Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
provide videos on the function and steps of operations in Google Earth and
Chizutaro. Another is eDesign,
25
where a group of students majoring in GIS at
universities have developed “tour” fi les that operate within Google Earth.
15.4
In-service Teacher Training for GIS
Teachers can learn GIS independently using practice texts written by GIS special-
ists. Moreover, they can attend training courses taught by GIS specialists, using a
manual and datasets.
15.4.1
Practice Texts
Practice texts include GIS exercises, including analysis and mapping skills. Goto
et al. (
2004
) supplied these exercises for use within MANDARA, which address
topics such as mapping convenience store distributions and analyzing heat islands.
ArcGIS Desktop exercises were furnished by Sadohara et al. (
2005
) for freshmen to
search suitable housing locations within a given distance from railway stations, con-
venience stores, parking, and highway interchanges. Ito (
2010
) developed exercises
compatible with Chizutaro, MANDARA, and Google Earth, on topics of agricul-
tural trade, plant distribution, and changes of store distribution.
15.4.2
Training with Manual and Datasets
Itoh (
2003
) delivered in-service MANDARA training for senior high school teach-
ers in 2002. Teachers came from two prefectural research societies for geography
education. There were ten teachers, two teaching assistants, and one lecturer in
attendance. The training took place over fi ve consecutive weekday nights in the
computer room at a university. Since 2002, the Fujisawa City education and culture
center has operated in-service Chizutaro training for primary and junior high school
teachers twice annually. The exercises focus on developing a disaster prevention
map of the school surroundings. The author serves as a lecturer, and other lecturers
are teachers who have previously attended the training.
25
https://sites.google.com/site/edesignt/
. Accessed 31 July 2012. (J)
