Teaching and Learning with GIS Technology

Worth 15 hours of professional development credit for teachers (7.5 hours of screencast lectures and 7.5 hours of asynchronous work), this course was created as a professional development course for educators or anyone else interested in learning the basics of GIS technology. Teachers, administrators, parents, and others will learn the transformative power of GIS technology (Geographic Information System) for teaching and learning using GIS digital mapping. Learn to use this cutting-edge technology to engage students while harnessing the power of visualization and spatial analysis to help students foster a deeper understanding of historical and contemporary events while enhancing students' technological and problem-solving skills. This course will explain how to obtain free ArcGIS Online software from the global leader in GIS technology as well as the basics of using the software and applying it to the teaching of many academic subjects.  This course will also show participants how to find ready-made standards-based lesson plans for a variety of subject areas and introduce the user to the software's built-in spatial analysis tools.  Step-by-step directions are contained in the video lectures and supplemental resources along with other resources for finding and downloading shapefiles and other GIS data.  Basic GIS terminology will also be covered. Information on submitting this course for fifteen professional development credit hours for teacher recertification is also included.

This is course is perfect for interdisciplinary and STEM education; inquiry and problem-based instruction; displaying & analyzing data; research, science, and history projects; economics & demographic applications; and real-world problem solving.  Learn to create maps and export them to websites and smartphone apps for field work. Pair with GPS devices, smartphone apps, and Google Forms to collect data and import the data into your GIS application.

Since Udemy is a global platform, it is NOT an approved professional development provider for individual K-12 state boards of education. However, many states, like Illinois, have a process for awarding PD hours to out-of-state and 3rd party providers of professional development.  It usually entails filling out the proper state PD forms that show completion and alignment to teaching and learning standards, then submitting those forms to your locally approved PD provider, usually your school or school district. PD requirements and protocol vary from state to state, but sample forms and directions for Illinois teachers are included with this course. Approval of PD credit will be at the discretion of individual schools or school districts. Since GIS digital mapping is being used across the curriculum and this course show participants how to find GIS lessons in several subject areas,  this course should align with PD credit for general social studies, geography, history, ELA, math, science, CTE, computer science, and even foreign language teachers who want to use maps and ArcGIS Storymaps to teacher about other countries.

A certificate of completion, a sample two-week syllabus, and a course description that explains its learning objectives and alignment to teaching and learning standards is included with this course and can be downloaded for teachers to submit to their school/district along with their required paperwork for the 15 hours of professional development credit.

Using GIS technology across the curriculum targets the Next Generation Science Standards; Common Core standards for math, ELA, social studies, and other subjects; as well as Domains 1a, 1c, 1d, 1e, 3b, and 3c of the Danielson Framework for Teaching. The educational and professional applications are limitless. Recommended for educators working with 6th grade students through college. 

This course is also great for anyone wanting to learn the basics of ArcGIS Online.