Latest Contributions by CharlieFitzpatrick

There is a science to troubleshooting. Like the NPR Car Talk guys do, you need to think like Sherlock Holmes. Nobody can help you troubleshoot without data -- not Sherlock, not Tom&Ray, not Esri's Tech Support folks. You need to be scientific in troubleshooting. Once you are, you can usually troubleshoot things yourself. You can also teach others to troubleshoot, and even carry the mindset to life beyond online mapping. The attached document can help. ... View more

Explore education events (presentations, workshops, conferences, institutes) in which GIS is included. Searchable map: http://esriurl.com/edgisevents Form for submitting event data: http://arcg.is/2gRnf1C   ((Not to be confused with GIS Day events. For those, see http://www.gisday.com.)) ... View more

Explore education events (presentations, workshops, conferences, institutes) in which GIS is included. Searchable map: http://esriurl.com/edgisevents Form for submitting event data: http://arcg.is/2gRnf1C ((Not to be confused with GIS Day events. For those, see http://www.gisday.com.)) ... View more

T3G began in 2009 with 30 brave souls crammed into two rooms barely suited to 15 each, using ArcGIS Desktop 9.3 and ArcGIS Explorer Desktop. In 2012, we shifted to ArcGIS Online, and in 2013 shifted to the Esri Auditorium and phalanxes of 100, including returning alums. We now number ~475, each sharing GIS with other educators, to different degrees and in different ways. From the beginning, change has been a hallmark. Our biggest change ever will arrive in 2017. More details will be available as soon as we can nail them down. But these are the key elements: In 2017 and beyond, T3G will take place online. "T3G2017" will be open to applications from alums from 2009-2016 only, and will happen on Sat April 22 and Sat April 29, 2017. Pencil those dates on your calendars now! (Stay tuned for details.) Non-alums interested in learning about GIS, about teaching with GIS, and about providing PD should see http://esriurl.com/t3g, especially the first document there. (You all should see it too!) T3G is a powerful force in expanding the use of GIS in instruction. "First gear" began in 2009; "second gear" began in 2013; "third gear" will begin in 2017. We look forward to working closely with you! ... View more

I received a common question: "How can my students collaborate on a map, like they do in an online doc?" With so many schools using Googledocs and similar tools, this is understandably confusing. Student1 makes a map, saves it, and shares it in the Org/Group. Student2 opens it, makes changes, and wants to save those back. Generally, no, that won't work. ArcGIS Online is not architected like Googledocs, capturing every individual tweak anyone makes. In ArcGIS Online, saving only happens when you specifically choose to save, and saves within the user's account, and saves only the current contents and configuration in that browser. Here's an example of a single student signed in via two browsers at once on one computer: Tommy opens his map in two different browsers (1 Firefox, 1 Chrome) like this: [[1]] Tommy opens the map in Firefox, makes 4 changes, but doesn't save yet. [[2]] Tommy opens the same map in Chrome, makes 3 different changes, and does save#1 [[3]] Tommy makes 2 more changes in Firefox, does save#2, and exits. [[4]] Tommy makes 1 more changes in Chrome, does save#3, and exits. The final saved map will have only the 4 changes made using Chrome, because it opened the original condition and saved with a total of 4 Chrome-based changes. Whatever was saved by Firefox during save#2 was overwritten by the changes from the final situation in Chrome, completed in save#3. This represents what would happen in an Org with a single user in two different browser windows, or with an Org-based user who shared login/password with another person (which is a no-no), or with a "shared public account" (sharing logins is permitted for edu/NPO/NGO uses in public accounts, but it can be very hazardous for this reason and others; see http://esri.box.com/agousestrategies). SUMMARY (assuming "standard ArcGIS Online operation" as found in typical school use): Sharing a map with a group/Org lets other users see and use and "SaveAs", but they save copies in their own account You CAN have multiple people adding features into a single editable feature service at one time. You CAN have people creating individual layers and sharing those layers with each other. You CAN have people working on individual maps which subsequently get collected into a single story map. BUT only ONE user, in ONE browser, should edit one map or app at a time. ... View more

Esri EdUC = July 8-11, 2017, San Diego CA (Marriott Marquis & Marina) The call for papers is open! Our theme this year: "From Inquiry to Insights". Submit your lightning talk abstract by Oct28 - http://arcg.is/2dFx77u ... View more

More and more educators have stories written about or broadcast about their activities engaging GIS. If you see/hear a story about the use of GIS in education (or even just including GIS as long as it is noticeable), please let us know via this form. Ideally these should be publicly visible, but even knowing there is something behind a paywall is useful. And check out the results here! ... View more

Many high school educators are looking for examples of "teaching a GIS class". Not "teaching with GIS" but "teaching about GIS," as one might teach CAD or digital art or video editing or computer science -- the technology as the class. If you are already doing this, please comment here about the focus of your class, what questions you have, what resources you are using, and how it is going for you and the students. Here are some important publicly visible resources worth paying attention to: The GeoTech Center, http://www.geotechcenter.org, focused on community college GIS programs. If you are looking for curriculum guidance, it will help to see what people are doing to build skills. The Virginia Geospatial Semester Program, http://www.isat.jmu.edu/geospatialsemester/ a project-based course in about 30 high schools in Virginia. (Write-up at http://esriurl.com/GSSreplication.) DigitalQuest course materials and certification, http://digitalquest.com Esri certification (only "entry level" might be considered in HS): https://www.esri.com/training/certification  Esri Press books (http://esripress.esri.com also note that educators can request up to 3 desk copies every 4 months, in the "Desk Copy Request" section of that page) If you are already teaching a GIS class, or are interested in it, please also see the thread about an AP GIS&T class. ... View more

Excellent story map on "Where are the Nation's Chronically Absent Students Found?" https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=7f567623f36744dda5ad339aba32aca2  Are your kids represented here? ... View more

Survey123 for ArcGIS is a very powerful tool for educators and learners of any age. It is extremely easy to make surveys with the WYSIWYG form builder tool on the web. Getting comfortable with the power of easy surveys will help inspire users to build toward the even greater power available via spreadsheet. Attached is a simple example for building a survey with the web-based tools. Use requires an ArcGIS Org login with publishing privileges. ... View more

Global entertainer, entrepreneur, and education advocate will.i.am is trying to get a message out to the public about the near-term and long-range impact of education, and the financial support it receives. Will's campaign site,  www.wheresthelove.com, and the iamangel Foundation, link to very powerful Story Map. But one can easily miss the link to the Story Map, so see the link above. ... View more