Course Profile   Geomatics: Geotechnologies in Action (CGO4M), Grade 12, University/College Preparation, Public

 

Unit 3:  Analysing and Understanding Patterns of Information

Time:  25 hours

 

Activity 3.1 | Activity 3.2 | Activity 3.3 | Activity 3.4 | Activity 3.5 | Activity 3.6 | Activity 3.7 | Activity 3.8

| Activity 3.9

 

Unit Description

Students identify and examine patterns that emerge from physical systems, human systems, and urban systems. Using a GIS, students have opportunities to map the relationships that exist between these systems. Furthermore, by exploring methods of data classification, students also map and appreciate the spatial distribution of unique human characteristics such as ethnicity, indigenous people, and socio-economic patterns. The culminating activity of this unit focuses on urban patterns within cities. The socio-economic patterns such as crime in the city are mapped using the GIS.

 

Activity 3.1:  Identifying Physical Regions in the United States

Time:  1.5 hours

Description

This activity acquaints students with the use of GIS and its role in mapping physical regions by visual comparison. Using a relief image/map of the USA students outline the different physical regions, define what is a physical region, identify what makes it a region, and indicate the specific regions that they highlighted. Students then demonstrate the differing physical regions of the USA by creating shape files directly on to a georeferenced image of the USA. Then, students use these files to create an accurate physical features map of continental America.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Strand(s):  Geographic Foundations: Space and Systems, Human-Environment Interactions

Overall Expectations

SSV.04 - explain the use of geotechnologies in studying physical and human systems;

SSV.05 - use geotechnologies effectively to display and analyse patterns and regions on the earth’s surface;

GCV.03 - analyse how perceptions of places, situations, and events are affected by maps.

HEV.01 - explain the use of geotechnologies in studying human-environment interactions;

HE1.02 - explain the role of geotechnologies in addressing environmental problems resulting from human action (e.g., pollution, deforestation, species extinction).

Prior Knowledge & Skills

The student should have:

·         an understanding of how a GIS works and its relevance to geospatial analysis;

·         an understanding of navigating the Internet;

·         skill in the retrieval of geographic data from the Geography Network Internet site.

Planning Notes

·         Make sure the appropriate data is available on the computers.

·         Ensure students have access to the Internet for data retrieval.

·         If this is the first time in the course that students have used the Internet, review school and board policies.

·         Develop assessment strategies.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

3.1.1 – The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint students with the use of GIS and its role in mapping physical regions by visual comparison. Using a relief image/map of the USA students outline the different physical regions, define what is a physical region, identify what makes it a region, and indicate the specific regions that they highlighted.

Teachers acquaint students with some concepts and terms used to differentiate the different physical regions. Also, the teacher outlines the differences between Ecozones, as studied in Grade 9, and physical regions.

During the classroom discussion the teacher describes what characteristics define regions such as economical, political, cultural, and physical characteristics.

3.1.2 – Individually the students show the different physical regions of the USA using a relief image US_48big.tif found on the ESRI Schools and Library CD-ROM to do so. Students produce polygons to indicate where the different physical regions, e.g., Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains, the Prairies, Coastal Lowlands, and River basins, are located. They produce a theme table to add information to the theme. The type of information that could be placed in the table includes: Name, Classification, Basic Elevation (high, medium, low), and Precipitation (which can be found on the Internet).

(It is felt that students at the senior level will have had a strong Canadian focus up to this point and therefore a wider North American context will have definite benefits. This activity could be accomplished using georeferenced images for Canada or any other political entity that has both political and physical regions.)

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

The focus of this activity is for students to identify the different physical features of the United States. The students produce a relief map to show the different regions. A mapping checklist can be used to evaluate each map. This assessment can either be done by students or by the teacher.

T/L Strategy

Task/Product

Tool

Purpose

Achievement Category

3.1.1
(class)

Whole-class discussion

Teacher-generated rating scale

Formative

Knowledge/Understanding

Thinking/Inquiry

Communication

3.1.2 (individual)

Creation of a relief map

Map component checklist

Formative

Thinking/Inquiry

Application

Accommodations

Enrichment – students can identify smaller regions and place more detailed information in the theme table.

Resources

Print

Davis, Bruce E. GIS: A Visual Approach. Onword Press. ISBN 1-56690-098-0

Davis, David E. GIS for Everyone. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-49-8

OAGEE. Monograph Fall, 2001

Jonell, Alvi. Extending ArcView GIS. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-05-6

Data

US_48big.tif, ESRI Schools and Library CD-ROM.

Websites

– www.esricanada.com/k-12/gis/capabilities.html

Software

ESRI. Arcview 3.X. ESRI, Canada. Obtainable through Board OESS representative.

Activity 3.2:  Identifying Settlement Patterns in the United States

Time:  1.5 hours

Description

This activity acquaints students with the use of GIS and its role in mapping human settlement and systems. The teacher initiates a class discussion on some of the reasons for urban settlement, e.g., water accessibility, resource base, physical impediments, climate, etc.

Once students have accomplished this task they should be able to see areas around the USA that have a higher concentration than others. Where there is a high concentration, students use polygons to produce a new theme: Megalopolis (these should be seen around New York City, L.A. Miami for example). A number of cities within each of these physical regions can be analysed using attribute queries. It is also suggested that a simple statistical analysis be done for the cities in each area using the calculator tool for such activities as total population of selected cities and rural urban differences.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Strand(s):  Geographic Foundations: Space and Systems

Overall Expectations

SSV.04 - explain the use of geotechnologies in studying physical and human systems.

Specific Expectations

SS1.10 - describe applications of geotechnologies relating to human systems (e.g., marketing, route planning, precision farming, land use planning).

Prior Knowledge & Skills

Students should have:

·         an understanding of how a GIS works and its relevance to geospatial analysis

·         an understanding of navigating the Internet

·         an idea of what characteristics make up Physical Regions

·         skills in the retrieval of geographic data from the Geography Network

Planning Notes

·         Make sure the appropriate data is available on the computers.

·         Ensure students have access to the Internet for data retrieval.

·         If this is the first time in the course that students have used the Internet, review school and board policies.

·         Develop assessment strategies.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

3.2.1 – The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint students with the use of GIS and its role in mapping human settlement and systems. The teacher initiates a class discussion on some of the reasons for urban settlement, e.g., water accessibility, resource base, physical impediments, climate etc.

Using US data from ESRI Data, students first locate all the major cities in the United States. As there will be too many cities with which to work, students query out city centres that are greater than 100 000 people, for example.

