'Wisdom Wednesday' Teaching with GIS - ESRI StoryMaps

An introduction to GIS applications and how to use StoryMaps in the classroom as a way of displaying spatial data.

Natasha Parsons

What is a GIS?

A geographic information system (GIS) is a framework for gathering, managing, and analyzing data.

It analyzes spatial location and organizes layers of information into visualizations using maps and 3D scenes. ​  

Why use a GIS in the classroom?

A classroom that integrates geospatial problem-solving tools across all its teaching and learning practices is a GIS-enabled classroom.

Teachers should make this their goal because a GIS-enabled classroom:

  • Develops problem-solving skills
  • Cultivates critical thinking skills
  • Fosters data literacy skills
  • Employs cutting-edge technology to address real-world problems
  • Supports collaborative learning
  • Encourages the transference of learning across a range of academic disciplines
  • Produces active and engaging learning experiences for students
  • Is lively and fun

What are StoryMaps?

StoryMaps combine interactive maps, text, video, images and other content to tell a story.

Why use StoryMaps?

Teachers

  1. Teach content.
  2. Showcase projects or activities that classes have done.
  3. Introduce students to working with GIS tools and spatial data.
  4. As a precursor to using more complex GIS platforms.

Students

  1. Presentations for class projects.
  2. Promoting events or projects.
  3. Creating a living resume.
  4. Showing information about current news events.
  5. Creating a dynamic atlas.
  6. Showing the results from a project or experiment.
  7. Creating a timeline of events.
  8. Use a variety of media without having to switch applications.

ArcGIS StoryMaps: Storytelling that Resonates

  • 1 | Real-time

    Explore how story maps are used to view real-time data.

    2 | History

    Explore how a story map was used to tell Dr. John McCrae's story.

    3 | Geography

    Explore Canada's geography through a story map.

    4 | Politics

    Explore how Canada's political landscape has changed since 2000.

    5 | Student Projects

    Story Map Journal

  • Features

    Express Maps

    Express maps help you to quickly create and embed simple locator and distribution maps in your narratives.

    Most stories happen somewhere and they usually need one or more simple maps to help readers orient themselves. If you’re not sure your audience knows where a place is, use an express map.

    There are only four components to an express map:

    1. The basemap or “canvas” of the map, which is already crafted for you;
    2. The drawn features you add to the map yourself to represent geographic information (like points, lines, or areas);
    3. The map pop-ups attached to those features, complete with any relevant details you supply; and
    4. The annotations you add to provide more context (like text or arrows).

    Why are they useful?

    • As a small locator map
    • To highlight important areas
    • To show a route or sequence of events
    • To sketch what’s inside your head

    Thematic Maps

    Slightly more complicated to build, but they show relationships between different variables by adding 'layers' to a basemap.

    Australia Wildfires 2020

    • Topographic basemap
    • Population density
    • Wildfire hotspots

    Guided Tour

    01 / 07
    1

    London, UK

    2

    Inverness, Scotland

    3

    Ascension Island

    4

    Norway

    5

    Lagos, Nigeria

    6

    Ottawa, Ontario

    7

    Nanaimo, BC

    Student Responses

    Templates are easy to use.

    Can design more exciting, interactive web-based maps than would have been possible with other technologies available.

    Could easily design custom pop-ups with tables, photographs, and charts.

    StoryMaps were easy to use by everyone in the class even with no prior knowledge.

    Enjoyed the creative aspect - more enjoyable to create than a Slideshow.

    Useful Links