Sharlet Keilman

Lesley University

July 31, 2013

ArcGIS UDL Screencast

Resource: ArcGIS Online- A map layering program

Cost: Free

URL:

Lesson Plan:ArcGIS technology based inquiry based GIS lesson.docx

Screencast:

Screencast:Under ScreenR- Account name:sharmalar-After I made my screencast and published it it cause everything on my computer tofreezeand time-out. I can notget the site to open now. Will post as this becomes available. I assume my screencast is available through a search. It is titled with ArcGIS in the name.

ArcGIS can be accessed from any computer, requires no downloads, and is free to use! Like everything else, there are options you can pay for but for most purposes it is not necessary. In fact, many school districts have purchased rights to this program but you may not know about it! You can check from their website to determine if your district has purchased anything.

ArcGIS can be used in all social studies courses to help better illustrate and understand relationships between things. For example, we could compare population density to climate across the globe by layering a population density map and a world climate map. ArcGIS can be used as an introductory tool by allowing students to create a map of their life- The Geography of My Life. Students could create a map that shows all the places they have lives or been. It allows you to put place markers, pictures, and a description on each point you select on the map.

The maps within ArcGIS can be manipulated by allowing the user to change colors, data, and the view. Like Google Earth or Google Maps, the maps can be viewed in satellite, terrain, and street level. Students can publish their maps and find other published maps to use.

This is just a snapshot of all that can be done using ArcGIS. In teaching 9th grade World Geography online I would have students complete an introductory activity that incorporated the first lesson students learned in World Geography about the Five Themes of Geography. Students would use Arc GIS to contrast a map that illustrates things about their own lives (the geography of their life) as it relates to the Five Themes of Geography. For example, one of the themes of geography is Movement. I would first present myself to the class by showing them my own Geography of Life Map. I would provide examples of the theme movement by placing a marker on the place that I was born, describe the geography of Oklahoma, and then explain in a geographic perspective why we moved from Oklahoma. I would insert a picture of Oklahoma to illustrate some of the geographic reasons we were pushed from Oklahoma and pulled to a more urban area in Texas. I would do that for each of the themes therefore modeling my expectations, providing an example, introducing the Five Themes, and introducing myself. The students will do the same and paste the URL for their map on our class wiki where students will participate in a dialogue on the wiki by asking questions about each other.

A detailed assignment will be provided to the students so that they properly register for both ArcGIS and the Wiki if necessary. Students will be provided step by step directions as well on how to use ArcGIS. The features they would use for this first introduction to ArcGIS are quite simple. Students would also be provided a rubric so that they understood expectations. I would also give them about 3 days to complete the assignment and make it a part of module 1. So long as students are provided enough information in terms of links to websites about the five themes and the detailed instructions for creating the map this would be an excellent tool for students to introduce themselves, learn about the Five Themes, and learn how to create a simple map in ArcGIS. We would then expand ArcGIS’s use throughout the term.

ArcGIS would for the Multiple Means of Representation, Expression, and Engagement. Students get to experience seeing multiple and alternative ways of viewing content. For example, students can visually see the number of counties in Georgia that had higher slave populations that white populations and make determinations about how this impacted Georgia’s participation in the Civil War. Students can insert pictures and text to help describe this relationship. This allows for multiple means of representation. Students are able to create their own maps therefore allowing multiple means of expression. ArcGIS is a completely hands on tool which requires engagement. Since you can personalize features on your map it allows multiple means for engagement. Instead of simply using the 2-D basic map and allowing students to use a map layering program students can create maps that are more 3-D in nature. This concept addresses the ideas entrenched in UDL. Students are basically provided an alternative means to illustrate their knowledge.

Using the guideline that we should offer options for perception under Multiple means of representations ArcGIS offers ways for students to customize the display of information using color, pictures, symbols, and map layers. Under the Multiple Means of Expression and the guideline that encourages the use of multiple means of expression and communication, ArcGIS allows students to customize their maps to include picture media. Under Multiple Means of Engagement guideline #7 which encourages optimizing student choice and autonomy ArcGIS and the assignment created encourages students create a map that represents their own lives. This gives the students choice in what they will include on their map.

