Professional Development: Teachers Use of GIS to Enhance Student Learning

Abstract This article explains a professional development experience of fifth to twelfth grade teachers in using geographic information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS) technologies to enhance classroom teaching and learning environments. A key challenge faced by the developers was whether teachers would value the technology tools enough to warrant the time necessary to develop the skills for productive use of the technology. Based on five years' experience, researchers identified seven key components and elaborated on them with examples and related processes. Key words: geographic information systemsprofessional developmentinstructional technologytechnology integrationtechnology implementation Acknowledgments The authors are grateful for continued support from NASA through the Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium (UMAC) for partial funding of this project. We also wish to thank the ESRI K-12 team for their assistance and generous software donations as well as their dedication to meaningful integration of GIS into the K through 12 community. Patricia A. McClurg is a professor of science education and dean of the College of Education at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming, USA. Her research interests include spatial visual reasoning, effective professional development, and appropriate integration of instructional technologies in teaching and learning environments. Alan Buss is an associate professor of science and mathematics education and department head of Elementary and Early Childhood Education at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming, USA. He currently serves as director of the five-state Education Public Access Resource Center (EdPARC). His work includes investigating effective collaborative Internet-based projects and designing valuable professional development experiences for teachers.