GIS in the Classroom

Resources

Books

Getting to Know ArcView GIS
Breslin, Frunzi, Napoleon, Ormsby. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-46-3.

This textbook is an excellent resource for the beginning GIS teacher. Part 1 of the book introduces GIS technology: what it is, how it works and who uses it. Part 2 offers a step-by-step working demonstration with tutorial exercises and multimedia presentations on the accompanying CD-ROM. Produced by ESRI, and modeled around ArcView 3.2, (V 3.3), it is highly recommended by other GIS teachers in Manitoba as a good self-learning text.

Using Arcview GIS
ESRI Press, 1996.

This volume is the basic instruction manual that accompanies the regular purchase of ArcView software from ESRI. As such it does not have an ISBN designation and is not available other than directly through ESRI. This manual is similar to Getting To Know ArcView, however, it is based on the regular ArcView software rather than on pre-packaged data and exercises. It provides a Quick Start Tutorial that takes the user through a series of simple exercises to become familiar with the basic functions of the software. The main portion of the book is a guide to help the user with a variety of skills and tasks that the software is capable of performing regardless of what data is being used. Major themes include Displaying Data, Querying Data, Creating Data, and Using Other Types of Data, such as images and CAD drawings. This 340 page volume serves as a quick and easy reference to make effective use of the ArcView software.

GIS for Everyone
Davis , David E. ESRI Press, Redlands , California , 1999, 156 pages, CD-ROM. ISBN 1-879102-49-8.

This book provides an interactive introduction to GIS combining printed material, a multimedia CD-ROM, and the Internet. The six chapters of the book with the accompanying CD-ROM, introduce the basics of creating digital maps and use real information, available on the Internet, from cities around the world. The material is arranged in easy, step-by-step numbered format and includes many colorful screen shots and GIS icons to guide the user. The CD-ROM contains a free copy of ArcExplorer, which is a simplified version of GIS software.

ArcView GIS Exercise Book
Onword Press, 1997 Santa Fe , New Mexico , U.S.A. ISBN 1-56690-124-3.

This is an easy to follow exercise book for users acquainted with ArcView. The exercises are designed to explore the functionality of ArcView, and extend its use for analysis of data, and getting solutions to common GIS problems. Basic knowledge of ArcView functions is required before attempting some of the exercises.

Serving Maps on the Internet
Harder, Christian. ISBN 1-879102-52-8.

This book provides 13 chapters of different geographical data mapping scenarios on the Web. It offers the user various applications, from building an Internet-based spatial data library on managing coastal resources to bioregional geographic information. It is not a how-to manual but simply a collection of web-based services that one can access for various personal preferences with or without ArcView software. This book is a must for teachers and students to help them understand how Internet GIS application has changed society. A free demo CD-ROM provides an excellent step-by-step tutorial.

Past Time, Past Place: GIS for History
Edited by Anne Kelly Knowles, ESRI Press, Redlands, California, 2002, 202. Pages. ISBN 1-58948-032-5.

According to the editor ”This book is the first collection of case studies applying geographic information systems to the study of history.” The main text consists of twelve essays each giving an example of the range of possibilities for using GIS in historical research with such diverse topics as Teaching the Salem Witch Trials to determining the Causes of the Dust Bowl. Leading scholars explain how they have used GIS to organize historical research, explore evidence in new ways, map past places and events, and challenge past historical interpretations. This book uses many colorful illustrations, has a bibliography at the end of each chapter, and a glossary at the end. Although most examples are American, this book could serve as an excellent teacher resource to provide creative ideas for using GIS in history.

GIS in Schools
Richard Audet and Gail Ludwig, ESRI Press, 2000 ISBN 1-879102-85-4

This publication is a good overall resource for Teachers and students as an introduction to GIS and its real world applications. Although the examples used are American, they are applicable to Canada in areas such as tracking pollution, historical documentation of a culture, toxic spill simulations and tracking wolves. This publication also provided a CD-ROM which showcases the book and includes a copy of ArcVoyager (special edition), 50MB of real GIS data from around the world and some lessons.

Videos

The District
This ESRI Inc. video about the impact of GIS on public safety, was dramatized in the first season of CBS’ crime drama The District.

Layers of Our World
This GIS Day video created with ESRI's ArcGlobe, 3D Analyst, and ArcMap provides multiple perspectives of Earth.

Newsletters

ArcNorth NewsFlash
This ESRI Canada quarterly publication is available at no cost by online subscriptio. ArcNorth NewsFlash is the only GIS publication dedicated to telling the stories of Canadian GIS professionals using ESRI technology. These stories demonstrate the great variety of uses for GIS in industry, government, and non-government agencies. Each issue includes an Education Spotlight which features the use of GIS in schools including student projects. Selected articles are in both official languages. The publication, which contains some advertising, is well illustrated with maps, photos and screen shots.