GIS mapping is a powerful technology, and many college and university professors are taking note of its utility as a classroom learning tool. While its uses vary across majors and degree concentrations, GIS provides all students with a range of skillsets, such as problem solving and database management, as well as map creation, data accuracy, and the ability to adapt to technology in ever-changing workforces.
How does this translate for students in the classroom? Here are three real-world examples of how college professors use GIS technology.
Professors at Dickinson College pair GIS with academics to teach students to think about problems in a spatial context. They encourage students to ask:
At Mapline, we’ve collaborated with New Jersey teachers and schools to help students vote in elections and experience the democratic process. Our interactive mapping software for schools makes it easy for teachers to register their students’ participation and analyze the results once all votes have been counted. For most students, the New Jersey mock election is the first opportunity they’ll have to cast a vote.
Daily news platform YourNews brings local news online to audiences across the United States. By partnering with network affiliates and advertisers, the company serves a nationwide audience by Zip Code. The website—an aggregate of city, county, state, regional and international news stories—aims to provide accessible local news to as many readers as possible amid declining print newspaper readership.
To achieve his goal, Sam Anthony, CEO and president of YourNews, needed to find affiliates to help serve news, as well as advertisers to promote it. When a colleague recommended he try a geographic network map, Anthony questioned the idea. Did he need to plot points on a map? How would creating a network map pay off for his business in the end?
