GIS professionals can take an active role in developing the next generation of spatially aware citizens. Learn what you can do to help children in your family, students & youth in your community, and potential GIS professionals experience the excitement of GIS and geospatial technologies. You too can open the door to inquiring minds becoming practicing spatial thinkers!! You’ll learn about GIS technology available through statewide K-12 school licenses, what youth programs are doing (www.4-H.org/NYSD), GIS Day, and what we as a GIS community can do individually or as a group to make a difference in the future of the GIS industry.

1. You can give your
children
but two things,
one is roots
and
the other wings. ...

2. Spatial Literacy
for the
Common Kid
And Beyond

3. Or
How to Be An
Explorer
of
the
World

4. How to BE AN Explorer of the World
Always be LOOKING.
 (Notice the ground beneath your feet)
Consider Everything ALIVE &
ANIMATE.
EVERYTHING is INTERESTING. Look
closer
ALTER your Course OFTEN
 OBSERVE for Long Durations (and
short ones)

5. Notice the stories going on around
you.
Notice PATTERNS, Make
CONNECTIONS.
DOCUMENT your findings (field
notes) in a variety of ways.
Incorporate Indeterminacy.
Observe Movement

6. How to be an EXPLORER OF THE WORLD.
Create a Personal DIALOGUE with
your Environment. Talk with it.
Listen to it.
Trace things BACK to their Origins.
Use.
ALL of the senses in your investigations

7. Commonality of
Artists, Scientists and Explorers
OBSERVE
COLLECT
ANALYZE
COMPARE
NOTICE PATTERNS

8. Spatial literacy advantages
•Recognize connections
•Ask questions
•Critical Thinker
•Strategic planner and thinker
•Analytical Thinker
•Problem solver!

9. Where to start?

10. Celebrate Spatialness!
Associate people, experiences and memories to a map
location , prominently and permanently part of life,
encourage children to update frequently–
Family, vacations, school trips

11. Travel experiences
grow
Explorers!
The traveler was active; he went strenuously in
search of people, of adventure, of experience.
The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things
to happen to him. He goes "sight-seeing."
~Daniel J. Boorstin

12. Spatial literacy in education
• Non-formal education
–4-H, Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs
–After school clubs: Geography, Science, Robitics
• Formal education
–Standard classroom
–Environmental education
–Science
–Geography
–Social Studies
–Computer Science & literacy
–And more

13. Colorado Esri K-12 Statewide license
•www.eNetColorado.org
•Sponsored by Colorado BOCES
•Supported by eNet Colorado
•Access to GIS at no charge for schools
and youth serving organizations.

14. Spatial literacy for high school and college students
•(CTE) Career and Technical Education
•STE
2+2+2 continuous learning concept
•High School
•Community College
•University

15. Esri Education Community
http://edcommunity.esri.com
• Ready to go curriculum
• Software
– ArcGIS Explorer
– ArcGIS Explorer online
– ArcGIS Desktop
• ArcLessons – over 300 free lessons
• Workshops, trainings, and conferences

16. Statewide K-12 Licenses

17. How can GIS professionals contribute to
the spatial literacy of your community?
•Walk your talk
–With your family
–Mentor in the classroom
–Lead an after school group
–Donate curriculum to your school
–Share your passion – GIS Day
–Allow children to soar!

18. Make a Map
In the dirt
Sketch on Paper
ArcGIS online public/personal account
Www.arcgis.com
With your school: ArcGIS Online
Subscription

19. Enjoy what you do!
Celebrate Life!
Celebrate Exploring, Creativity and
Innovation!

20. Thank you

21. Thank you.
•www.eNetColorado.org
•www.geomentor.org
•www.gisday.org
•www.esri.com/4-H
•http://edcommunity.esri.com
Esther Worker, ESRI Denver Education Manager

22. •
•
•
•
References:
www.gisday.com look for resources and activities
http://www.kidsoutside.info/
Book: How to Be an Explorer of the World: Portable Life Museum
by Keri Smith
• Book: Leave No Child Inside by Richard Louv
• Book: Learning to Think Spatially, available from The National
Academies Press. www.nap.edu
• Our World GIS Education 4 book series (w/ Esri software for the
classroom). www.esri.com/ourworldgiseducation
• ArcLessons – free ready to go GIS lessons
http://edcommunity.esri.com/arclessons