Monday, December 21, 2009

NASA Data and Visualization Training for Teachers!

Eyes in the Sky II Seeks Grade 9 to 12 Science Teachers

Eyes in the Sky II is a long-term professional development program that prepares high school science teachers to use NASA data and visualizations along with other geospatial information technologies. Throughout the program, teachers and students investigate both global and local environmental issues. The program includes four parts: 1) a 12-week online Web course, consisting of three 4-week modules; 2) a 7-day face-to-face summer workshop held onsite at a NASA research center; 3) one year of classroom implementation, ending with a virtual student showcase; and 4) an ambassador program for providing professional development for other teachers in participants' schools or districts.

Grade 9 to 12 science teachers will benefit from this program. Through participating, teachers will: 1) become proficient using NASA data and geospatial analysis tools; 2) receive a $1000 stipend for completing the online course and the 7-day summer workshop; 3) receive an additional $1000 stipend as compensation for delivering professional development as an Eyes in the Sky II Ambassador; 4) equip their students with geospatial technology skills that are in increasing demand in the workplace; and 5) obtain optional graduate credit through Northern Arizona University.

For more information about the Eyes in the Sky II program, including the online application visit http://serc.carleton.edu/eyesinthesky2/index.html. Applications are due by January 15, 2010. We expect this will be a popular program. As there are a limited number of openings available, first consideration will be given to early applicants. If you have further questions, please contact Carla McAuliffe (Carla_McAuliffe@terc.edu) or Erin Bardar (Erin_Bardar@terc.edu).

Thursday, December 17, 2009

GeoMentor Program




GeoMentors are Ready and Waiting to Help Hawaii Educators!


"National Geographic and ESRI have created a new program to inspire educators and community members to work together to improve student learning. People who use geography in their work can help educators and youth see the world in new ways. The GeoMentor program is designed to inspire volunteers to work with a teacher or youth club leader to help kids see, use, and do more geography in and out of classrooms."

Register on the GeoMentor Website TODAY!
It's free, easy, and will immediately give you access to a list of the hundreds of GeoMentors waiting to be of service to an educator like you!!
http://edcommunity.esri.com/geomentor/

Thursday, December 3, 2009

GIS Activities by ESRI at Lahainaluna High School!


Forty-seven Students at Lahainaluna HS Think Spatially with ESRI K12 Education Manager, Charlie Fitzpatrick.

On December 2nd, three separate groups of students at LHS engaged in geographic inquiry of Maui's topography, climate, and land use through the use of GIS. Two groups worked hands-on with ArcEditor 9.3 GIS Software in a computer lab setting, the software recently installed as a result of the statewide K12 license from ESRI. One group (pictured here) viewed a demonstration of GIS and learned about the many career opportunities on the rise that require GIS skills.

Mahalo to Charlie and ESRI for providing this outstanding support of Hawaii's students!!

Friday, November 20, 2009

GIS Professionals Interact with Students ONLINE for GIS Day 2009!



The First Annual GIS Day Hawaii Webcast was on Wednesday 11/18!

Students from 17 different schools throughout the state logged on to view presentations by eight different GIS Professionals. Speakers logged on from Maui, Oahu, Hawaii Island, and Colorado! All participants received GIS Day stickers, pencils, and mouse pads!

These pictures display the webcast control station at MEDB's Training Center in Kihei, Maui, where Webcast Facilitator, Diana Papini Warren, and guest speaker, Joe Breman, President of International Underwater Explorations, interact with students on Kauai from Kamakahelei Intermediate School. Also logged on for this particular session were students and teachers from Keeau High School, McKinley High School, Hui Malama Learning Center, Lahainaluna High School, and Kilohana Elementary School.

GIS Day is held each year in the third week of November, on the Wednesday during Geography Awareness Week, a geographic literacy initiative sponsored by the National Geographic Society. For more information on other events that took place around the world, visit http://www.gisday.com/

Friday, November 13, 2009

Incredible Opportunity for Teachers who Teach Teachers GIS!


ESRI is Offering a Second Annual T3G Training Opportunity at the ESRI Headquarters in CA!

DEADLINE EXTENDED - To December 4th!!


FREE except for your travel.

