Geography & GIS in Scottish Schools

Observations from a Service Provider

31st October 2014

Peter Burnhill & Anne Robertson(Director & Geodata Services Manager)

EDINA, University of Edinburgh

Overview

• EDINA – Who we are & what we do– Geodata services @ EDINA– Schools services @ EDINA

• Digimap for Schools & MapStream– Service take up

• Promoting Digimap for Schools– Visits to schools/CPD sessions– Reaching tomorrow’s teachers

• Forward Look – Primary & Secondary– Curriculum for Excellence: data handling

EDINA: serving research & education across the UK

• @ the University of Edinburgh @ the University of Edinburgh

Geodata services at EDINA

Digimap as Flagship Service

Launched January 2000: c.15 successful years

2013-14 download stats 20,000 users from 870

departments across 120 institutions

Services for Schools at EDINA

http://mapstream.edina.ac.uk

http://digimapforschools.edina.ac.uk

http://edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot

• Online mapping service1. Contemporary mapping using 8 Ordnance Survey map

products inc. OS MasterMap®: at 12 zoom levels 2. Historic mapping using Ordnance Survey 1 inch mapping

published 1895-1899 (via National Library of Scotland)

• Wide range of functions– Maps can be annotated, saved, printed, exported– Annotate with text, points, lines, areas, photos, images– Measure distances, areas, buffer from point and lines

• Free learning resources, blog and twitter

• Suitable for those schools wishing to use additional GIS software

• Standards-compliant (WMS) data stream of same mapping stack as DforS– Data updated regularly– No data management or storage issues

• Free learning resources

Curriculum experts

Service(s) uptake

• 126 Scottish secondaries ~34% (721 in England ~23%, 31 in Wales, 14%)

• 47 Scottish primaries ~2%(999 in England 6%, 25 in Wales, 2%)

• MapStream 0(3 in England, 0 in Wales)

Promoting Digimap for Schools in Scotland

Exhibited at:•Scottish Learning Festival 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014•Scottish Association of Geography Teachers 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Presented at:•Mapping the Nation, organised by Uni of Edinburgh and National Library of Scotland for Teachers of Scottish History, April 2014•Year of Commemorations, organised by Education Scotland for primary teachers, March 2014•Glasgow City Council Social Studies, Principal Teachers, October 2013•North Lanarkshire Social Studies, Principal Teachers, November 2013

Ordnance Survey mail campaign

… on the roadCPD sessions held:•Dunblane High School, September 2012, organised by SAGT•Hamilton Academy, Hamilton, February 2013•Bellahouston Academy, November 2013, Glasgow City Council QIO•Pirie Park Primary, November 2013 org by Glasgow City Council QIO•Airdrie High School, Caldervale Computing C, North Lanarkshire QIO•St Charles Primary, Cathcart, November 2013•Perth Academy, November 2013•St Marks Primary, Rutherglen, January 2014•Barrhead High School, Glasgow, February 2014•Bell Baxter High School, Fife, May 2014 (primary and secondary)•Aberdeen City Council Primary and Secondary October 2014•Broomhill Primary, Glasgow, October 2014

Let loose with:•2 classes of S4 pupils @ Balwearie High School, September 2014

Our key messages

• Curriculum relevant as whole of school resource

- History, - Biology, - PE, - Maths• cross curricular

Curr.forExcellence: experiences & outcomes• SOC 1-14a Through activities in my local area, I have developed my

mental map and sense of place. I can create and use maps of the area.

• SOC 1-13a Having explored the landscape of my local area, I can describe the various ways in which land has been used.

• SOC 1-02a By exploring places, investigating artefacts and locating them in time, I have developed an awareness of the ways we remember and preserve Scotland’s history.

• SOC 1-03a I can use evidence to recreate the story of a place or individual of local historical interest.

Curr.forExcellence: experiences & outcomes• SOC 2-02a I can interpret historical evidence from a range of periods

to help to build a picture of Scotland’s heritage and my sense of chronology.

• SOC 2-10 Having explored my local area, I can present information on different places to live, work and relax and interesting places to visit.

• SOC 2–13a I can explain how the physical environment influences the ways in which people use land by comparing my local area with a contrasting area.

• SOC 2-14a To extend my mental map and sense of place, I can interpret information from different types of maps and am beginning to locate key features within Scotland, UK, Europe or the wider world.

Curr.forExcellence: experiences & outcomes• SOC 3-14a I can use a range of maps and geographical information

systems to gather, interpret and present conclusions and can locate a range of features within Scotland, UK, Europe and the wider world.

• SOC 4-14a I can use specialized maps and geographical information systems to identify patterns of human activity and physical processes

• MTH 2-17d Having investigated where, why and how scale is used and expressed, I can apply my understanding to interpret simple models, maps and plans.

Spatial analysis within Digimap for Schools

[While not a GIS…] Digimap for Schools provides spatial analysis techniques such as buffering, presentation of data & data overlay

Examples of use in Secondary

Figure 6: Land Use Map - Dunlop 

Examples of use in Primary

Other potential uses in Primary

Reaching out to tomorrow’s teachersAlready in use at:

University of Edinburgh Moray HouseDr Simon Beames, Programme Director MSc Outdoor Education

About to be in use at:

University of Strathclyde, HaSS, School of EducationClare McAlister, PGDE Geography Coordinator

University of Aberdeen, School of EducationJim McCracken, Programme Director for MA/BSc with Education Degrees & Tutor for Social Subjects

Looking for contacts at:

University of StirlingUniversity of Dundee

What we have noted: Primary• hardly any ‘traditional’ geography in primary

– (doesn't need to be under CforE)

• some primary teachers not comfortable with maps, or geography

• new teachers from 1-year pg courses have small exposure to geography resources (compared to numeracy and literacy)

• challenge of technology– need to be familiar with service before working with pupils– IT competencies especially digitising

• access to ICT suite – need to book room or trolley!

What we have noted: Secondary• Merger of Geography into Social Studies Dept

– Department head may be teacher of history/ modern studies

– lone geography teacher may not get support

• Limited time to plan how to integrate it into lessons– prescriptive lesson plan / wish to know how other use DforS

• Technology / IT Challenge, e.g. digitising

• Access to ICT – need to book rooms or trolley

• [MapStream - don’t get it]

Ending on a high note: good news!Top Scottish school user in September 2014 was a primary (making 4 x as many maps as top Welsh secondary)Enthusiasm for DforS in National 4 & 5 added value unitsStarting to ask for more!• to have other data to overlay (esp. socio economic)• for multiple points on maps: gpx readings or postcodes• to select (turn on/off) features• to use the buffer tool to select other features

A welcome challenge for us as service provider, as these demonstrate growing understanding of more advanced spatial techniques!