Latest Contributions by TomBaker

H5P -- or HTML 5 package -- is used to create interactive content on the web. It's a tool of choice for instructional designers today because the format is flexible (think survey questions to interactive pictures and videos) and can include integration (LTI) with some of the most popular learning management systems. The storymap below includes how to create H5P content, how to host it, and the value of going to the trouble.  This post was inspired by trying to design embedded self-assessment strategies for storymaps.  In fact, if all you want to create is an embedded self-assessment, the aforementioned blog describes a much simpler and more efficient way of building this content today. H5P interactive content in ArcGIS storymaps     Image: Photo by Meghan Hessler on Unsplash  ... View more

If you create Storymaps for students as a way to learn content, you may find an interactive, self-assessment item to be a valuable addition for checking learning. Self-assessment items can tell students where they are in constructing the information that you've presented.  Some educators who prefer the classic approach of behavioral (or pogrommed) instruction, might also find the tool useful. Read the storymap to learn more about how to build interactive, self-assessment items for inclusion in your storymaps.  These items can be added to your existing storymaps, if you prefer.  This tool is a prototype at this time; only the adventurous should proceed. Your feedback is welcome! https://arcg.is/1i1Gjm ... View more

With only about eight weeks of school left this calendar year, The Esri K12 team put together a list of some of their favorite classroom projects that use GIS.  Many of the projects can be done in 15 minutes of seat work, while some require getting outside. Less than 30 Minutes: Favorite Color https://esriurl.com/favcolor A great project for early and middle elementary students, this project asks kids, “What’s your favorite color?”  Using a storymap to organize the work, kids’ data is presented in maps and a dashboard for easy exploration.  Currently, there are over 1200 data points on the project. Global Pet Survey https://esriurl.com/petSurvey A great and simple approach for thinking about data – collecting it and exploring accompanies this survey which asks, “What pets do you have at home?”  This project is great for any age, anywhere in the world.  The project has about 400 data points in it currently and uses a storymap to present a Survey123 data collection form and dashboard explorer. Breakfast Beverage https://esriurl.com/breakfastbeverage The Breakfast Beverage project is the oldest data collection projects on the list.  It collects data directly on the map in an editable feature service.  It asks learners, “What did you drink at breakfast this morning?”  It’s fast survey that supports basic mapping and data exploration. Walkability survey https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/1e4847f78ec94fd89e960adfabb5ac5c This project asks learners how walkable their community is?  It includes Survey123 and maps for exploring over 500 submitted locations to date.  The project is appropriate for any age and gets learners to think about their built environment and the affordances (or lack thereof) of infrastructure like sidewalks. Get Outside: Trash Cache (micro mapping) https://esriurl.com/trashCache Map where trash accumulates on your school ground or nearby park.  Why does trash accumulate in the places it does?  Requires a smart phone and outdoor access to submit data.  The project is best explored with a group of students to generate useful data for a small area. Campus vegetation survey https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/933b03f8109e411cab344453dbd7a865 Report the condition of trees in and around your school campus or nearby park.  A map of the data is also available for exploring.  Soundscapes https://esriurl.com/soundscapes Get outside with your cellphone and a decibel meter app to collect and report the loudness and type of sounds in your community.  More than 30 Minutes: Community Roundmile https://esriurl.com/communityroundmile Although participating in this project requires some setup and an ArcGIS Online account with publisher privileges, it is one of the most powerful and extensive projects on the list. Learners are asked to create a circle around their school (r=.5 mile) and describe what’s in the roundmile. Next Steps: Explore the GeoProjects Hub site for more projects and ideas about PBL-GIS in your classroom. Share you project and link below or on the GeoProjects hub!   Special thanks to @JosephKerski , @CharlieFitzpatrick  & @Kylie  ... View more

Save the date: Join the Esri K12 team at the  2021 NCSS Annual Conference (virtual) Nov 15 - 21, 2021   More details forthcoming. ... View more

  December 9, 2021 Directions Magazine presents: Project-Based Learning and GIS with the Esri K12 team. Register today!         ... View more

Teachers, students, geometers, (even Esri staff) are welcome to submit their pet data to The Global Pet Survey. The survey takes about 1 minute.  Even if you don't have pets, we want your data.   The survey optionally allows for a pet pic upload - and the project includes a data dashboard.   https://esriurl.com/petsurvey          All images from Unsplash.com ... View more

Maybe you’ve found a Storymap and aren’t quite sure if your (school) students would find the reading level too challenging.  Maybe you’re trying to create a Storymap for your third grades to use as an enrichment and you need to confirm your writing is on level.   Enter a new experimental tool that provides Storymap readability data in several different readability scoring frameworks, including Flesch-Kincaid grade level, Lexile estimated, Developmental Reading Assessment estimated, and Fountas & Pinnell. Just grab the Storymap id – that long list of letters and numbers in the Storymap’s URL and paste in the form. A few requirements: The Storymap should be in the new (2020+) Storymap template. The Storymap must be public. You must have the Storymap id Note that many of the scores produced are estimates.  You’ll want to consult official scoring tools for specific reading frameworks if you need a robust score. Explore the experimental tool: https://trbaker.github.io/storyMapReadability/ ... View more

https://esriurl.com/namebadge  In colleges, schools, and informal education settings around the world, students and educators are often engaged in GIS technical training.  Whether you are a university professor teaching an intro GIS class this fall, a teacher trainer, or a youth group leader, most of us lead trainings, classes, or workshops from time to time. Even if you already know the names of your learners before the training or not, documenting and visually presenting the learners’ report of their current knowledge can always be helpful. The GIS (Learner) Name Badge Generator asks learners to take a 20 item Likert-based survey and returns a graphic like the one above.  The graphic can be printed on a sticky-label and used as a name badge during the early hours (or days) of a new learning experience.  Some instructors have suggested making simple desk place cards that show a student’s badge. If you are teaching virtually, the digital name badge can be used as a profile image – or even virtual wallpaper. Digital name badges can also be submitted by learners as an assignment, indicating to you, the instructor, that learners have done some self-reflection in the process of completing the name badge survey. As of July 16, 2021, the GIS Name Badge Generator is considered experimental. You and your learners are free to use it.  If you have questions or suggestions for improvements, send an email to [email protected] https://esriurl.com/namebadge  ... View more

I've been working on a project to document the use of geospatial language in K-12 curriculum standards.  If you are interested in the first public draft of the documents, I invite you to explore the website at: https://trbaker.github.io/GIStandards    If you have comments or suggestions, I would welcome your email at trbaker (at) esri.com.     ... View more

Padlet is among the most commonly used educational technology tools - for organizing and delivering classroom content and instruction.  But are you using to facilitate your GIS instruction? Note: The free Padlet account offers users up to three free Padlets (webpages). However many districts have access to Padlet through bulk licensing. I've set out to organize some instructional material and some teacher professional developmpment content.  While each content set is effectively for direct use by educators, I use just a few of Padlet's organizing templates to add clarity to the content - in one case by organizing geographically and in one case by organizing by teacher level. Examples: Organizing teacher classroom content by geography Organizing teacher PD by skill level I have 'locked' these Padlets down, but classroom teachers may want students discussing items in a Padlet, ranking, or even adding new content.  It's all possible with Padlet. Be sure to say hi in Padlet and follow me. ... View more