LEARN from a team of instructors that are the best of the best in GIS in Education, including Joseph Kerski, Charlie Fitzpatrick and the ESRI Education Team!!
NETWORK with educators from around the country who are taking the lead in integrating GIS into the classroom and teaching teachers the wonders of GIS!
ENGAGE in a wide range of GIS projects that will broaden your horizons in geospatial analysis!

For more information and the application process, visit http://edcommunity.esri.com/t3g

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Molokai High School Students Go Geospatial!



On the Island of Molokai, the Hawaiian Immersion students from the high school participated in a GIS workshop facilitated by GeoTech for Hawaii Schools.

They were using ArcGIS 9.3 ArcEditor software, and by the afternoon, were downloading a variety of shapefiles and raster data sets to assist them in their Geographic Inquiry. Most of the data downloaded came from the fabulous UH Manoa SOEST Coastal Data Website. A must see!!
http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/coasts/data/

We look forward to seeing how these students integrate GeoTech into their projects!!

GPS 101 for Kauai Educators




Through a partnership between the Kauai and Maui Economic Development Boards, the GeoTech for Hawaii Schools Initiative facilitated a GPS 101 workshop for Kauai teachers on Oct. 19th.

After a variety of outdoor GPS activities, participants transfered their tracks and points using the GPSies.com website (see image) to GoogleEarth, then watched a demo of a transfer into ESRI ArcGIS.

Receive Valuable GeoTech Tips from a Listserv!

The EDGIS Listserv

For more information on how to receive valuable tips and information on GIS in K16 Education, visit the TERC EDGIS Information page here:

https://list.terc.edu/mailman/listinfo/edgis

Free Publication for GIS Using Educators!


Subscribe to receive GIS Educator from ESRI today!

You can preview the latest issue of this quarterly publication or subscribe to receive this publication for free at this link here:

http://www.esri.com/industries/university/news-community/giseducator.html

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Have GPS, Ready to GeoCache!


GeoCaching

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

Search for a GeoCache Near You!http://www.geocaching.com/

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Mapping Our Future Workshop


Mapping Our Future: Using GIS and GPS for Place-based Inquiry
This teacher workshop for neighbor island teachers began Oct. 6th - 9th and will continue in an online environment through December.

Congratulations to all the teachers on their hard work this past week! Mahalo to Joseph Kerski from ESRI, co-facilitator of the workshop, for all of his guidance and enthusiasm!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Geospatial Revolution Project

This movie is a must see for anyone curious about how GeoTech is changing our world! It is also useful as an introductory video to students/teachers new to GeoTech.

http://geospatialrevolution.psu.edu/

Monday, August 31, 2009

Step Aside Google Earth... AGX900 has Arrived!


Announcing... the recent release of ESRI's ArcGIS Explorer 900!

This is a free, downloadable tool that has a virtual globe that has customizable base maps and the best part of all, it works very well with GIS data created and compiled in ESRI desktop products.

View a short demo movie, get more information, and download the software here:
http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/explorer/whats_new.html

Two Day GIS Workshop for Oahu Teachers

ArcGIS 9.3 in Education

A two-day workshop for teachers (and students) of Oahu.

Don't miss this special opportunity to learn from trainers specifically experienced with GIS in K12 Education: Anita and Roger Palmer of GIS Etc.

For more information and the full flyer, visit the Women in Technology website:
http://www.womenintech.com/workshops.html

Friday, August 14, 2009

GIS Training for Neighbor Island Teachers Coming Up!

Mapping Our Future: Using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for Place-based Inquiry

This is a professional development opportunity for educators grades 5 -12 on the ArcGIS 9.3 software which was recently licensed for K12 Hawaii. Receive GIS curriculum, Hawaii lessons and data on a jump drive, and a GPS unit! Instructors are Diana Papini Warren, Project Manager at Women in Technology and Joseph Kerski, Education Manager from Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) Education Team.

Requirements: This is for neighbor island teachers only. Limited funds available for non-Maui teachers’ travel. Previous experience with GIS, either via a training, work experience, or self-taught.

Oct 6-9 – Kihei, Maui 9:00 – 4:00 Daily
Live Online Follow up Sessions: 10/22, 11/19, and 12/3 3:30 – 5:00 PM

See attached flyer for more details!

REGISTER ONLINE TODAY!:

Monday, August 10, 2009

GIS tool to track Felicia Hurricane

Launch the Pacific Disaster Center Online Atlas!

