GIS for K–12 Education

Solutions for Students and Teachers

What Is It Like Around
My Community, My
Country, My World?

Every day, in textbooks, newspapers, and TV, students

explore their world. They experience their community
on foot, by bicycle, by bus, and by car. They collect data
by sidewalk and streamside, download videos from the
Internet, and gather information from sources far and wide.
Managing this great wealth of data calls for a geographic
information system (GIS).

A GIS manages location-based information and provides

the tools to display and integrate it, whether it’s population
characteristics, economic develop-
ment opportunities, or vegetation
types. GIS is more than computer
maps: it gives you the power to link You don’t need to “teach geography” to
data to maps to create dynamic use GIS. History teachers can watch a region
displays. It provides tools to visualize, change over time. Science teachers can
query, and analyze data in ways not enhance local projects with interactive maps.
possible with traditional Numbers come alive when they represent a real
spreadsheets. place and can be manipulated in a GIS. Lan-
guage arts teachers can explore the richness of
communication with multimedia GIS. And all
classes become vocational in nature when students develop skills
sought by the adult world.

GIS helps students and teachers understand their world. In their

schoolwork, students can use GIS to bring value to the com-
munity. Everyone benefits when students catalog community
resources, help businesses market their products, or define alter-
native views of the land. Working with businesses, agencies, or
researchers, students can use GIS to display the complex fabric
that is our community and our world. GIS is a tool for study-
ing the world and all that is, was, or could be in it at a local,
regional, or global level.
GIS in Education

There are many options available to facilitate learning

about GIS tools and processes.

• Software manuals
• Concept and instruction books from ESRI Press
• Subscriptions to ESRI Technical Support
• ArcNews™, ArcUser™, and GIS Educator publications
• Virtual Campus courses on ESRI® Web site
• Hands-on courses from ESRI or ESRI authorized instructors
• Online discussion areas on ESRI Web site
• ESRI Education User Conference
• Independent e-mail listservs
• Independent workshops and institutes
There is a world of information to help teach students how to
think and analyze information from a spatial perspective. Below
are selected links from the ESRI Web site that will help you get geographic
started and go further with geographic exploration.
inquiry
Stay up-to-date with these ESRI Web sites.
www.esri.com/k-12 K–12 education Web site
www.esri.com/arclessons Searchable lesson database
www.esri.com/k12forum Online discussion area
www.esri.com/communityatlas Community mapping project
www.esri.com/educ ESRI Education User Conference
www.esri.com/esripress Books about GIS software and applications
www.esri.com/mapmuseum Example maps from GIS Users
http://campus.esri.com ESRI Virtual Campus (distance learning center)
www.gis.com Learn about GIS in general
www.gisday.com Web site for global public events
www.geographynetwork.com Tons of GIS data plus online mapping
Geographic Data Choices
Spatial data about many subjects is available from public agencies and commercial data providers. ESRI distributes starting data with
ArcView® software. Additional data can be downloaded or even used “on the fly” from the vast repositories on the Internet such as the
Geography Network (www.geographynetwork.com).
SM

ArcView also provides tools for creating your own digital map features, building tabular databases, and integrating imagery. Students can
create statistical data from sources such as the daily newspaper, annual reports, or their own field research with global positioning system
(GPS) units. They can join new information to existing geographic shapes such as countries, state outlines, or GPS points.

Software Options and Hardware Requirements

GIS is a resource-intensive technology. It works best on fast processors with significant RAM and sufficient storage space available.

