Since 1998, over 350 teachers have received the MassGIS DataViewer and almost 200 have attended training sessions provided by MassGIS staff. MassGIS has distributed 20 ArcView Software packages to public schools, which allows them to create their own data. For several years, MassGIS has participated in the Massachusetts Envirothon (an environmental studies competition) by creating a thematic map for each high school team and providing staff for event planning and execution.

In an effort to educate the public about the uses of GIS, during Geography Awareness Week in November, on GIS Day, MassGIS solicits map submissions from various agencies and organizes a GIS Map Gallery at the State House. As part of MassGIS’ charge, as mandated by the Legislature, the office has begun to foster and coordinate GIS activities among municipalities by providing training and data at various statewide locations to assessors, conservation commissioners, planning boards and other municipal employees.

The links below provide information on how public school teachers can acquire the free MassGIS DataViewer CD, downloads of training materials and student lessons, and other GIS educational resources.

• Using the MassGIS Data Viewer in Secondary Education - a complete set of Data Viewer Training Exercises and Student Lessons designed by Dr. Shirley L. Griffin, an environmental science teacher at Oakmont Regional High School in Ashburnham. The training utilizes the MassGIS Data Viewer (free to all public schools in the state) and does not require any additional software. Through these training materials, teachers should be able to become familiar with and confident using the Data Viewer. With these GIS skills and experiences, teachers may then expand the Viewer and modify the lessons to their classroom use.
   
  
• GIS In The Classroom - an overview of how GIS may be put to use in the classroom.
   
  
• Teachers' Online Order Form - order the MassGIS Data Viewer (free to all public schools in the state)
   
  
• Online Data Viewer and ArcView Information - Frequently Asked Questions, User-contributed Viewer and ArcView Tips, User-contributed Extensions and Scripts, useful Links to ArcView Sites on the Web, and Installation Instructions for both the Full and Runtime versions of the Viewer.
   
  
• How to Find Help for the Viewer and ArcView - A list of tips and resources if you get "stuck" using ArcView or the MassGIS Data Viewer.
   
  
• Data Viewer and ArcView Demonstration Movies - Now available for viewing on your PC are Lotus ScreenCam movies that demonstrate step-by-step more than 75 common tasks specific to the Viewer and Watershed Tools, or applicable to regular ArcView as well.

Last Updated 6/27/2005
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