The teacher may want to direct students to view The Geography Network to locate, or reinforce their decision.

3.2.2 – Once students have accomplished this task they are able to see areas around the US that have a higher concentration than others. Where there is a high concentration, students will then use polygons to produce a new theme, Megalopolis (these should be seen around New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, for example). A number of cities within each of these physical regions can be analysed using attribute queries. It is also suggested that a simple statistical analysis be done for the cities in each area using the calculators tool for such activities as total population of selected cities and rural urban differences.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

This assessment can either be done by students or by the teacher.

T/L Strategy

Task/Product

Tool

Purpose

Achievement

3.2.1
(class)

Whole-class discussion

Teacher-generated check list

Formative

Knowledge

Thinking/Inquiry

Communication

3.2.2
(individual)

Creation of a settlement distribution map

Map component checklist

Formative

Thinking/Inquiry

Application

Resources

Print

Davis, Bruce E. GIS: A Visual Approach. Onword Press. ISBN 1-56690-098-0

Davis, David E. GIS for Everyone. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-49-8

OAGEE. Monograph Summer, 2001.

Jonell, Alvi. Extending ArcView GIS. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-05-6

Data

The Geography Network – www.geographynetwork.com

ArcView ESRIdata US cities

Davis, David E. GIS for Everyone. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-49-8

Websites

– www.esricanada.com/k-12/gis/capabilities.html

Software

ESRI. Arcview 3.X. ESRI, Canada. Obtainable through Board OESS rep.

 

Activity 3.3:  Exploring the Influence that Physical Regions have on
                                    Urban Settlement

Time:  1.5 hours

Description

This activity acquaints students with the use of GIS and its role in mapping and utilising national level data. Students examine the pattern of settlement in the USA as the physical regions have influenced it. Students examine how GIS can help to determine where new settlement may need to occur and where it cannot. Students accomplish this using examples of human settlements, i.e., transportation. The presentation is demonstrated in the form of a written paper with supporting maps to be presented to the entire class.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Strand(s):  Human-Environment Interactions, Geographic Foundations: Space and Systems

Overall Expectations

HEV.01 - explain the use of geotechnologies in studying human-environment interactions.

Specific Expectations

HE2.01 - explain the capability of GIS to integrate physical and human factors in addressing problems that involve aspects of both;

HE2.02 - relate patterns of physical geography (e.g., relief, drainage) to patterns of human geography (e.g., settlements, land subdivisions) on maps and images;

SS3.02 - produce well-designed thematic maps to display and analyse distribution of physical and human phenomena (e.g., precipitation, population density, personal income);

SS2.05 - analyse patterns of physical geography (e.g., relief, drainage) and human geography (e.g., settlements, land subdivisions) on topographical maps and images.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

The student should have:

·         an understanding of how a GIS works and its relevance to geospatial analysis;

·         experience working with small groups;

·         an understanding of navigating the Internet;

·         the ability to retrieve their own work;

·         the ability to use a slideshow presentation program;

·         skills in the retrieval of geographic data from the Geography Network Internet site;

·         the ability to synthesize information from the Internet as well as their own work and present it in a coherent, well constructed paragraph.

Planning Notes

·         Ensure students have access to the Internet for data retrieval.

·         Ensure students have access to a word processor, and a presentation package.

·         Have notes on factors that influence settlement.

·         Develop assessment strategies.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

3.3.1 – The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint students with the use of GIS and its role in mapping and utilising national level data. Students examine the pattern of settlement in the US as the physical regions have influenced it. Students examine how GIS can help determine where new settlement may need to occur and where it can’t.

Teachers acquaint students with some concepts and terms used when discussing physical regions and settlement characteristics. To show the connection or influence, students display some transportation features such as railways, highways, and international airports.

At this point, the teacher describes each of these transportation features and explains their importance in the development and distribution of urban centres.

3.3.2 – The teacher instructs students to examine the settlement patterns in the US based on physical regions and transportation methods. Students map the major urban settlements, which they have already identified from the previous lesson. Some questions students should keep in mind are: are there any flaws in these transportation methods starting with the most historic railroads and why might they be there? do the highways follow the railroads, give an explanation. what is the significance of urban size and international airports and are there any exceptions why/why not?

3.3.3 – When students have completed their work they display their findings in presentation format with a written paper to support their maps. The presentation is done in front of the whole class.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

Using the expectations being assessed, the teacher designs checklists to assess the class discussion and the map showing the relationship, and a rubric for the student GIS slideshow presentation.

Assessment of the final product can be by the teacher or by the students. In many instances, peer assessment is very effective as it allows students to showcase their work. So as not to be distracted by colourful images that show little geographic reasoning, the teacher should ensure that the rubric is prescriptive and detailed. Teachers who choose to have students integrate their maps into a word-processing package would be well advised to develop a checklist for their use and evaluation when grading the final product.

T/L Strategy

Task/Product

Tool

Purpose

Achievement

3.3.1
(class)

Whole-class discussion

Teacher-generated checklist

Formative

Knowledge

Thinking/Inquiry

Communication

3.3.2
(individual)

Creation of a map showing the relationship between settlement and relief

Map component checklist

Formative

Thinking/Inquiry

Application

3.3.3
(group/class individual participation and contribution)

GIS Slideshow presentation

GIS and presentation rubric

Summative

Knowledge

Thinking/Inquiry

Application

Communication

Accommodations

·         Have available notes on the influencing factors physical regions have on settlement development

·         Enrichment - Students could map how they predict the US will look in the future with population growth.

Resources

Print

Yeates, Maurice, The North American City. ISBN 0-321-01364-6

Davis, Bruce E., GIS: a Visual Approach. Onword Press. ISBN 1-56690-098-0

Jonell, Alvi. Extending ArcView GIS. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-05-6

Data

The Geography Network (www.geographynetwork.com) has a good selection of New York City data

ArcView ESRIdata

Websites

– www.esricanada.com/k-12/gis/capabilities.html

– www.census.gov ( US Census Bureau )

Software

ESRI. Arcview 3.X. ESRI, Canada. Obtainable through Board OESS rep.

 

Activity 3.4:  Data Classification – Changing American Ethnography

Time:  1.5 hours

Description

This activity focuses on a teacher-directed slide show of specific geo-statistical data classification methods that focuses on the diversity of ethnic, racial, or cultural groups of a specific region. Students identify various GIS methods for establishing and mapping patterns of human diversity within a defined region.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Strand(s):  Human-Environment Interactions, Global Connections

Overall Expectations

GCV.02 - explain the role of geotechnologies in understanding peoples and places around the world;

GCV.03 - analyse how perceptions of places, situations, and events are affected by maps.

