WebGIS - A methodical Tool for the Introduction of GIS in Schools

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1 WebGIS - A methodical Tool for the Introduction of GIS in Schools Dirk Schaefer und Lothar Pueschel Introduction Geographic information systems (GIS) have become an important part of daily life in Germany. However, their significance in schools remains weak but in the last 5 years remarkable progress has taken place in schools. Diercke GIS, the most popular GIS package in German schools was developed by ESRI Germany in collaboration with Westermann-Schulbuchverlag, a leading publishing house for geographic educational materials in Germany. Diercke GIS is based on ArcView 3.2 technology and comes with a large collection of maps and ready-to-use data. The biggest barriers to the introduction of GIS in schools remain their cost, the necessary hardware and data. Therefore, WebGIS can be used as a methodical tool for the introduction of GIS in schools. It provides a simple, straightforward and very cost-effective introduction; the use of this GIS technology is free. Besides, WebGIS can be used all over the world: only a computer with Internet access is needed no additional (GIS-)software has to be installed. WebGIS - free GIS technology for Schools An easy and cost-effective introduction of GIS in schools is via the Internet with specifically mapping solutions: WebGIS. The Department of Geography of Mainz University and the St. Katharinen High School in Oppenheim have developed various Map-Services with different topics. The WebGIS-Services can be used for a didactically appropriate introduction of GIS at high schools and comprehensive (middle) schools. WebGIS can be used for the introduction of GIS and the use as an information tool. Three Internet-Services have been developed and can be used free of any charge: Rheinland-Pfalz China - Climate and Climate Change World Climate All WebGIS services are based on ESRI ArcIMS-technology (4.X), running on a UNIX-machine with an Apache Web-Server. The system was developed in close cooperation between the University and the School in order to arrange a collection of didactically conceived data components that can be directly used in classes following the general requirements of the curriculum. This provides a simple, straightforward and very cost-effective introduction of GIS in schools. Different Map-Services are available from the WebServer of Mainz University (fig. 1). The applications provide the usual GIS tools (fig. 2) and even allows the user to query the database (fig. 3 and 5). Additionally Hyperlinks can be used (fig. 4).

2 User: gast PW: web-gis Figure 1: The WebGIS-Server of Mainz University provides different Map-Services Toolbar Layers Figure 2: WebGIS Rheinland-Pfalz - Layers, Toolbar and

3 Layers Layers Map Map Query- Query- Figure 3: WebGIS Rheinland-Pfalz of the search Where is the capital city Mainz? Hyper-Link Figure 4: WebGIS China Hyperlinks to climate diagrams

4 Query- Figure 5: WebGIS China of a query about recent climate change: Where are stations in China with a larger warming trend of annual temperature than the global average? Conclusions GIS can be used across the curriculum wherever there is a spatial question to be answered - including History, Biology etc. WebGIS is a good approach to introduce the use of GIS in schools. In Germany, almost every school has access to internet and they can use the Map-Services provided by WebGIS for free. Various Map- Services can be used for a didactically appropriate introduction of Geographic Information Systems at high schools and comprehensive (middle) schools. Internet- GIS can be used for the introduction of GIS and the use as an information tool. References Audet, R. and G. Ludwig, GIS in Schools. Redlands: ESRI Press, Malone, L., A.H. Palmer and C.L. Voigt, Mapping Our World, GIS Lessons for Educators. Redlands: ESRI Press, Richter, B. and R. Schlimm, Diercke GIS A Geographic Information System for Schools. Braunschweig: Westermann, Internet: (18/6/2003). Schaefer, D., Geografische Informationssysteme (GIS) im Erdkundeunterricht. In: ESRI Anwenderkonferenz Deutschsprachige Anwenderkonferenz. Conference-CD. 5 pages, 2002.

5 Schaefer, D., GIS in Schools Experiences and Progress in Germany. In: ESRI EduUC Conference-CD (in press) Schaefer, D. und J.-P. Mund, Einsatz Geographischer Informationssysteme im Erdkundeunterricht. In: Geographie heute 195, 18-21, Schaefer, D. und G. Ortmann, GIS macht vieles einfacher. GIS im Erdkundeunterricht (Teil I). In: Geographische Rundschau , Schaefer, D. und G. Ortmann, Aller Anfang ist schwer! GIS im Erdkundeunterricht (Teil II). In: Geographische Rundschau , Schaefer, D. und G. Ortmann, Die Muehe lohnt sich! GIS im Erdkundeunterricht (Teil III). In: Geographische Rundschau 7/ , Dr. Dirk Schaefer Department of Geography Mainz University Mainz, Germany StD Lothar Pueschel High School St. Katharinen Oppenheim Oppenheim, Germany Referee for Geography and Computers at the Landesmedienzentrum Rheinland-Pfalz