Technology Enhanced, Inquiry Based GIS Lesson
Self-Introduction Using the 5 Themes of Geography

Subject: World Geography
Grade: 9th
Introduction:
Have you heard about the 5 Themes of Geography? Geographers use the five themes of Geography to study the Earth. The five themes of geography can be used to help understand our planet. When studying the Earth’s geography the five themes can be used to categorize information about different areas and issues on earth. You can apply these themes to EVERYTHING in geography. How do the 5 themes apply to your life? Let’s get started!
Essential Questions:

  1. What are the themes used in Geography?
  2. How are these themes used in Geography?
  3. What are some real life examples of each of the Geography themes?
  4. How can you compare the geography of your life to the five themes?

Task:
Students will create a map using ArcGIS to both tell a story of their own life’s geography AND to help explain the five themes of geography.

Process:

Part one:

Students will use the following web sites to identify and define the five themes of Geography:



Students will use the acronym MR HeLP to remember the five themes of Geography.

The Five Themes of Geography:

  1. Movement and Communication
  2. Region
  3. Human Environmental Interaction
  4. Location
  5. Place

Part two:
The students will use the following form as a guideline to gather information from the web sites that helps to summarize what is meant by each of the five themes of geography. Students will provide an example of how each theme relates to events, issues, and ideas within their own life in terms of the places that they have lived and their understanding of the themes. Students will use the information gathered to insert into their student created map using ArcGIS.

Five Themes of Geography:

Movement and Communication / Definition / Example / How this relates to the geography of my life
Region / Definition / Example / How this relates to the geography of my life
Human Environmental Interaction / Definition / Example / How this relates to the geography of my life
Location / Definition / Example / How this relates to the geography of my life
Place / Definition / Example / How this relates to the geography of my life

Part three:
The students will create an ArcGIS map that illustrates the 5 Themes of Geography in a manner that also helps to describe something about themselves. For example, if a student were to describe the theme of movement and communication by explaining how and why they moved from one place to another they could place two markers on the map illustrating that movement and explaining why that move took place while also inserting visual pictures to accompany the pins and description on the map. Directions on how to use ArcGIS to accomplish this goal are provided below.

Joining Mrs. Keilman’s Class on ArcGIS

  1. Go to
  2. Create a Free Public Account. Be sure to use your school official first and last name so that your name can easily be found in ArcGIS and you can be added to the class roster.
  3. Once everyone is signed up an email will go out inviting everyone to join Mrs. Keilman’s World Geography ArcGIS course (World Geography with Keilman).
  4. Open your email and join the class.

Creating a Map in ArcGIS

  1. Login to your ArcGIS account.
  2. Click on “Map” at the top of the page.
  3. Click “New Map”.
  4. Click “Add” and then “Add Map Notes”.
  5. Change the “Name” to Movement and Communication and click “Create”.
  6. Select “Pushpin” after creating your map note.
  7. From there select a place on the map where you would like to place your pushpin.
  8. You can change the symbol used for the pushpin to a picture that helps to represent both the location you chose on the map and the theme it is representing.
  9. You can add an image for your symbol by selecting “Add an Image” and then choosing an image online, right-clicking, and copying the image URL into the dialogue box.
  10. You will repeat this step for each of the Five Themes of Geography.
  1. Save your map by selecting “Save As” and providing your map with a name and full description.
  2. Click “Share” to share your map URL on our WikiSpace.
  3. Copy the URL link to your map and paste it onto the class wiki space under a new page created by you and titled with your name.
  4. As an alternative you can “Publish” your map from the Share link by clicking “Make a Web Application” and selecting “Basic Viewer”. From there simply copy the URL address from the address bar and paste it into the class wiki space. Directions for using WikiSpaces are below.

