The GIS Institute

Overview

Classroom Experiences that focus on culture, community, and conservation technology…

The GIS Institute creates curriculum for K-12 teachers as we assist conservation organizations who use GIS in their research and conservation duties. To bring research goals and findings into classrooms, and to teach students the concepts of conservation and a global community, we will offer units that use GIS to teach geography, technology, science and social studies. These units are composed of individual lessons united by a governing theme that touches on earth science, biology, oceanography or conservation in general.  Here’s how it works: Each project or community we visit provides us with data sets and conservation experiences that are integrated into classroom ready lessons and materials provided in download-able teaching units from our website. Our goal is to have our materials aligned with the National Standards in education early in 2008.   Our work provides the opportunity for students to virtually step into each of the worlds ecosystems, analyze GIS based data the same way scientists and consultants do. We feel the best way to engage students is to offer them lessons that guide them on a journey of discovery, visualizing a conservation issue and helping to find working solutions with the use of GIS and maps. Our travels can be tracked by students and teachers on our blogs, and using the lesson plans posted on the website. The experience allows them to participate in world wide conservation efforts by creating maps using the actual tools and data of scientists and conservationists.Students gain a credible image of service to others, connection to community, and the power of engagement as they work with the same data sets used by conservation communities. Each student will be offered the unparalleled pride and sense of empowerment that comes from making a difference. The conservation message and working objectives of each project will be brought into their classrooms and hearts, all while assisting teachers in improving technological literacy and meeting the objectives of their curricular standards.