ArcSchool Reader
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 Explorer: New Resources
ArcGIS Explorer, a complimentary 3D globe application that consumes online GIS services and local data, continues to gain resources: new services, layers, tasks, and task functions. Learn more at the ArcGIS Explorer Resource Center, where you can download the application and explore the site's various tabs. For instance, inside the Content area is a map devoted to the recent California fires; the fires and the use of ArcGIS Explorer to explore them are discussed in the Blog. Several new tasks are available under the Share tab, like the Weather Finder task. Even if you have worked with ArcGIS Explorer before, you may uncover something new such as address and route finding for the United States and Canada and selected Western European countries. For other ArcGIS Explorer resources, be sure to visit the ESRI Education Community ArcGIS Explorer page.
ArcGIS 9.2 Service Packs
Every so often, ESRI issues service packs for ArcGIS. These downloadable packages contain improvements and fixes for existing users. Service Pack 4 has just been released, and includes installers both for ArcGIS Desktop and for ArcGIS Desktop Help. The help installer seems surprisingly large until you discover there is a wealth of new tutorial videos included. (These videos are a key upgrade element of ArcGIS Desktop 9.2.) Service packs are cumulative, so you do not have to load earlier versions to get the latest one. Be sure you are working with the latest service pack by visiting the Service Pack Download region of the Support Site.
Back to Top
Data News
USGS Seamless Data
Readers of the EdCommunity Blog and other data hounds may have grown to depend on data from the USGS Seamless Data Distribution site. The site provides elevation, aerial photos, land cover, roads, and water features for the contiguous United States, for little or no cost. Most of the United States has 10-meter digital elevation model (DEM) data and 1-meter resolution aerial photos, with some urban areas having even better resolution. The Seamless site can be explored with just a Web browser, and you can download data from there, or you can access the site's data elements through ArcGIS or even ArcExplorer-Java Edition for Education. Check out this great collection of data.
Got GPS? Got Data!
Many educators are looking for both local data and ways to make use of GPS units. How about combining the two? For users of Garmin GPS units, the Minnesota (MN) Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has made available DNR Garmin, a complimentary application and extension to ArcView. It allows users of Garmin GPS units to capture data in the field and convert it to shapefiles with attributes. For users of ArcExplorer-Java Edition for Education, which can only create point shapefiles, the DNR application is a powerful capacity. For users of ArcView, the extension means you can do the work within ArcView. Make use of the GPS data that students and teachers are gathering on field trips, vacations, and weekend excursions. Download from the MN DNR.
Back to Top
Support News
URISA GISCorps
GISCorps is a program of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA). GISCorps coordinates short-term, volunteer GIS services to underprivileged communities worldwide. Services support humanitarian relief, community development, local capacity building, health, and education. GISCorps is initiating several K-12 related projects, starting with 4-H activities and geocaching. A team of four GISCorps volunteers is working on these projects. See how you can work with them.
ESRI Community Atlas
ESRI's U.S. Community Atlas is a project in which students or youth groups define the nature of their community and post descriptions and maps about it. These small presentations (10-20 original maps, 1,000-2,500 original words) are posted on the Web and can be explored for similarities and differences. The Web site contains full guidelines and templates, pointers to free data and mapping options, and model projects from each year. In addition to getting their community's description publicly posted, K-12 schools contributing a project that meets the guidelines earn software or other educational resources. The deadline for submissions is May 23, 2008. Read more at www.esri.com/communityatlas.
Back to Top
User News
ESRI GIS Education Community Growing: Explore the Site, Add Your Voice
Launched at the 2007 Education User Conference (EdUC), the Education Community portal is growing. Here are a few suggestions of what to do there:
- Share your information with the community: On the Community tab, suggest events, share your GIS story, and check out the blog or submit replies. In the Software area, suggest Web mapping sites and ideas for using software. For the Data zone, suggest online services and datasets for download. Under Instructional Materials, offer lesson ideas and reviews.
- Help internationalize the site: Right now, the bulk of the content and majority of visitors are from the United States. Help change that with international stories, data ideas, Web mapping sites, blog entries, and so forth.
- Help develop the site: Make suggestions for improvements and modifications at http://edcommunity.esri.com/contact.
- Come back often: The site's content changes nearly every day. New ideas for using software, pathways to data, and new lessons appear frequently.
- Invite your colleagues to visit: Let people know what you discover.
ESRI 4-H Grants
ESRI will again offer GIS grants for U.S. 4-H programs. The grant guidelines and application will be posted December 20, 2007, and the application period will be from January 1, 2008, to February 28, 2008. Check ESRI's 4-H page as well as the ESRI Grants page in December for the 2008 4-H grant guidelines and application.
Under the 2004-2007 GIS Grant for the U.S. 4-H program, ESRI has awarded 4-H Clubs in more than 500 U.S. counties with ArcView and ArcPad software and Virtual Campus training. GIS technology has been used by youth to make a difference in their community service projects. You'll find examples of 4-H GIS projects at www.esri.com/4-H as well as under youth clubs at www.esri.com/communityatlas.
ESRI Education User Conference
Make your plans now to attend the ESRI Education User Conference in San Diego, California, August 2-5, 2008. This is a concurrent event with the ESRI International User Conference. Hotel rooms will book quickly, so make your reservations early.
Back to Top
Calendar: Key Events
Local GIS User Group Meetings
National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference
November 30-December 2, 2007
San Diego, California
Association for Career and Technical Education Convention
December 13-15, 2007
Las Vegas, Nevada
ESRI 2008 4-H Grant Applications
January 1 - February 28, 2008
American Library Association Meeting
January 11-16, 2008
Philadelphia, PA
Texas Computer Education Association Convention & Exposition
February 4-8, 2008
Austin, TX
American Association of School Administrators National Conference on Education
February 14-17, 2008
Tampa, FL
Environmental and Spatial Technology Conference
February 19-21, 2008
Hot Springs, AR
GeoTech Conference
February 27 - March 1, 2008
Dallas, TX
ESRI Education User Conference
August 2-5, 2008
San Diego, California
ESRI International User Conference
August 4-8, 2008
San Diego, California
Back to Top
|
