In my last essay, I described how Esri has supported the National Conference on Geographic Education for 20 years, through real-world investigation of geographic issues and phenomena through GIS technologies. This year, Esri and its friends and partners will conduct two days of hands-on workshops in investigating natural hazards, population change, watersheds, weather, land use, and much more, using the set of data and tools on ArcGIS Online.

We believe that the use of GIS in instruction represents the essence of what applying geography to solve problems, foster critical, holistic, and geographic thinking, and to increase skills that are highly in demand in the workforce. The analysis of local to global issues through the spatial framework engages students with the content, skills, and perspectives of geography.

Conference schedules change so check the latest on www.ncge.org, but the list below provides a sense of the many activities that will occur. Most of these sessions will take place in Chautauqua Salon A. We will also host an exhibit and will be available throughout the conference there.

Friday 5 October 2012

GeoTech Lightning – 8:00 – 8:45 am
Quick looks at the range of map skills, concepts, and activities tackled.

One Browser, A Bazillion Maps – 9:00 – 9:45 am
Online mapping is easy and very powerful for teachers and students of all ages.

Population Geography Online – 10:00 – 10:45 am
Where do people live and what are things like there?

Election Geography Online – 11:00 – 11:45 am
Who will carry which states and districts? Explore and analyze online!

Mapping Our World Online – 1:00 – 1:45 pm
Learn to do GIS online using world geography.

Exploring Landscape Change Over Time – 2:00 – 2:45 pm
Landscape changes in ways blatant and subtle.

Assessing with Online Map Presentations – 3:00 – 3:45 pm
Building personal presentations helps students of all ages mix solid content and creativity.

ArcGIS Online for Organizations: Working with a New Model – 4:00 – 4:45 pm
ArcGIS Online for Organizations expands capabilities for schools, districts, clubs, and colleges.

Saturday 6 October 2012

GeoTech Lightning, Part 2 – 8:00 – 8:45 am
Quick looks at the range of map skills, concepts, and activities tackled.

Mapping Disasters – 9:00 – 9:45 am
Easy to map and powerful opportunities to integrate subjects and skills.

Weather, Water, Web, Oh, My! – 10:00 – 10:45 am
Map weather, waters, wildlands wildfires, and other key elements of our lives, online.

Field GPS with a Smartphone – 11:00 – 11:45 am
Bring your smartphone and learn to explore, map, analyze, and present your world!

GeoTagging & GeoCaching with Smartphones – 1:00 – 1:45 pm
Geocaching (GPS-based treasure hunting) and geotagging (making and using location savvy pics) are
great ways to help kids (of all ages!) build knowledge and skills.

APHG Topics via Online GIS – 2:00 – 2:45 pm
Advanced Placement Human Geography topics are great for exploration and analysis via online
maps.

Understanding a Changing Planet with AGO – 3:00 – 3:45 pm
The National Research Council’s volume presents major geographic questions that all citizens must
grapple with.

Mapping US History – 4:00 – 4:45 pm
See and analyze the past in various ways through tools of today.

Selected other sessions by Esri and friends include:

Practicing Geography Workshop – Friday, 3:00 – 4:45 pm
Joy K. Adams and Niem Tu Huynh, Association of American Geographers, Joseph J. Kerski, Esri

International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning with GIS in Secondary Schools – Joseph Kerski –Friday, 11:00am

Developing GIS Curriculum Materials using ArcGIS Online – Saturday, 10:00 – 10:45 am – Eui-kyung Shin, Northern Illinois University, Thomas R. Baker, Esri

Head to the High Ground, the Missouri is Flooding: A Remote Sensing Exercise
Saturday, 11:00 – 11:45 am – Paul Baumann, SUNY, Oneonta and Roger Palmer, GISetc

Developing Collaborative Field Studies for Student Mobile Devices
Saturday, October 6, 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm – Thomas R. Baker, Esri

We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming NCGE conference in San Marcos, Texas, and thereafter in the GIS education community! How might you be able to use ArcGIS Online in your own courses?

- Joseph Kerski, Esri Education Manager