Students Use GIS

Many GIS professionals want to help students and teachers use GIS in their local schools, but are uncertain about how the tools and their expertise might fit into classroom practice and curriculum. This paper guides effective efforts to assist schools, based upon experiences and opinions of 300 teachers across the U.S. in grades 7 – 12, in science, math, social studies and technology. Over three years in a National Science Foundation-supported project, teachers discussed which curriculum subjects and topics are best suited to using and teaching GIS; roles they see for GIS in teaching and learning in their classrooms; challenges they face as they incorporate GIS applications, techniques and data into their teaching practices; what assistance they need as they apply these tools in their teaching