Software Operating System System Requirements

ArcView 9 and extensions for Windows NT 4, 2000, XP,
®
PC with 800 Mhz or faster processor, 256 or more MB RAM,
Windows® or above 1 GB or more disk space, CD–ROM device
ArcView 3 and ArcVoyager Windows 98, ME, NT 4, 2000, PC with Pentium or higher processor, 32 or more MB RAM,
for Windows and XP 150 or more MB disk space, CD–ROM device
Extensions for ArcView 3 for Same as above PC running ArcView 3 for Windows, 64 or more MB RAM
Windows recommended
ArcView 3 and ArcVoyager Mac® OS 7.x, 8.x, or 9.x; Mac OS X Macintosh G3 or higher processor, 32 or more MB RAM, 150 or
for Macintosh® if able to boot into OS 9 more MB disk space, CD–ROM device
ArcExplorer—Java™ Edition for Windows NT 4, 2000, XP, or PC with Pentium or higher processor, 32 or more MB RAM, 25 or
Education, Windows version above; JRE 1.4.2 more MB disk space
ArcExplorer—Java Edition for Mac OS 10.3 or above; JRE 1.4.2 Macintosh G3 or higher processor, 32 or more MB RAM, 25 or
Education, Macintosh version more MB disk space
ArcPad Windows CE (Pocket PC); CPU Chips for Windows CE: ARM, Hitachi SH3 and SH4,
Windows 95 or above (PC) MIPS, x86
ArcIMS See www.esri.com/arcims
ArcView—Desktop
Software for Making Maps
and Analyzing Data

ArcView software is a tool for geographic inquiry—asking

questions and finding answers through interactive speculation
(query building) and visualization (display). As an interactive
geographic tool, ArcView allows people to

• Visualize data as maps.

• Design simple to sophisticated “what-if” scenarios in the form
of database and map queries.
• Display the results of queries in the form of maps, charts,
and tables.
• Perform basic statistical analysis and spreadsheet functions.
• Join data from outside sources to existing geographic data.
• Create and edit data—geographic and statistical.
• Link photos, video, text, and graphics to specific locations for
complete multimedia presentations. query building
• Design and print map, chart, table, and graphic images.
• Export maps, graphs, and tables into other software packages.
and display
• Customize activities and user interfaces.
See www.esri.com/arcview.

ArcView for Schools Bundle ArcExplorer

The ArcView for Schools Bundle permits installation of ArcView
software and data on computers across a K–12 school campus
for instructional use and on teachers’ home computers. Included
with the software are instructional materials and a rich set of GIS
data.
ArcExplorer™—Java Edition for Education is a lightweight tool
that lets students and teachers explore data and create, save,
and share projects. Content can be local, regional, or global and
even include data directly from the Internet.
See www.esri.com/arcexplorer.

ArcVoyager
ESRI Data & Maps
ArcVoyager™ software is designed to help students begin navi-
Gigabytes of data for the
gating the world of maps, geography, and geographic inquiry
United States and the world
through the use of GIS. ArcVoyager is a customized version of
See www.esri.com/data.
ArcView 3 that includes special mapping and analysis tools, a
broad collection of data tailored for classroom use, a complete
™ online help system, and classroom lessons.
Visit www.esri.com/arcvoyager.
Additional Software Options—ArcGIS Extensions
ArcGIS Spatial Analyst With ArcGIS Spatial Analyst you can

The ArcView Spatial Analyst extension provides a broad • Produce contour, slope, aspect, and hillshade maps.
range of powerful spatial data modeling and analysis tools • Create continuous surfaces from scattered point features.
seamlessly integrated into the ArcView environment. • Create buffers based on distance from feature or grid themes.
This extension allows you to create, visualize, and query cell- • Perform cell-based map analysis.
based raster data and combine vector and raster data for • Query and perform calculations
display and analysis. Raster data is well suited to represent on multiple grid themes
continuous data and surfaces. Potential uses of the ArcView simultaneously.
Spatial Analyst extension include terrain analysis, cost–dis- • Convert feature themes
tance mapping, visibility analysis, or hydrologic modeling. to grid themes.
See www.esri.com/spatialanalyst. • Import data from standard formats.

ArcGIS 3D Analyst With ArcGIS 3D Analyst you can

ArcView 3D Analyst™ allows you to visualize and analyze • Create three-dimensional views.
surface data from multiple viewpoints, query a surface, • Analyze three-dimensional data.
determine visibility, create a realistic perspective image that • View your data from a global to local perspective.
drapes raster and vector data over a surface, and record or • Navigate seamlessly through multiresolution terrain data.
perform three-dimensional navigation. The ArcGlobe™ appli- • Perform spatial analysis in two or three dimensions.
cation (part of the 3D Analyst extension for ArcGIS) allows • Visualize modeling or analysis
use of extremely large sets of three-dimensional geographic results in three dimensions.
data and seamless interaction with any data layers on a • Use three-dimensional models and
three-dimensional globe. symbols for realism.
See www.esri.com/3danalyst. • Export your visualizations into
videos.

