Professional Documents
Culture Documents
What is GIS?
Barbara Murray OVERspace Project Director brmurray@odu.edu Virginia Space Grant Consortium Educational Programs Manager
The goal of the OVERspace project is to develop and implement for Virginias educators , a state-wide professional development program and network for using remotely sensed data, GIS, and GPS as effective teaching and learning tools.
A Definition of GIS
GIS is a System of computer software, hardware and data, and personnel to help manipulate, analyze and present information that is tied to a spatial location
spatial location usually a geographic location information visualization of analysis of data system - linking software, hardware, data personnel a thinking explorer who is key to the power of GIS-
A method to
visualize, manipulate, analyze, and display spatial data to study the world
Smart Maps
linking a database to the map, creating dynamic displays
Rivers
Capitals
Roads Lakes
States
A software package
6.
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10. Virginia Physiography -( A study of the specific provinces of VA) 11. MicroClimates - (Student data collection and analysis of climate types) 12. Healthy Chesapeake? -(Studies of Virginias watersheds)
GIS helps learners of any age think critically, learn in an integrated fashion, and exercise multiple intelligences. The infinite variations possible in topic of study, scale of exploration, data engaged, analyses used, and questions asked help teachers model the importance of being a lifelong learner.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. department of Defense.
GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system available for civilian use.
GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. There are no subscription fees or setup charges to use GPS.
Set of GPS units for classroom use is available for use, through VSGC. VDOE provided grant for 1st class set. Other grants will provide for more equipment OVERspace teachers were provided with a high quality GPS unit Future plans: 8 classroom sets in Virginia for loan in teaching students