Fun with GIS 320: "Competition? Why?"
In 2017, Esri launched the ArcGIS Online Competition for US High School and Middle School Students; 2023 marks Year#7. A GIS competition for grade 4-12 students? Why? And some might reasonably ask "Charlie, why are you -- a lifelong member of the 'bulge in the bell curve' in darn near everything, and dismisser of competitions -- so enthusiastic about this (besides working for Esri)?"
The Competition asks students -- solo or in a team of two -- to design, conduct, and present a study about some geographic phenomenon in their state, using GIS. Students submit their entry to someone in their school for consideration. Schools in participating states can send up to five to the state for judging. Those states each choose up to five HS and five MS projects, award identical $100 prizes to all 10, and send the data from all to Esri, with one HS and one MS project designated for a national competition.
So, why?
- Students get to decide on a topic THEY want to study. They can look at the geographic angles of anything they want in their state. They have to choose, and so are wise to aim at something they want to learn about.
- Students also must decide which of the three critical questions of geography they will address. Geography asks "What's where? Why is it there? So what?" The first and simplest is cataloguing; the second is explaining; the third and most complex is evaluating and solving for the future.
- Every step of the way, students are thinking critically, making formal decisions every few seconds. They have to gather data, and even generate their own. They need constantly to consider things from multiple sources, angles, and perspectives. "Does this meet the need? Is there a better alternative?"
- It's not sufficient for students simply to present numeric data. They must consider "where," constantly. Coping with info that varies from place to place, they look for meaning, seek signal in the noise of endless details, and boost their capacity to grasp patterns and relationships. Swipe back and forth; zoom in and out; pan here and there; turn on and off; see map and pop-up, map and table, pop-up and table; try style after style after style, in endless combinations, integrating layers of data and ways of seeing.
- At every step along the way, they will use powerful professional GIS tools to consider, explore, gather, analyze, interpret, and present. They can do so with just a few tools from the ArcGIS School Bundle; it is impressive seeing someone do powerful things with basic resources. Building skills in generating data, assembling a map, analyzing elements, classifying and symbolizing to illuminate the patterns, and presenting those with clarity and impact to a less-informed viewer … these are skills that will carry students well into careers that build a better world.
And on and on. Students spend hour after hour at sports, music, chess, reading, writing, designing, tinkering with wheeled vehicles, and countless other pursuits. Here is a chance to explore on their own, solve a real-life puzzle, create a work of both science and art, and share it with their teacher, class, school, state, and country … year after year.
This is no "zero sum" competition; everyone who tackles it wins. Every student can gain even just from the attempt. No one should expect on their first hike to summit Mt.Everest; we build critical experience and capacity with a first walk in the neighborhood, and then doing more. Since this is something for the students to do on their own, and even attempt in multiple years, every student should get the chance. "Here's a login in our ArcGIS Online Organization, and here is info about the event, including pointers on learning. And, look, here are hundreds of examples from past years!" This is how teachers, district staff, club leaders, parents, and GIS professionals can help.
My question? Why isn't every state supporting and promoting this? Every teacher should encourage this; every class should celebrate their entries; every school should acknowledge all who enter, with a secondary cheer for those moving to the state level; every state should honor all who build their capacity for thinking geographically, with a bonus hurrah to those who earn awards. The ArcGIS Online Competition for US High School and Middle School Students presents a task that every student can attempt. This year, students in 40 states can enter a formal competition, but everyone can do such a project.