Specific Expectations

GI1.03 - identify the areal units by which data are commonly aggregated (e.g., enumeration areas, census tracts, school districts);

GI2.13 - Use GIS software appropriately to perform analytical operations.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

The student should have

·         Basic understanding of how a GIS works and its use in geostatistical operations

·         Experience in working in small groups

·         Basic understanding of working in an Internet environment

·         Basic understanding of summary and note taking

Planning Notes

·         The teacher will build a slide show on basic classification methods (see Geographer’s Workbench Gem Geotechnologies 2001) with a requisite worksheet.

·         Acquire either an LCD projector or method of overheads to show the slide show.

Teaching & Learning strategies

3.4.1 – Students participate in a teacher-directed slide show on specific methods of data classification (chloropleth mapping) and fill in the accompanying worksheet.

Students then read an article on the changing American demographic with the objective of identifying where ethnic, racial, or racial groups live in the USA.

e.g., – http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/race261.shtml

OR

– http://www.umac.org/ocp/population/demographics.htm

3.4.2 – Students use a summary sheet in order to make point-form notes on the distribution of African Americans and/or Aboriginal peoples throughout the USA. The teacher instructs them to look for patterns as they relate to rural/urban influences and other geographic parameters.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

T/L Strategy

Task/Product

Tool

Purpose

Achievement

3.4.1

(class)

Teacher-centred learning

Checklist in the form of a self-assessment question sheet

Formative

Through the use of self-assessment question sheet

Knowledge/

Understanding

Thinking/Inquiry

3.4.2

(individually)

Summary sheet of minority issues in the United states with emphasis on rural and urban differences

Checklist

Formative

Thinking/Inquiry

Application

Accommodations

·         Teacher may demonstrate the methods needed to write a summary to a specific document, when necessary.

Resources

Print and CD

Knox, Paul and Steven Pinch. Urban Social Geography: An Introduction. ISBN 0-5823-8119-3

Yeates, Maurice. The North American City. ISBN 0-321-01364-6

Mitchell, Andy. The ESRI Guide to GIS Analysis Volume 1: Patterns & Relationships. ESRI Press.
ISBN 1-879102-06-4

Bell, Gerry, E. Geddes, and M. Lowry. The Geographer’s Workbench. GEM Geotechnologies, Burlington, 2001. A CD of activities and data for The Geographer’s Toolkit, Grade 11 Workplace Preparation course

Websites

– http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/race261.shtml

or

– http://www.umac.org/ocp/population/demographics.htm

 

Activity 3.5:  Mapping the Distribution of Indigenous Peoples and
                                    Cultural Minorities Through GIS Mapping Structures

Time:  6.5 hours

Description

Students map and analyse First Nations land claims. They create a thematic map to establish specific patterns and discuss the results of these patterns. Students then apply different classification techniques to the geo-statistical data to make comments and conclusions.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Strand(s):  Methods of Geographic Inquiry, Human-Environment Interactions,
                        Understanding and Managing Change

Overall Expectations

GIV.01 - select and apply geographic skills, methods, and technologies to gather, analyse, and synthesize ideas and information;

GIV.02 - use a variety of methods and technologies to communicate the results of geographic inquiry and analysis effectively;

UCV.01 - explain the use of geotechnologies in monitoring change in dynamic systems.

Specific Expectations

HE3.01 - assess the role of geotechnologies in addressing issues affecting indigenous peoples
(e.g., reserve management, resource inventories);

SS3.03 - perform appropriate GIS analyses to isolate areas that meet specific criteria;

GI2.13 - use GIS software appropriately to perform analytical operations.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

The student should have:

·         an understanding of how a GIS works and its relevance to geospatial analysis;

·         experience in working with small groups;

·         an understanding of navigating the Internet;

·         a basic understanding of basic one and two variable statistics (i.e., mean, media, mode);

·         skills in the retrieval of geographic data from the Geography Network Internet site.

Planning Notes

·         Ensure students have access to the Internet for data retrieval.

·         Ensure students have access to a word processor and a presentation package.

·         Obtain the geographic files from the appropriate website (www.geographynetwork.com) and copy the files to the student use directory on the computers.

·         Ensure students have access to generalized data on USA by county, First Nations/Indigenous peoples Land Claims, and US Cities. Files to use Generalized USA which can be found on either the Geographynetwork.com or ESRI Maps and data.

·         The file for Federal lands-Native American Reservations can also be found on the Geographynetwork.com.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint students with the attribute data inherent in any GIS vector shapefile and the methods of classifying this data. Students examine specific polygon shape files of the USA and through the use of both isolation and classification begin to make specific socio/demographic conclusions, and isolate specific variables.

3.5.1 – First Nations/Indigenous Peoples Land Claims - Students download and unzip a specific file from the geography network or Ministry-licenced ArcCanada CD (included with ArcView software). They then, using the legend editor, create a thematic map over the previously created contiguous 48-state file. They modify the legend to show only the First Nations reservations. This is accomplished using the colour transparency fill feature in the legend editor to isolate only those polygons of Indigenous Lands. Students then make informed classroom comments as to the patterns and location of the lands within the USA.

3.5.2 – Students now add to the Contiguous 48-states theme a theme of the US counties with fields of population 90 and 97. This theme should also include data on numbers of African Americans per county in the USA. This information can be found either on the geography network or data sources like ESRI Maps and Data or Ministry-licenced ArcCanada CD (included with ArcView software). Students, either individually or in pairs, create a map of the various counties throughout the USA. They classify this data by number of African Americans per county using a standard classification technique, i.e., natural breaks and a default number of classes (5). Referring to their notes from Activity 3.4 students make four other maps using different classification methods. They put these four classification types in differing views. A class discussion can then take place as to the relative patterns that show up with these various views and given the information they have on classification methods students are able to make informed decisions on which ones are most appropriate for this data presentation.

3.5.3 – Students, with the teacher’s guidance, amalgamate into larger groups of three or four students per group. Students then choose four or five adjacent states that they clip out of the original states file. In order that a representative sample of the US is identified, the teacher needs to be involved in this process.

