Teaching with ArcGIS: Engaging students in community development
Meet Cynthia Bettio, a geography teacher at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic High School in Stouffville, Ontario, who teaches her grade 9 students how to design their community using Esri’s geographic information system (GIS) software, ArcGIS Online—the same technology used by the Town of Stouffville for planning and development.
Partnering with the Town of Stouffville’s Planning Department, her grade 9 class tackled the challenge of sustainable urban planning and designed three different areas marked for development near their school. They engaged in mapping tasks using ArcGIS Online—through Esri Canada’s K-12 Education program—to understand better the limitations and opportunities that come with designing their areas and used interactive ArcGIS StoryMaps stories to house their work and present their proposed designs to the Town’s Mayor, Council and Planning Department team.
Learn how to access free GIS for your school at https://k12.esri.ca/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=k12-2024
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction - "Feel the Discomfort. Do It Anyway."
0:06 - The Challenge of Discomfort - Why it's essential for growth
0:11 - Importance of Embracing Discomfort - Learning through challenges
0:16 - Supportive Educational Environment - Colleagues and innovative teaching
0:31 - Planning for the Future - Stouffville’s approach to sustainable growth
1:04 - Youth Engagement in Community Planning - Giving students a voice
1:26 - Connecting Curriculum to Community - Making learning relevant
1:49 - Stouffville’s Growth - A town at a pivotal point
2:09 - Student Project Overview - Real-world application in urban planning
2:36 - GIS in the Classroom - Overcoming challenges with ArcGIS
3:55 - Collaborative Learning - Students working together in new ways
4:22 - Story Mapping with GIS - Visualizing the creative process
5:55 - The Impact of GIS Tools - Bilingual projects and cross-disciplinary collaboration
7:22 - Empowering Future Leaders - Students’ growth and newfound confidence
8:23 - The Power of Taking Risks in Education - Encouraging innovation in teaching
9:03 - Final Reflections - The rewarding journey of discomfort and growth