Visit http://www.pdc.org, then click on the map right on the home page. It will launch a GIS viewer. Use the Zoom In tool to drag a box around Hawaii, click Show Legend in the upper right.

As this is posted, Felicia is arriving in Hawaii as a tropical storm!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Let's Keep Our Girls in Mind!


Gender Equity in GeoTech and STEM
If you would like some information and some useful tips on how to promote equity in STEM classrooms and activities, browse these two articles.

Research shows that our girls are self-selecting out of STEM, especially starting at the middle school ages. There are ways we can help!

Gender%20Equity_ClassroomTips.pdf
GenderEquity_Stereotypes.pdf

Friday, June 12, 2009

GIS Software Distribution Center is OPEN!

All K12 schools, public and private, now can request the ESRI ArcGIS 9.3 software!
FREE!

The software license was purchased this Spring via a partnership between MEDB Women in Technology and the Hawaii Department of Education.

The GIS Distribution Center is all online and managed by MEDB WIT.

To Request the Software for Your School, go here:

Hawaii K12 GIS Distribution Center

http://www.womenintech.com/GISDistributionCenter/

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Citizen Science Project on Butterflies and Moths


Do you have a GPS and a camera and an interest in Butterflies or Moths?

Check out this collaborative geographic inquiry project:

Butterflies and Moths Project
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/
You or your students can submit your own data or just research existing spatial data at this site!!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Community Atlases by Students

Students are mapping their own communities with GIS!

Visit the ESRI Community Atlas program webpage to learn more:
http://edcommunity.esri.com/commatlas/

GIS for History of Slavery

Are you a social studies teacher wondering how GIS might be useful in teaching US History and Slavery? Are you curious to see some powerful visual representations of slavery data?

Visit this website to learn more:
http://tcla.gseis.ucla.edu/divide/teachers/lausd_jordan.html

Thursday, April 30, 2009

GIS Software for Hawaii K-12!!


Hot off the press!!

Hawaii K12 schools, public and private, now have access to the real, current, most powerful version of GIS software available by ESRI: ArcGIS 9.3!

Please read the press release at this LINK for more information about this great news.

MEDB Women in Technology (WIT) purchased the software in partnership with the DOE and is the point of distribution. In addition, WIT will continue to provide statewide professional development activities to support teachers in implementing GIS use in the classroom. Stay tuned for more information on distribution.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Molokai Earth Day GPS Treasure Hunts

Over 120 students from 4th - 6th grade from various schools on Molokai participated in the Earth Day festivities last Friday April 17th.

Women in Technology and Molokai Nature Conservancy partnered to facilitate GPS treasure hunts for all of the students!

The Earth Day events, both morning and evening, were planned and put on by Molokai Nature Conservancy. An excellent series of events!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Hawaii Summer GeoScience Program for Undergrads!


Do you know any freshman or sophomores in college not yet majoring in the GeoSciences but possibly interested?

Ka Imi Ike has a fabulous program happening in July for them!!

Visit their website for more information:
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kaimiike/

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Summer Workshop Series - Intro to GIS


Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

A Two-Day workshop for Teachers and Students of Grades 6-12.

Please see the attached flyer for more information.



IntroGIS_flyer_2009_ALL.pdf

REGISTER ONLINE TODAY!

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

GIS User Groups in Hawaii

GIS User Groups have Meetings Open to Anyone Interested in GIS!

There is a GIS User Group on each of the main Hawaiian Islands, and it is a wonderful way to learn what's new with software and with local GIS users.

Often meetings fall during a school day, but occasionally, it may fall on a break.

Check the website for the user group closest to you!
http://www.gdsihawaii.com/hawpacgis/

Note: The next meeting on Maui is on March 24, 2009. There is a typo on the attached website.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Map of the Economic News




GeoCommons Map of the News tool presents current economic news in an online map tool.


The Obamameter
http://news.geocommons.com/obamameter

Thursday, February 26, 2009

GIS Curriculum for Middle School Math & Science


This site has curriculum and accompanying data files ready for download!

James Madison University STEM Geospatial Technology
http://www.isat.jmu.edu/stem/curriculum.html

Even better, they provide versions for both AEJEE and the full ArcGIS software.. you choose.