Areas of the USA to be covered should include:

·         Northeast

·         Southeast

·         Southern states

·         West coast

·         Midwest

·         Great Lakes

Students repeat the classification process on their chosen state grouping. They normalize their data by the county population in 1990. As a group they make decisions as to which classification method best represents the information that they collected from the summary reading in Activity 3.4. To demonstrate the rural urban variance student groups then identify the appropriate cities file (this will need to be clipped from the cities file to their state grouping). Students decide on an appropriate urban community size and query out those cities. These cities may be mapped as proportional symbols. This exercise is then repeated for the 1997 census. The student groups present their findings through a seminar process to the rest of the class in a series of presentation slides that can be collated into a classroom presentation on density and patterns of African Americans in America.

Note: We have used the correct terminology for African Americans. Some data files however may refer to “Blacks.” Teacher will need to be sensitive to the language describing groups in the population.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

Teachers should devise a rubric for the culminating exercise that encourages students to combine the information they have generated.

T/L Strategy

Task/Product

Tool

Purpose

Achievement

3.5.1

(individual)

Cull out federal First Nations reservations and develop a thematic map

Checklist

Formative

Knowledge/

Understanding

Thinking/ Inquiry

3.5.2

(individually or pairs)

Using US county data create chroropleth map to show patterns of African American concentration

Checklist

Formative

Thinking/ Inquiry

Application

3.5.3

(small groups or pairs)

Individual

Contribution

Using a clipped group of states students make conclusions on population patterns

Presentation showing comparison and conclusions of population patterns

Rubric

Summative

Application

Communication

Accommodations

·         An introduction to social area analysis theory may be necessary for some students. An exemplar on Geographic Analysis would also be beneficial at this juncture.

·         Enrichment – Students could map other groupings for comparison.

Resources

Print and CD

Knox, Paul and Steven Pinch. Urban Social Geography: An Introduction. ISBN 0-5823-8119-3

Yeates, Maurice. The North American City. ISBN 0-321-01364-6

Davis, Bruce E. GIS: A Visual Approach. Onword Press. ISBN 1-56690-098-0

Davis, David E. GIS for Everyone. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-49-8

OAGEE. Monograph. Fall, 2001.

Jonell, Alvi. Extending ArcView GIS. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-05-6

Mitchell, Andy. The ESRI Guide to GIS Analysis Volume 1: Patterns & Relationships. ESRI Press.
ISBN 1-879102-06-4

Bell, Gerry, E. Geddes, and M. Lowry. The Geographer’s WorkBench. GEM Geotechnologies, Burlington, 2001. A CD of activities and data for The Geographer’s Toolkit, Grade 11 Workplace Preparation course

Data

The Geography Network (www.geographynetwork.com) has a good selection of New York City data

ESRI Data and Maps has maps and Data for the USA.

Websites

– http://gis.esri.com/industries/k-12/arclessons/ (address matching tutorial)

– www.esricanada.com/k-12/gis/capabilities.html

– www.census.gov (USA Census Bureau)

Software

ESRI. Arcview 3.X. ESRI, Canada. Obtainable through Board OESS rep.

 

Activity 3.6:  Using Data Classification Techniques
                                    to Find Patterns in Census Data

Time:  1.5 hours

Description

In this activity, students rely on the geo-statistical methods of classification established in the previous activity to work with a number of demographic variables. After students have classified and mapped their specific variables, they then present their findings to the class.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Strand(s):  Methods of Geographic Inquiry, Human-Environment Interactions

Overall Expectations

GIV.01 - select and apply geographic skills, methods, and technologies to gather, analyse, and synthesize ideas and information;

GIV.02 - use a variety of methods and technologies to communicate the results of geographic inquiry and analysis effectively.

Specific Expectations

GIV.03 - evaluate sources of spatial and other data;

SS3.03 - perform appropriate GIS analyses to isolate areas that meet specific criteria;

GI2.13 - use GIS software appropriately to perform analytical operations.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

The student should have:

·         an understanding of how a GIS works and its relevance to geospatial analysis;

·         experience working with small groups;

·         an understanding of the pitfalls of working with culturally biased data;

·         an understanding of navigating the Internet;

·         skill in the retrieval of geographic data from the Geography Network Internet site;

·         the ability to synthesize information from the Internet and present it in a coherent, well constructed paragraph.

Planning Notes

·         Ensure students have access to the Internet for data retrieval.

·         Ensure students have access to a word processor and a presentation package.

·         Obtain the geographic files from the appropriate website (www.geographynetwork.com) and copy the files to the student use directory on the computers. Generalized USA data is also available from ESRI Maps and Data or Ministry-licenced ArcCanada CD (included with ArcView software).

·         It is imperative that the teacher encourages students to the sensitivity of working with culturally biased data. It must be noted that in many cases the circumstances have created the data and not the other way around. If a class discussion is needed to discuss where students’ impressions have come from then it is very important that the teacher take time to do this.

·         The teacher should direct students to accumulate data on Generalized USA county demographic data. If the Internet connections are inadequate, the teacher should search for and download the information ahead of time and place it for access by students in an appropriate directory.

·         If this is the first time in the course that students have used the Internet, review school and board policies.

·         Develop assessment tools and strategies.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

3.6.1 – Student groups, determined in the previous activity, continue to work with their four adjacent state groups. They are instructed (teacher-directed) to choose four other demographic variables. It is imperative that the teacher be aware of cultural and economic sensitivity as the students choose their variables. After students choose the specific fields they are to write a one-sentence hypothesis that they try to prove using various classification techniques and groupings. It must be stressed to students that this co-relation or comparison can be manipulated by the classification numbers and break methodologies that they use. It is suggested that the teacher manipulate the choice of variables in such a way that there is one that will not co-relate. An example of this could be housing units. It is important for students to realise that many of their suppositions will be wrong and that this can be a good thing.

Students in groups create layouts of their four variables around the central map with a layout for each of the chosen variables. The layout should include information as to the supposition, the classification method they used along with the normalizing variable if they used one (population 1997), and one or two points of conclusion. It must be noted that this is strictly a visual co-relation of distinguishing patterns and distribution. Student groups conclude by putting their layouts into a presentation format. They may find it more expedient to add comments at this stage instead of at the layout stage.

