Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
15.3.2.3
Datasets for Desktop GIS Software
Data are needed for GIS use. These may be provided by the software developer,
government agencies, GIS specialists, or developed by teachers. The following
sources provide data compatible with most GIS systems.
Our World GIS Education This is a series of geography textbooks that include
U.S.-based datasets. The textbook includes a free ArcGIS desktop version for 1
year, with data in the appendix DVD. Four textbooks complete the series: Napoleon
and Brook ( 2008 ) for primary schools, Palmer et al. ( 2008a , 2008b ) for junior and
senior high schools, and Keranen and Kolvoord ( 2008 ) for universities.
Itochiri and Geo Link Datasets are available on the websites “Itochiri 18 ” and “Geo
link, 19 ” providing data compatible with MANDARA or Google Earth to senior high
school teachers. Teaching materials for geographic and Earth scientifi c experiments
in junior and senior high schools with satellite data (mentioned in Sect. 15.3.2.1 )
provides population density maps, green coverage maps, heat island maps, and
some basemap data such as roads or rivers. These can be used in Chizutaro, Google
Earth, and QGIS.
The GIS Forum for Education 20 Datasets for Google Earth are provided in the
“Google Earth data Bar 21 ” web page. They also operate the web page “Data for
class 22 ” linked on Google Earth data Bar.
Government Datasets The urban planning department in the Fujisawa City govern-
ment provides GIS data (e.g., roads, rivers, and aerial photos) for schools in the city
(Fujisawa City 2007 ).
15.3.2.4
Training Videos GIS Operations
Data served over web GIS is the easiest technology for classroom use, given that
schools have broad-bandwidth internet connections. Without web GIS, teachers
would need to use more complex GIS software with prepared datasets. In the
absence of internet access and teacher GIS skills, one potential solution is to dem-
onstrate GIS functions with videos. Examples are already posted on the website,
YouTube. For example, “Itochiri channel 23 ” and “Google Earth geography 24
18 http://itochiriback.seesaa.net/ . Accessed 31 July 2012. (J)
19 http://itcz.web.fc2.com/geolink.html . Accessed 31 July 2012. (J)
20 https://sites.google.com/site/egisforum/ . Accessed 31 July 2012. (J)
21 https://sites.google.com/site/egisforum/home/detabar . Accessed 31 July 2012. (J)
22 https://sites.google.com/site/egisforum/home/data4class . Accessed 31 July 2012. (J)
23 http://www.youtube.com/user/itochiri001?feature=watch . Accessed 31 July 2012. (J)
24 http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE20B0B2857CCA840&feature=view_all .
Accessed
31 July 2012. (J)
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