ArcGIS Publisher and ArcReader With ArcGIS Publisher you can

ArcGIS® Publisher adds easy map publication capabilities to • Easily provide interactive maps to others
ArcGIS. Use Publisher to create published map files (.pmf) • Protect your maps including car-
from any ArcMap™ document (.mxd). Published maps can tography and data
be viewed using any ArcGIS Desktop product including the • Provide efficient and controlled
no-cost ArcReader™ application, allowing you to freely share access to your GIS data
your maps with a wide range of users. This approach enables • Easily package the required data
GIS users to publish and share data and maps locally, over and maps for distribution
networks, and on the Internet, allowing multiple users to • Build custom versions of ArcReader
view and interact with maps simultaneously. for your viewing audience
See www.esri.com/publisher and
www. esri.com/arcreader.

Additional Extensions are available for the ArcGIS suite

• ArcPress™ for ArcGIS • ArcGIS Geostatistical Analyst • ArcGIS Survey Analyst

• ArcScan™ for ArcGIS • Maplex for ArcGIS • ArcGIS Tracking Analyst
• ArcGIS Business Analyst • ArcGIS Military Analyst
• ArcGIS Data Interoperability • ArcGIS Schematics

See additional extensions at www.esri.com/extensions.

Additional Software Options—ArcGIS Extensions
ArcView 3 Network Analyst With ArcView Network Analyst you can

ArcView 3 Network Analyst enables you to solve routing • Find the most direct path between two points.
problems such as finding the most efficient travel route, • Find the optimum route between many points.
generating travel directions, finding the closest facility, or • Find the closest facility.
defining service areas based on travel time. ArcView 3 • Conduct drive-time analysis.
Network Analyst can also do point-to-point routing and
can reference local landmarks when reporting route
directions. The geographic network data can be based on
ArcInfo™ coverages, shapefiles, or computer-aided design
drawings. More advanced network analysis tools can be
accessed with custom scripts.
See www.esri.com/networkanalyst.

ArcGIS StreetMap With ArcView StreetMap you can

ArcView StreetMap™ provides data for street-level • Create street maps for any place in the United States,
geocoding and display for the entire United States on complete with street names.
a single CD–ROM. The CD includes data for streets, • Geocode addresses.
landmarks, water bodies, political boundaries, and other • Use ready-made legends to
features—all with ready-made legends—to produce produce professional-looking
a complete map out of the box. Using this address maps right out of the box.
information and the geocoding engine of ArcView, you
can locate a single address on a map interactively or
turn a list of addresses into a new map layer.
See www.esri.com/streetmap.

ArcPad With ArcPad you can

ArcPad® provides interactive mapping on a handheld • Create maps using your existing
Windows computer. ArcPad provides database access, vector and raster data.
mapping, GIS, and GPS integration to users in the field. • Add data from the Internet.
Data collection is fast and easy. • Pan, zoom, identify, query, locate,
See www.esri.com/arcpad. measure, and display hyperlinks.
• Create and edit data.
• Connect a GPS and navigate.

ArcIMS With ArcIMS you can

ArcIMS® is the foundation for distributing GIS data and • Serve maps for display on
applications on the Internet or Intranet. It combines the Internet or Intranet.
interactive, Web-based maps with a highly scalable • Add mapping tools
server architecture. Wizards and templates simplify (Pan, Zoom, Find) to the viewer.
implementation and administration. ArcIMS features an
open and interoperable environment that can access Web
data and data stored on your computer simultaneously for
display in a simple browser interface.
See www.esri.com/arcims.
 For more than 30 years ESRI has been helping people manage and analyze geographic information. ESRI offers a
framework for implementing GIS technology in any organization with a seamless link from personal GIS on the desktop
to enterprisewide GIS client/server and data management systems. ESRI GIS solutions are flexible and can be customized to
meet the needs of our users. ESRI is a full-service GIS company, ready to help you begin, grow, and build success with GIS.

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For more information
on ESRI, call

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