3.6.2 – Student groups present their findings to the class. In their discussion they should include the supposition and their findings. Included in this discussion is the classification method they used and why, and any differences they noted if they used a different classification method. Comments should also be made as to the number of data groupings and if the data was normalized.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

T/L Strategy

Task/Product

Tool

Purpose

Achievement

3.6.1

(group)

Groups map four demographic variables

Teacher-generated check list

Formative

Knowledge/

Understanding

Thinking/Inquiry

Communication

3.6.2

(group and class)

Compare the variables to the distribution and add comment to presentation slides

Slide presentation checklist

Formative

Thinking/Inquiry

Application

Accommodations

·         Remedial – An introduction to social area analysis theory may be necessary for some students. An exemplar on Geographic Analysis would also be beneficial at this juncture.

·         Enrichment – Students could map local data as a comparator for known neighbourhood identification.

Resources

Print and CD

Knox, Paul and Steven Pinch. Urban Social Geography: An Introduction. ISBN 0-5823-8119-3

Yeates, Maurice. The North American City. ISBN 0-321-01364-6

Davis, Bruce E. GIS: A Visual Approach. Onword Press. ISBN 1-56690-098-0

Davis, David E. GIS for Everyone. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-49-8

OAGEE. Monograph. Fall, 2001

Jonell, Alvi. Extending ArcView GIS. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-05-6

Bell, Gerry, E. Geddes, and M. Lowry. The Geographer’s WorkBench. GEM Geotechnologies, Burlington, 2001. A CD of activities and data for The Geographer’s Toolkit, Grade 11 Workplace Preparation course

Data

The Geography Network (www.geographynetwork.com) has a good selection of New York City data.

ESRI Data and Maps has maps and data for the USA.

Websites

– http://gis.esri.com/industries/k-12/arclessons/ (address matching tutorial)

– www.esricanada.com/k-12/gis/capabilities.html

– www.census.gov ( US Census Bureau)

Software

ESRI. Arcview 3.X. ESRI, Canada. Obtainable through Board OESS rep.

 

Activity 3.7:  Exploring Urban Patterns with Census Tract Data

Time:  4.0 hours

Description

The purpose of this activity is to acquaint students with the use of GIS and its role in mapping and utilizing street level (census tract) data. Students examine the pattern of neighbourhoods in a major city. Students examine how GIS can help develop information related to the development of neighbourhoods. Geographic analyses like these occur in planning departments across the United States and Canada.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Strand(s):  Understanding and Managing Change, Methods of Geographic Inquiry

Overall Expectations

GCV.04 - evaluate the role of geotechnologies in facilitating interaction, cooperation, and communication between peoples;

GIV.03 - evaluate sources of spatial and other data;

GC3.01 - explain how maps, especially maps of unfamiliar lands, can convey a misleadingly simple view of reality.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

The student should have:

·         an understanding of how a GIS works and its relevance to geospatial analysis;

·         experience working with small groups;

·         an understanding of navigating the Internet;

·         skill in the retrieval of geographic data from the Geography Network Internet site;

·         the ability to synthesize information from the Internet and present it in a coherent, well-constructed paragraph;

·         an understanding of census data structures including Census tracts.

Planning Notes

·         Ensure students have access to the Internet for data retrieval.

·         Ensure students have access to a word processor and a presentation package.

·         Obtain the geographic files from the appropriate website (www.geographynetwork.com) and copy the files to the student use directory on the computers. Street file data is also available from the book and accompanying CD by Davis, David E. GIS for Everyone or Ministry-licenced ArcCanada CD (included with ArcView software).

·         The teacher should direct the students to accumulate data on New York City demographics. If the Internet connections are inadequate, the teacher should search for and download the information ahead of time and place it for access by students in an appropriate directory.

·         If this is the first time in the course that students have used the Internet, review school and board policies.

·         Develop assessment strategies.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

3.7.1 – The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint students with the use of GIS and its role in mapping and utilizing street level (census tract) data. Students examine the pattern of neighbourhoods in Manhattan and greater New York City. Students examine how GIS can help develop information related to the development of neighbourhoods. Geographic analyses like these occur in planning departments across the United States and Canada.

Teachers need to acquaint students with some concepts and terms used when discussing census tract level information. Terms and concepts related to urban geography and social area analysis as well as GIS should be reviewed before starting the lesson.

3.7.2 – The teacher instructs students to examine the demographic patterns in Manhattan by census tract.

Students map the major ethnic, racial, or cultural groups from the United States Census. Students should use a standard deviation classification method that allows for more than six divisions. Students are to identify those areas which have a higher than normal concentration of each major ethnic, racial, or cultural grouping. Areas with above average concentrations can be considered to be statistically significant major ethnic, racial, or cultural neighbourhoods. Students should note the differences that occur from the patterns of several minority groups on the island of Manhattan. Other areas can be accommodated if desired.

As an alternative approach, teachers can instruct student in the use of the calculator functions embedded in the GIS. Students can calculate the major ethnic, racial, or cultural percentage of the total population for that tract. This would be done for each major ethnic, racial, or cultural group being studied (e.g., Hispanic, African American, Asian). The end result will produce a different viewpoint as to the level of concentration which establishes a neighbourhood.

3.7.3 – Students create “neighbourhoods” by drawing polygons over the areas of highest concentration. Students create a street file of New York City and use the street names to define the social areas of the map. Using a city-guide directory, students compare their polygons to the traditionally defined neighbourhoods and note similarities and differences. They account for any discrepancies between the two maps.

Students retrieve an image of Manhattan to use as a backdrop. Placing their neighbourhoods over the backdrop image allows students to view the types of structures present in the neighbourhood. Students record relevant observations to include in their final output. Additional maps of median value or median rent value would be useful as economic comparitors.

Students develop an electronic presentation which illuminates the three social areas of Manhattan identified. Students create several summary pages, which incorporate maps, text, and images to show the minority neighbourhoods of Manhattan, New York.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

Teachers should devise a rubric for the culminating exercise that encourages students to combine the information they have generated.

Assessment of the final product can be by the teacher or by the students. In many instances, peer assessment is very effective as it allows students to showcase their work. So as not to be distracted by colourful images that show little geographic reasoning, the teacher should ensure that the rubric is prescriptive and detailed. Teachers who choose to have students integrate their maps into a word-processing package would be well advised to develop a checklist for their use and evaluation when grading the final product.

T/L Strategy

Task/Product

Tool

Purpose

Achievement

3.7.1
(class)

Whole-class discussion about social area analysis concepts

Rating scale

Formative

Knowledge/

Understanding

Thinking/Inquiry

3.7.2 (individually or pairs)

Exercise constructing neighbourhoods based on population concentration of minority groups

Checklist

Formative

Thinking/Inquiry Application

3.7.3 (individually)

Comparative analysis of constructed maps with accepted social areas in a community

Rubric

Summative

Application Communication

Accommodations

·         Enrichment - Students could map local data as a comparitor for known neighbourhood identification.