Part four:

Students will then share their maps with the class by posting a link to the class wiki by creating a map URL and copying/pasting it to the class’s wiki page under their name. The student will also share their map with the class as a means of introducing themselves during the first week of school. Go to

Joining the Class Wiki

  1. Go to to create an account.
  2. Once you create an account click here to the following form to add your name, account username, password, and class period that you are in.
  3. Once every student has completed the form then the instructor will be able to send one mass email to everyone to join the class wiki.
  4. Open your email to accept the invitation.
  5. On our class’s wiki page create a separate page for yourself giving it a title with your name.

Part five:
On the class wiki page students will write a reflection about their experience using ArcGIS, learning about the themes of geography, and provide a potential example of how the class could use ArcGIS in the future either in the class or in their own lives.

Evaluation/ Rubric

CATEGORY / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Themes used correctly / All of the themes are used correctly. Multiple examples are given for each theme. / All themes are used Correctly. Only one example is given for all or some of the themes. / Most themes are used correctly. Examples are given for some of the themes. / Most themes are not used correctly. Examples are not given for some themes.
Graphics/Pictures / All themes have graphics or pictures. All pictures and graphics accurately illustrate the themes.The created map URL is posted on the class wiki. / All themes have graphics or pictures. All pictures and graphics accurately illustrate the themes.The created map URL is posted on the class wiki. / All themes have graphics or pictures. All pictures and graphics accurately illustrate the themes.The created map URL is not or is incorrectly posted on the class wiki. / Most themes do not have pictures or graphics.The map URL is not posted to the class wiki.
ArcGIS Knowledge Gained / ArcGIS map is complete with all 5 Themes of Geography labeled by example from own geography of life and marked by a point on the map. / ArcGIS map is complete with all 5 Themes of Geography labeled by example from own geography of life and marked by a point on the map. / ArcGIS map is complete with all 5 Themes of Geography labeled by example from own geography of life and marked by a point on the map. / ArcGIS map is complete with all 5 Themes of Geography labeled by example from own geography of life and marked by a point on the map.

Conclusion:

  1. Students will have an understanding of the 5 Themes of Geography.
  2. Students will have introduced themselves to the class through the use of their ArcGIS map.
  3. Students will have the ability to apply the 5 Themes of Geography to their own experiences in their life’s geography.
  4. Students will use web resources to explore each of the themes.
  5. Students will be able to apply the themes of geography to other areas of the world.
  6. Students will post the URL for their created ArcGIS map to the class wiki.
  7. Students will share their ArcGIS map with the class and on the wiki.
  8. Students will write a reflection on how they could potentially use ArcGIS in the class in the future.

Additional Activities:
Brain Pop can be used for extra review and assessment. The video under Geography entitled “themes of Geography”along with the quiz can be used for re-teaching or extended lessons.

Credits & References:

Georgia World Geography 9th Grade Performance Standards:
SSWG1 The student will explain the physical aspects of geography.
a. Describe the concept of place by explaining how physical characteristics such as landforms, bodies of water, climate, soils, natural vegetation, and animal life are used to describe a place.
b. Explain how human characteristics, such as population settlement patterns, and human activities, such as agriculture and industry, can describe a place.
c. Analyze the interrelationship between physical and human characteristics of a place.

SSWG2 The student will explain the cultural aspects of geography.
a. Describe the concept of place by explaining how the culture of a region is a product of the region’s physical characteristics.
b. Explain how cultural characteristics of a place can be used to describe a place.
c. Analyze how physical factors such as mountains, climate, and bodies of water interact with the people of a region to produce a distinctive culture.

Joining the Class Wiki

  1. Go to to create an account.
  2. Once you create an account click here to the following form to add your name, account username, password, and class period that you are in.
  3. Once every student has completed the form then the instructor will be able to send one mass email to everyone to join the class wiki.
  4. Open your email to accept the invitation.
  5. On our class’s wiki page create a separate page for yourself giving it a title with your name.

Joining Mrs. Keilman’s Class on ArcGIS

  1. Go to
  2. Create a Free Public Account. Be sure to use your school official first and last name so that your name can easily be found in ArcGIS and you can be added to the class roster.
  3. Once everyone is signed up an email will go out inviting everyone to join Mrs. Keilman’s World Geography ArcGIS course.
  4. Open your email and join the class.