Monday, February 9, 2009

NEW! Online Course - Intro to GeoTech

Intro to GeoTech: GPS, GIS, and Remote Sensing
April 9 - May 28, 2009
Eight Thursdays from 2:30 - 4:00 PM


Learn how to integrate GeoTech into the classroom!
Receive a stipend of $100 OR a GPS Handheld!
Receive two GeoTech related books with standards based curriculum and community service project ideas.
Discover the benefits of interactive, online learning!


See attached flyer for more information.

JOIN THE WAIT LIST Space was limited to 22 participants, and
the class has filled up. However, you are welcome to register to be on the wait list.

Intro_GeoTech_flyer_2009.pdf

GPS Waypoints onto GoogleEarth


Want to put waypoints from your GPS on GoogleEarth?

The feature you want to use is called, “Add a Placemark”, and it looks like a pushpin and rests along the toolbar along the top of the GoogleEarth window.

What you do is, click the placemark anywhere on a GoogleEarth map, then, a window will pop up in which you can edit the fields for the latitude and longitude according to the waypoints you have saved on your GPS.

Note: You will need to choose in your GPS Setup menu the position format for degrees minutes seconds prior to doing this waypoint editing in GoogleEarth.

Climate Change Imagery & Data for Hawaii


Want to see a model for the possible effects of climate change on Oahu and Maui? The following website provides imagery and information about the data that created it!

Flooding the Islands of Hawaii
http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/hmrg/FloodingOahu/index.php

Monday, January 26, 2009

GPS Waypoints to AEJEE


Do you have ArcExplorer Java Edition for Education (AEJEE) installed on your computer? Do you have GPS waypoints that you want to add to an AEJEE map project?

See the attached file for the steps to manually transfer GPS waypoints to AEJEE.

TIP: Don't forget the negative symbol for the Hawaii longitude coordinate... we are West of the Prime Meridian! (-x, y = longitude,latitude)

7_GPStoGIS_AEJEE_handout.pdf

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Math and Engineering Related GPS Lessons

TEACH Engineering: Resources for K-12 http://teachengineering.org

This website has some excellent lessons that clearly emphasize mathematical concepts in GPS use. When you get to the home page, use the "Curriculum Search" field in the upper right corner and type in GPS to see what they currently have. Or go directly to the GPS lessons by clicking HERE.

When I last looked, here are just a few of the lessons available:
Navigating at the Speed of Satellites
GPS on the Move
Where is Here?
Where Am I: Navigation and Satellites

Fun with GPS Book


Are you interested in learning more about GPS and some fun ways to integrate it into math and science curriculum?

Check out the book Fun with GPS by Donald Cooke.

For more information on the book, chapter updates, and more, visit the website companion to the book:
http://www.funwithgps.com

Hawaii Math Teachers are Using GPS!


At the Hawaii Council of Mathematics Teachers T3 Conference held on January 16 & 17, 2009 on Oahu, math teachers learned to use GPS! We calculated the circumference of the Earth, looked at how the latitude and longitude mapping system is based on mathematical coordinate systems, and learned to connect GPS to GIS with Google Earth!

Friday, January 16, 2009

GIS Training for Maui EAST Students


Congratulations to the students from Baldwin HS, Maui HS, and King Kekaulike HS who completed the two day GIS Training this past December!

Free Online Mapping Tools

GoogleMaps
http://maps.google.com

National Geographic Map Machine
http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/map-machine

The National Atlas
http://www.nationalatlas.gov

Pacific Disaster Center
http://www.pdc.org

UH SOEST Coastal Imagery & Maps
http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/coasts/data

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Find the Math in GPS Use by Measuring the Earth


With at least two GPSs, students can engage in a fun activity to literally measure the circumference of the Earth!

For two versions of lessons on this, see the attached files.

Measuring the Circumference of the Earth by Joseph Kerski, ESRI K12 Education
This is a fabulous lesson with many extension.


Measuring the Circumference of the Earth by Diana Papini Warren, Women in Technology
This is a simplified version of Joseph's lesson with easy to use tables for the calculations!
MeasureCircumference_Papini.pdfMeasureCircumference_Kerski.pdf

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

GIS Career Pathways Website

GIS Pathway
Learn more about training, education, job opportunities in the field of GIS!