Resources

Print

Knox, Paul and Steven Pinch. Urban Social Geography: An Introduction. ISBN 0-5823-8119-3

Yeates, Maurice. The North American City. ISBN 0-321-01364-6

Davis, Bruce E. GIS: A Visual Approach. Onword Press. ISBN 1-56690-098-0

Davis, David E. GIS for Everyone. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-49-8

OAGEE. Monograph. Fall, 2001

Jonell, Alvi. Extending ArcView GIS. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-05-6

Data

The Geography Network (www.geographynetwork.com) has a good selection of New York City data

ArcView StreetMap has street level data for all major US urban centres.

Websites

– http://gis.esri.com/industries/k-12/arclessons/ (address matching tutorial)

– www.esricanada.com/k-12/gis/capabilities.html

– www.census.gov ( US Census Bureau )

Software

ESRI. Arcview 3.X. ESRI, Canada. Obtainable through Board OESS representative.

 

Activity 3.8:  Applications of Street level Data

Time:  4.0 hours

Description

This activity (a continuation from Activity 3.7) acquaints students with the use of GIS and its role in mapping and utilizing street level data. Students examine the pattern of streets in a major North American city. Students examine the way the logistics industry attempts to schedule and route deliveries based on a variety of criteria. Further, students examine how GIS can help develop information for tourists in a community. Geographic analyses like these occur every day in planning departments and delivery services across the United States and Canada.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Strand(s):  Understanding and Managing Change, Methods of Geographic Inquiry

Overall Expectations

GCV.04 - evaluate the role of geotechnologies in facilitating interaction, cooperation, and communication between peoples;

GIV.03 - evaluate sources of spatial and other data;

GC3.01 - explain how maps, especially maps of unfamiliar lands, can convey a misleadingly simple view of reality.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

Students should have:

·         an understanding of how a GIS works and its relevance to everyday life;

·         some experience working with small groups;

·         an understanding of navigating the Internet;

·         skills in the retrieval of geographic data from the Geography Network Internet site;

·         the ability to synthesize information from the Internet and present it in a coherent, well constructed paragraph.

Planning Notes

·         Ensure students have access to the Internet for data retrieval.

·         Ensure students have access to a word processor and a presentation package.

·         Obtain the geographic files from the appropriate website (www.geographynetwork.com) and copy the files to the student use directory on the computers.

·         The teacher should direct the students to accumulate data on New York City landmarks. If the Internet connections are inadequate, the teacher should download the information ahead of time and place it for access by students in an appropriate directory.

·         If this is the first time in the course that students have used the Internet, review school and board policies.

·         Develop assessment strategies.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

3.8.1 – The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint students with the use of GIS and its role in mapping and utilising street level data. Students examine the pattern of streets in Manhattan and greater New York City. Students examine how the logistics industry attempts to schedule and route deliveries based on a variety of criteria. Students then examine how GIS can help develop information for tourists in a community. Geographic analyses like these occur every day in planning departments and delivery services across the United States and Canada.

Teachers acquaint students with some concepts and terms used when discussing street level information. Terms and concepts related to urban geography as well as Geographic Information Systems should be reviewed before starting the lesson. Teachers should obtain background information about the logistics and the logistics industry prior to the presentation of this lesson.

3.8.2 – The teacher instructs students to examine the street patterns in Manhattan. They should note the differences that occur from the layout of streets in older and newer parts of the island.

The teacher instructs students to locate a variety of street addresses in the Manhattan area using the GIS. Using the GIS, students map and measure the shortest route to each of the identified places and to a return destination.

Noting that delivery services (logistics) work with this type of data each day, students construct a table which adds the type of delivery being requested at the address. This table will be geocoded to the street map of New York City. Each address should be classed as receiving one of perishable goods, small package goods, or heavy furniture items. Students reclassify the delivery points based on a predetermined classification system. This allows the students to construct multiple maps which direct various sizes of trucks to deliver goods to various destinations in a specified order.

Finally, students are given a list of landmarks in the Manhattan area. Students use the Internet to locate the addresses of the landmark. They will also obtain graphic images of the landmark to be used as either a hotlinked image or as a graphic element in the brochure.

Students develop a table which is suitable for geocoding. Students geocode the data and construct a map showing all the landmark sites including small images of the landmark.

3.8.3 – Students develop a brochure (single or multiple pages) which directs visitors on a walking tour through the Manhattan area to the various landmarks. This could be done as a booklet style brochure where students export the maps they have generated and add the information to form a graphic rich text document. They should include information about each landmark such as opening/closing times, entry fees, and distance from the previous location as well as directions from one landmark site to another.

Alternatively, teachers can have students generate an electronic presentation using the maps they have generated and the supporting text material together.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

Teachers should devise a rubric for the culminating exercise that encourages students to combine the information they have generated.

Assessment of the final product should be by the teacher. In many instances, peer assessment is very effective as it allows students to showcase their work. However, in this instance, the teacher will have the students prepare a written “tour guide” booklet which integrates the maps, charts and text material. So as not to be distracted by colourful images that show little geographic reasoning, the teacher would be the best evaluator. Teachers who choose to have students integrate their maps into a computer presentation using presentation software such as PowerPoint or Corel Presentations would be well advised to develop a checklist for student use and evaluation during the class presentation.

T/L Strategy

Task/Product

Tool

Purpose

Achievement

3.8.1
(class)

Whole-class discussion about urban geography concepts and/or logistics

Rating scale

Formative

Knowledge/

Understanding

Thinking/Inquiry

3.8.2
(individually or pairs)

Completion of exercise looking at street level data

Checklist

Formative

Thinking/Inquiry

Application

3.8.3 (individually or pairs)

Construction of “Tour Guide” booklet with detailed maps and commentary

Rubric

Summative

Application

Communication

Accommodations

·         A review on paragraph structure may be necessary for some students. An exemplar on Geographic Analysis would also be beneficial at this juncture.

·         Enrichment – Students could add charts, graphs and significant retail establishments, etc. to the walking tour maps.

Resources

Print

Davis, Bruce E. GIS A Visual Approach. Onword Press. ISBN 1-56690-098-0

Davis, David E. GIS for Everyone. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-49-8

OAGEE. Monograph. Summer, 2001.

Jonell, Alvi. Extending ArcView GIS. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-05-6

Data

The Geography Network (www.geographynetwork.com) has a good selection of New York City data.

