users) is
spatial data. The Data tab at the top of the portal pages
links to key information about data resources for educators:
ESRI Data & Maps (media that comes with ArcGIS products);
online data from ESRI such as ArcGIS Online, ArcWeb Services,
or Business Analyst Online; and interesting online data hosted
by a variety of content providers using ArcIMS or ArcGIS
Server. Learn
more.
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Support News
ArcGIS
Explorer Blog
Looking for the latest tip on using
ArcGIS Explorer? Want to share a task that accomplishes a
valuable function? Got a cool screen shot that demonstrates a
powerful capacity? Head to the ArcGIS Explorer blog! This is
where you'll find some terrific tips and tricks plus users'
links to excellent external resources. Optimize your
experience, and share your work with others! Check
the blog.
Understanding
Place
GIS is a powerful tool for education in part
because it can fit in so many different environments. That
flexibility can also be a challenge. This book presents a
series of case studies showing how a number of authors have
incorporated spatial thinking across the curriculum and why
maps are such powerful tools for learning. While the stories
are primarily about college students, the principles apply
across grade levels and school settings. See
the book.
New
ArcLessons
The ArcLessons collection continues to
expand. This repository of lessons comes from users around the
world, covering a broad range of topics at a scale from global
to local, using the full range of ESRI software. The lessons
are often timely-and sometimes timeless. Newest topics include
a race around the world using ArcGlobe, an investigation about
oil using ArcView 3 (from an educator in Germany), a study
about "agri-security" and infectious disease using
ArcExplorer-Java Edition for Education, and determining
potential impact of mining on wilderness areas using ArcGIS
Desktop. Explore
ArcLessons.
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User News
2007
Community Atlas Model Project
The ESRI Community
Atlas offers users in educational programs a framework for an
introductory project. Groups of students put together profiles
of their communities, each consisting of 10-20 original maps
and 1,000-2,500 original words. At the end of every school
year, a model project is selected, highlighting a project that
presents clear maps showing good analysis combined with text
that integrates the story. For the 2006-2007 school year, the
model project designee was the 4-H Club from McLean County,
Kentucky. See
Community Atlas.
Bring
Back Geography
The growing popularity of GIS
technology is helping to boost the profile of traditional
geography. But according to Jerome E. Dobson, president of the
American Geographical Society, precious few in the United
States (including some high-ranking policy makers) appreciate
or understand the importance of this science. He calls on GIS
professionals to begin rallying for a return of geography to
American schools. Read
the article.
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Calendar: Key Events
Local
GIS User Group Meetings
GIS
in the Rockies
September 12-14, 2007
Denver,
Colorado
ESRI
European User Conference
September 26-28,
2007
Stockholm, Sweden
Earth
Science Week
October 14-20, 2007
Everywhere!
National
Council for Geographic Education Annual Meeting
October
18-21, 2007
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
National
Association of Extension 4-H Agents Conference
October
21-25, 2007
Atlanta, Georgia
Future
Farmers of America National Convention
October 24-27,
2007
Indianapolis, Indiana
Geological
Society of America Annual Meeting
October 28-31,
2007
Denver, Colorado
State
Educational Technology Directors Association Leadership Summit
& Education Forum
November 4-7, 2007
Washington,
D.C.
Geography
Awareness Week
November 12-16, 2007
Everywhere!
GIS
Day
November 14, 2007
Everywhere!
Conference
for the Advancement of Science Teaching
November 15-17,
2007
Austin, Texas
National
Council for the Social Studies Conference
November
30-December 2, 2007
San Diego, California
Association
for Career and Technical Education Convention
December
13-15, 2007
Las Vegas, Nevada
ESRI
Education User Conference
August 2-5, 2008
San
Diego, California
ESRI
International User Conference
August 4-8, 2008
San
Diego, California
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