Loud and Clear Project: An Introduction to Geospatial Tools for Project-Based Learning

Abstract

Project-based and student-driven learning continues to be at the forefront of school reform efforts. Technology is a significant bridge and tool used to empower and leverage student projects. Geospatial technologies continue to be underutilized in the middle grades. There are many cutting-edge, free geospatial tools available through the ESRI School Bundle. This article is aimed at bridging the gap in the practitioner literature about how free geospatial technologies can be used in the project-based, science classroom. Numerous example products and recommendations are made to encourage teachers to consider these technologies. This manuscript also explains one example of a geospatial project educators could recreate in a science classroom.

Keywords:

• Project-Based Learning
• Geographic Information Systems
• GIS
• Technology
• ESRI

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Dean of Business and Applied Technologies Adam Parrillo, PhD, at Clark State College in Springfield, Ohio for reviewing this manuscript. Further, professional development at Huber Heights City Schools is credited for helping the author to develop the idea for the project. The curriculum coaches at the New Tech High Center for Excellence helped immensely with this project.

Supplemental materials

Chart displaying the timeline of the Loud and Clear project.

Potential student conclusions about patterns/trends in the data.

Rubric for scoring educational display/poster.

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/08872376.2024.2363113.

Online resources

National transportation noise map—https://tinyurl.com/2s3668xj

ESRI Survey123 [Computer software]—https://tinyurl.com/ymz8nb5k

New Tech Network, Center for Excellence—https://tinyurl.com/37vjdz82

GeoInquiries—https://tinyurl.com/bdcmc4vv

ESRI MOOC Program—https://www.esri.com/training/mooc/

User groups—https://tinyurl.com/e9x72vvp

ESRI K12 Sites with the ArcGIS Schools Bundle map—https://tinyurl.com/bddazh8x

Order Form ArcGIS for Schools—https://tinyurl.com/3253hr6n

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kurtz Miller

Kurtz Miller ([email protected]) is a science teacher at Huber Heights City Schools in Huber Heights, Ohio. He is a geospatial technology student at Clark State College in Springfield, Ohio.