ArcView StreetMap has street level data for all major US urban centres.

Davis, David E. GIS for Everyone. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-49-8

Websites

– http://www.logisticsworld.com/logistics/ (depository of logistics information)

– http://www.purchasedparts.com/logistics.htm (short overview on logistics)

– http://gis.esri.com/industries/k-12/arclessons/(address matching tutorial)

– www.esricanada.com/k-12/gis/capabilities.html

Software

ESRI. Arcview 3.X. ESRI, Canada. Obtainable through Board OESS representative.

 

Activity 3.9:  Culminating Activity: Crime in America

Time:  3.0 hours

Description

This Culminating Activity demonstrates the use of GIS and its role in law enforcement. Students examine patterns of crimes by region, by county and at the street level. Students examine how GIS can help analyse patterns of crime in a community. Geographic analyses like these occur every day in police departments throughout North America.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Strand(s):  Understanding Change, Global Connections

Overall Expectations

GCV.04 - evaluate the role of geotechnologies in facilitating interaction, cooperation, and communication between peoples.

Specific Expectations

UC1.05 - describe the extension of geomatics applications into non-traditional domains (e.g., criminology, marketing, medicine).

Prior Knowledge & Skills

The student should have:

·         a basic understanding of how a GIS works and its relevance to geospatial analysis;

·         some experience working with small groups;

·         a good understanding of navigating the Internet to obtain geospatial information;

·         the ability to synthesize information from the Internet and present it in a coherent, well constructed paragraph.

Planning Notes

·         Ensure students have access to a copy of the electronic video presentation regarding crime management through GIS for discussion and review (www.esri.com\the district).

·         Ensure students have access to a word processor, a presentation package, and the Internet.

·         Obtain the ArcLesson: Crime Analysis from the appropriate website (www.esri.com\k-12) and copy the files to the student use directory on the computers.

·         Unzip the Arclesson: Crime Analysis as noted in the teaching/learning strategies section

·         Print the following documents:

Exercises

q   CP1-Exercise 1 – Crime Analysis in America.doc

q   CP2-Exercise 2 – Crime Analysis by County.doc

q   CP3-Exercise 3 – Crime Analysis in Washington.doc

q   CP4-Exercise 3 – Crime Analysis in Washington-TEACHER MASTER.doc

q   (additional notes, answers, etc. are provided in the TEACHER MASTER version)

Handouts to be completed by the students, used as overheads, or used as reference material

q   CP5-Factors That Influence Crime-TEMPLATE.doc

q   CP6-Factors That Deter Crime-TEMPLATE.doc

q   CP7-Classifying Your Data-REFERENCE.doc

·         As there are some acronyms and terms related to crime presented in the material, provide students with a fill-out chart where they can identify the entire terms.

·         Review the worksheet materials that will be completed by student groups to make sure they will have the appropriate depth of knowledge required.

·         If this is the first time in the course that students have used the Internet, review school and board policy.

·         Develop assessment strategies.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

3.9.1 – The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint students with the use of GIS and its role in law enforcement. The students examine patterns of crimes by state, by county and at the street level. Students examine how GIS can help analyse patterns of crime in a community. Geographic analyses like these occur every day in police departments across the nation.

The geographic analysis in part three of this exercise has been portrayed on the CBS network’s crime drama, The District. For more details on CBS’s The District, refer to www.esri.com/thedistrict. The “pawn shop” analysis was portrayed on Episode 15 – “A Southern Town” (from the web site, click on the number 15 to read more about this episode).

Note: This activity could also be created using public data supplied by your local police force. Every major municipality within Canada now has a GIS division whose responsibility it is to disseminate spatial information and show its relationship to crime. They usually have individuals that will come to your class to give a hands-on demonstration.

3.9.2 – Download the lesson from the web site www.esri.com/k-12 (look under “For Schools” and “ArcLessons”) or Ministry-licenced ArcCanada CD (included with Ministry-licenced ArcView software) and unzip the file so that all data files, project files, and supporting documentation are located in the directory “C:\ Crime_Patterns”. You will want to unzip this file to your local disk drive. You want to end up with a directory on your local computer called “Crime_Patterns.”

Notes

·         You can install this directory in any location on your computer.

·         If you copy the data from a CD-ROM, make sure the file permissions on the following are read-write:

·         Crime_Patterns\tmp

·         Crime_Patterns\projects

·         Crime_Patterns\projects\crime_analysis.apr (this is only necessary to repair the path names once)

·         You should end up with a directory structure that looks like the following:

·         \docs – documentation and lesson information

·         \docs_images – supporting documentation bitmaps (not required)

·         \projects – ArcView 3.2 project files

·         \shapes_county – county data for eastern U.S.

·         \shapes_dc – Washington, D.C. data

·         \shapes_state – state data for the U.S.

·         \tables – tabular data (pawnshop locations for D.C.)

·         readme.txt – instructions

·         start.apr – ArcView 3.2 launch and repair project (calls \projects\crime_analysis.apr)

·         Start ArcView and open the project file C:\Crime_Patterns\start.apr. (If the Crime_Patterns directory is located somewhere other than C:\, use the correct path).

·         Note: opening the start.apr will automatically repair any path errors in the file C:\Crime_Patterns\projects\crime_analysis.apr which is actually the project you will be using. Assuming you install the data in a directory called “Crime_Patterns” located on any drive and in any other folder, then the start.apr project will repair the paths in the project and open the crime_analysis.apr project file. If you choose, you can open the crime_analysis.apr file directly. Start.apr will only work if the crime_analysis.apr project file is read-write.

·         If the project opens correctly without any missing data, then you should be all set to proceed. Go ahead and quit and then follow the exercises by opening the CrimePatterns\projects\crime_analysis.apr directly (once the paths have been corrected by running start.apr once).

Depending upon what you want the students to complete and turn in, you may find it helpful to have access to the Internet, a word processing program, and a presentation program. However, these are not required to complete the ArcView analyses.

Teachers need to acquaint students with some concepts and terms used when discussing crime. See the “Analysis of the Maps” question and answer section at the end of CP4 (teacher master), which has an explanation of some crime terms.

Furthermore, teachers need to ensure that students have a grasp of what the standard deviation method of classifying data shows and signifies. The student reference material in CP7-Classifying Your Data is a quick outline and may be helpful.

