Latest Contributions by TomBaker

Programmed instruction (PI) has been around for decades – probably 50 years.  It’s designed to provide bite-sized chunks of information that the reader must read and then answer a short question about.  Ideally, if the reader is correct they progress and if wrong, some mitigating instruction is applied.  The example with Survey123 checks the major pedagogical boxes of PI.   Keep in mind, this is not intended to be an assessment.   https://arcg.is/CGyv    ... View more

If you like YouTube and love maps, subscribe to the Mapping Hour content on YouTube.  You'll be the first to know when new content is posted - oftentimes getting a sneak peak at videos before they even post to the home page at http://esriurl.com/mappingHour.  Besides, subscribing to the channel helps us better understand the value of the content to you! ... View more

As we create more GeoProject starters, we are creating demonstrations of the technology as examples.  To help seed our newest geoproject, consider completing our survey "My Happy Place".  The complete geoproject will be available soon for teachers to replicate. Explore the map data submitted to the demonstration survey. ... View more

With schools everywhere now out of physical classrooms for weeks or months, educators and parents alike are looking for learning materials that can be used with their students.  We encourage classroom educators to consider the materials below or where appropriate, share the materials with parents.   GIS activities for elementary students Upper Elementary GeoInquiries GIS Day comic/coloring book (zip file download) Coloring sheets (zip) Thinking Spatially with GIS (worksheets) What's your favorite color? (project) Mapping a book GIS activities for high school students Explore cool maps Online course: Get to Know GIS for Secondary Students Online short course: ArcGIS Online Basics Teach with GIS activities GeoInquiry activities For other support resources for K12 schools during COVID-19, see this blog post. Post other activities in a reply below! Header image: Grand Prismatic, Yellowstone.  Esri Imagery basemap. ... View more

You can now browse or search for GeoInquiries in the new hub at: https://geoinquiries-education.hub.arcgis.com This interface is not intended to replace other ways of accessing this content, simply to provide an experience that uses the latest tools from Esri. ArcGIS Hub (basic) is included with the free schools software mapping bundle. ... View more

GeoProjects are short tutorials and demonstrations designed to help educators envision and create their own project-based learning (PBL) experiences.  GeoProjects use Survey123, Collector, or QuickCapture so that students can collect and submit data on a topic of teacher or student interest - from the field or from the safety of home.   The GeoProjects hub contains two key areas: GeoProject starters – short tutorials and pre-built demos using Esri data collection tools, on a range of disciplinary topics. We are currently adding more starters.  If you would like to create and share a starter, please email it to [email protected] Registry and idea explorer – a place for educators to share ideas about projects that involve data collection. The projects can be real, just a dream, or anywhere in between.  Share you geoproject now.   Explore the GeoProjects Hub >> ... View more

Explore the map of state mandated US school closings from COVID-19 or add the feature service to your own maps. Data from March 18, 2020. Data: https://edresources.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=5e3e07494d8347b29e6751e0c25dcc7a&view=table#overview   Map: https://edresources.maps.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=febc9737c6d4473cbff8ef06be0b9d06   ... View more

Is your school or district rapidly planning to move courses online? General K12 resources for COVID-19 moving courses online Blog post: Teaching, GIS, and the Corona virus Blog post: When school is disrupted Blog post: When school is disrupted 2 Recorded webinar: Teaching history during COVID-19 outbreak  Blog post: Student GIS activities for parents...... Webinar: Learn How to Teach with GIS When School is Disrupted Online short course: The Mapping Hour for Parents and Teachers Specific resources to consider as educators move courses online District school administrators and educators are moving quickly to form plans to increase their use of online instruction as the potential for corona virus increases in the United States. While district and state administrators may wish to consult the Esri COVID-19 GIS Hub, below we offer suggestions for resources from Esri that can easily be included in your online or face-to-face courses – this spring or next fall. 1. Pre-built online learning plan: Get to Know GIS for Secondary Students (6.25 hours) Learn the basics of GIS. Work with ArcGIS Online to interact with GIS maps, explore real world problems, and tell a story. Find out how workers use GIS and what it takes to become a GIS professional. Explore >> 2. Semi-built online activities: GeoInquiries (20-30 minutes each) Use the Esri GeoInquiry student worksheets to structure online learning of standards-based content with web-based GIS, in short, easily usable learning chunks.  Learn more >> 3. Pre-built online short course: ArcGIS Online Basics (2 hours): ArcGIS Online is a cloud-based geographic information system used to map data, share content, and collaborate. This course will give you a foundation for working with ArcGIS Online. You will learn what ArcGIS Online is and the benefits that you and your organization can gain by using it.  Explore >> Note: Free ArcGIS Online account required 4. Semi-built online activities: Teach with GIS (variable times) Explore this collection of nearly 200 learning activities that use ArcGIS Online. Some activities require an ArcGIS Online login.  Discover more >> 5. Wide-open: GeoProjects Build a class data collection project to which students can submit data – allowing students to explore a range of research questions from the safety of their own home. This resource also includes links to short courses on several field data collection apps from Esri.  Explore the hub >> ... View more

Using GeoInquiries in a virtual course or self-directed learning space   Esri GeoInquiries are designed to be simple, frictionless instructional activities and maps for teachers to deliver verbally - to whole classes of students.  Most teachers don’t teach with GeoInquiries this way, at least not after their first or second use.   If you need additional background on GeoInquiries, explore this storymap and then visit the collections of GeoInquiries.   What many don’t know is that GeoInquiries are now available in two forms: the educator PDF with answers and the student worksheets in Google Docs.  The student worksheets don’t contain answers, but they do contain the map link and instructions.  The student worksheets can be ideal for homework or for plugging into an online or virtual course.  For those that want to spend the time, the worksheets could even be put into a Google Form – sending student answers directly to the teacher.   If your school or district is one of the many making plans to rapidly move to online instruction as a result of an expected corona virus (COVID-19) impact, these resources can be very useful compliments to your other instructional resources.       ... View more

Note: the title and focus of this webinar has shifted to better support the shifting education landscape due to COVID-19.  Click the "Register" link below to learn more about the webinar. Join the Esri K12 Education Team as they discuss creating student research projects with Survey123, ArcGIS Online, and Story Maps. Hear from educators and gather new ideas for springtime outdoor work with students and GIS tools. Register >> ... View more

This graphic is intended to help new educators sort out the GIS tool most applicable for a given part of the typical student research cycle.  These tool recommendations are not absolute; in the hands of an experienced student or educator, there can be a great deal of fluidity.  This chart may be considered a starting point. ... View more