GIS for GK12 EducatorsIdeals & First Steps

Dr. Roberto FloresPhysics, Computer Science & Engineering

Christopher Newport UniversityNewport News, Virginia USA

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Overview GK12 Education

• Spatial Thinking GIS Prototype

• Web-based GIS application What’s Next?

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

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GK12 Education NSF Committee

• astronomy, education, geography, geosciences & psychology

“Learning to Think Spatially” (2006) • http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309092086

Spatial Thinking• Form of thinking involving:

Spatial Data Tools of Representation Processes of Reasoning

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

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GK12 Education NSF Committee

• astronomy, education, geography, geosciences & psychology

“Learning to Think Spatially” (2006) • http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309092086

Spatial Thinking• Form of thinking involving:

Spatial Data Tools of Representation Processes of Reasoning

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

Attributes: location, dimension, continuity, …Relationships: separation, clustering, overlapping, …Temporal properties: static | dynamic

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GK12 Education NSF Committee

• astronomy, education, geography, geosciences & psychology

“Learning to Think Spatially” (2006) • http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309092086

Spatial Thinking• Form of thinking involving:

Spatial Data Tools of Representation Processes of Reasoning

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

to visualize…to manipulate… spatial geographical data

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GIS is a major technology but…• …it is not for novice users

Like teachers• …it demands high-end hardware

Unlikely to be found in GK12 schools

Wish List

Component-based customizable collaborative GIS software with a simplified user interface

GK12 Education

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

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WISE Prototype Data

• GPS location• Nutrients

Nitrite (NO2), Nitrate (NO3), Ammonia & pH

• Macro-Invertebrates Some species more/less resistant to pollutants

• Sediments Turbidity blocks sunlight

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

http://gk12.cnu.edu/

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WISE Prototype Client/Server

• Server hosts GIS software & data.• Clients use interface to add & access data.

NN School

NN School

CNU

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

Clients• Web browser & Adobe Flash

Server• ArcGIS

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Data

WISE Prototype

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

Site

Teacher StudentSchool

Sediment NutrientMacro Invertebrate

GPS point

name

name

name/initials

name, extent

name, latitude, longitude

NO2,NO3,pH,ammonia,date

biotic index, date

value, date deployed, date collected

1

1+

*

1

1

*

1

* **

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WISE Prototype Main Screen

• All users

Login

View Data

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

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WISE Prototype Editing data

• Guest / Student / Teacher

Login

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

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WISE Prototype Editing data

• Main Screen (Teacher)

AddOne-day

Pass

View

Verify

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

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WISE Prototype Adding data

• Site

Sedim

en

ts

Bugs

Nutr

ien

ts

GPS P

oin

ts

Sit

e

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

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WISE Prototype Adding data

• GPS point

Sedim

en

ts

Bugs

Nutr

ien

ts

GPS P

oin

ts

Sit

e

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

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WISE Prototype Adding data

• Nutrients

Sedim

en

ts

Bugs

Nutr

ien

ts

GPS P

oin

ts

Sit

e

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

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What is Next? WISE Prototype

• Short-term: Exploring feasibility & functionality

NSF Goal• Long-term: Educators need a GIS app

builder

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

Component-based customizable collaborative GIS software with a simplified user interface

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What is Next?What do we mean by… Component-based

• Building-block functionality• Scalable & Robust

Customizable• User-defined composition

Collaborative• Distributed system:

Multiple locations Multiple participants (+privileges) Multiple devices

Simple GUI• Intuitive to use by novices (builders + users)• Easy to deploy & maintain (using limited resources)

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

Component-based customizable collaborative

GIS software with a simplified user interface

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GIS Concepts Geographic Information System

• Software able to store, manipulate & display geographically referenced information (data identified by a location)

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

APPENDIX

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GIS Concepts Data Properties

• Location• Attributes• Spatial relationships

Data Models• Vector: Point, Line, Polygon (area)• Raster: pixel pictures (satellite images)

Projections• Mercator, et al. (be consistent)

Query & Analyzing• Pulling information from a GIS• Overlaying & Buffering

University of Calgary - September 13, 2011

For more:Google: GIS tutorial

APPENDIX