Teachers should use the overhead/template on CP5-Factors that Influence Crime-TEMPLATE.doc to start students’ thinking about this issue. The open bubbles are not meant to solicit correct answers. In fact, impressions of related factors which are wrong can be used as a strong teaching point and should not be neglected. Teachers should also consider that Exercise 3 uses the location of pawnshops and proximity to roads as two factors which influence the crime of burglary. Teachers may wish to introduce this concept at this point or add it later.

Following brainstorming the factors that influence crime, the teacher can address the factors that deter crime, by using CP6-Factors that Deter Crime-TEMPLATE.doc. Alternatively, this can be saved for the conclusion of the exercises.

After the preparation of students, students must complete three exercises and their associated worksheets.

Exercise #1 begins with general patterns of crime in the USA by state. Students map burglary statistics over a three-year period looking specifically at where the number of burglaries has increased and decreased. Teachers may also wish to access information about their local area prior to this exercise.

Exercise #2 has the students working with county level data. Here students use the classifications of “Serious Crime” and “Violent Crime.” However, other choices can be substituted. Definitions of these terms are provided in the final exercise #3 analysis (see the teacher master). The goal of this part of the exercise is to analyse the pattern of crime within states. Also, using charts and maps together, students begin to understand that the various factors attributed to crime may not be valid at all levels of data aggregation. Part of this exercise is designed to direct students to the Washington D.C. region, as this is the basis of exercise #3.

Exercise #3 shows students the crime related factors at the local or street level. It attempts to relate policing strategies to criminal behaviour and to some of the geographic factors that relate to the crime of burglary. Students complete the worksheet on “Factors that Deter Crime” as a whole class.

3.9.3 – The teacher encourages students to work through the ArcView exercises in one of two ways. The teacher can work with the students directing the manipulation of the software and stopping to speak about patterns seen in the crime data. The teacher can also choose to allow students to work at their own pace. In this case, the teacher should ensure that students complete the question sheets fully before proceeding with the next scenario exercise.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

The focus of the assignment should be an analysis of the factors that contribute to crime at the local level and the factors that deter crime at the local level.

This should be done in either report style where students export the maps they have generated and add the analysis to form a graphic rich text document. Alternatively, teachers can have students generate an electronic presentation using the maps generated and supporting analytical text.

Evaluation of the final product should be by the teacher. However it is important for students to have a chance to showcase their work. If teachers have students prepare written reports which integrate the maps, charts, and text material, the teacher would be the best evaluator. Teachers who choose to have students integrate their maps into a computer presentation using presentation software such as PowerPoint or Corel Presentations would be well advised to develop a checklist for student use and evaluation during the class presentation.

T/L Strategy

Task/Product

Tool

Purpose

Achievement

3.9.1

(class)

Whole-class discussion about factors that influence and deter crimes terminology associate with crime

 

Formative

Knowledge/ Understanding Thinking/Inquiry

3.9.2 (individually or small group)

Completion of crime analysis exercises parts 1, 2, and 3.

Checklist

Formative

Thinking/Inquiry Application

3.9.3

(Small group or individually)

Student-generated written report or electronic presentation

Assessment Rubric
(see Appendix 1)

Summative

Application Communication

Accommodations

·         A review on paragraph structure and geospatial analysis may be helpful to some students. An exemplar on Geographic Analysis would also be beneficial at this juncture.

·         Enrichment – Students could examine local crime statistics to use for comparison purposes.

Resources

Print

Davis, Bruce E. GIS: A Visual Approach. Onword Press. ISBN 1-56690-098-0

Davis, David E. GIS for Everyone. ESRI Press, 1999. ISBN 1-879102-49-8

Data

Crime Pattern Analysis lesson-pak from (http://gis.esri.com/industries/k-12/arclessons/) or Ministry-licenced ArcCanada CD (included with ArcView software).

Video clip from The District television program (available at www.esri.com/thedistrict) or Ministry-licenced ArcCanada CD (included with ArcView software).

Websites

– http://gis.esri.com/industries/k-12/arclessons/ (Crime Pattern Analysis) or Ministry-licenced ArcCanada CD (included with ArcView software)

– www.esricanada.com/k-12/gis/capabilities.html

Software

ESRI. Arcview 3.X. ESRI, Canada. Obtainable through Board OESS representative.


Appendix 1 – GIS Rubric for Culminating Unit

Note: This is a culminating task Rubric that can be used with any GIS project `regardless of topic or software. It is important that the teacher work with the students to demonstrate the specifics of the established criteria. It would also be beneficial for the teacher to show exemplars of the specific projects.

Criteria/ Expectation

Level 1
(50-59%)

Level 2
(60-69%)

Level 3
(70-79%)

Level 4
(80-100%)

Thinking/ Inquiry Interpret and analyse data, maps, and images effectively

GIV.03

- the maps and images have been interpreted with limited effectiveness for the specific project

- the maps and images have been interpreted with some effectiveness for the specific project

- the maps and images have been interpreted with considerable effectiveness for the specific project

- all of the maps and images have been interpreted effectively for the specific project

Communication

Application

Identify the conceptual and design factors that make for a well-designed map

GI1.04

 

 

- the map essentials are present in the layout to a limited degree

 

 

- the map essentials are present in the layout to some degree

 

 

- the map essentials are present in the layout to a considerable degree

 

 

- all the map essentials are present in the layout

Application
Use GIS software appropriately to perform simple analytical operations

GI2.09

- the specific operations needed to perform an analysis have been accomplished to a limited degree

- the specific operations needed to perform an analysis have been accomplished to some degree

- most of the specific operations needed to perform an analysis have been accomplished to a considerable degree

- all of the specific operations needed to perform an analysis have been accomplished to a high degree

Knowledge/ Understanding Demonstrate an understanding of basic thematic mapping methods

GI1.06

 

- the required themes are present to a limited degree

 

- the required themes are present to some degree

 

- the required themes are present to a considerable degree

 

- the required themes are present to a high degree

Thinking/ Inquiry
Demonstrate an ability to acquire relevant data and materials and to evaluate their quality

GIV.01

- a limited amount of the data required has been acquired

 

- limited complete evaluation of the data quality has been demonstrated

- some of the data required has been acquired

 

 

- some evaluation of the data quality has been demonstrated

- most of the data required has been acquired

 

 

- an evaluation of the data quality has been demonstrated

- all the data required has been acquired

 

 

- a complete evaluation of the data quality has been demonstrated

Note: A student whose achievement is below Level 1 (50%) has not met the expectations for this assignment or activity.

 

Overview | Course Profiles Main Menu