How to download and use detailed aerial photographs and topographic maps in the curriculum.

How to make thousands of maps and use resources from the National Atlas in the curriculum.

Discover how to use USGS resources about Lewis and Clark, Native Americans, and the physical geography of the United States.

Use tens of thousands of ground photographs from around the world from the American Mile Marker project and the Degree Confluence Project to teach about cultural and physical geography. 

Use the 21st Century Nation's Topographic Map to examine physical and cultural features of the landscape, through transportation, aerial photography, contour lines, river features, and much more.  

Why understanding scale is important to the study of spatial phenomena, patterns, and linkages, what geography can and should contribute to the study of scale, and how educators can teach the concept of scale.

Why do places and features on the landscape have the names that they do, how can the study of names enhance geography education, and what resources can educators use to study toponyms?  

Discover how to use the wealth of DLESE resources for teaching geography and science.  

Corny Geography

Use corn mazes to teach and learn about geography.

Analyzing the Earth Using Historical Topographic Maps

Discover why and how to compare historical to current topographic maps to explore landscape change, human-environment interaction, urbanization, and more.

Analyzing the Earth Using Historical and Current Aerial Photographs

Discover why and how to compare historical and current aerial photographs to explore landscape change, human-environment interaction, land use change, and more.

Examining River Systems, Watersheds, and Climate Using Historical and Real-Time Streamflow Data

Explore a wealth of geographic topics by examining historical and real-time streamflow information from the USGS.  

Teaching About and Using Geographic Coordinate Systems

Understanding and using latitude-longitude, UTM, and state plane coordinate systems to support geography and science education, GIS, and GPS in the curriculum..  

Using the Map Margin

How to effectively use coordinate systems and other information on USGS topographic map margins in teaching.  

Articles

The Implementation and Effectiveness of GIS Technology and Methods in Secondary Education 

Journal of Geography 102(3):  128-137.  May-June 2003.  Research into how and why GIS is implemented in the secondary curriculum, using a series of surveys, case studies, and experiments.

Geography Education Across the Atlantic

Article from the Journal of Geography, October-November 2003.  Discusses the role of the Geographical Association, geography education in the UK, and ideas for collaboration.

Fits, Starts, and Headway:  The Implementation of GIS in the Geography Curriculum at Boulder High School

Article from Point of Beginning, January 2000, describing the challenges and benefits of implementing geographic information systems in the high school curriculum.  

AAG Member Profile:  Joseph Kerski

Article from the Newsletter of the Association of American Geographers, June 2004, featuring AAG member Joseph Kerski and his philosophy of education, GIS, and government service.

Colorado Front Range:  Focal Point of GIS and Geography in Government, Business, Academia, and Nonprofit Organizations

Article from the Newsletter of the Association of American Geographers, July 2004, describing geography and GIS research and development along the Colorado Front Range.

A Century of the USGS and the AAG:  The National Map

Article from the Newsletter of the Association of American Geographers, June 2004, describing the 100th anniversary of the AAG, the 125th anniversary of the USGS, the ongoing partnership between the two organizations, and The National Map.

Dissertation

The Implementation and Effectiveness of GIS Technology and Methods in Secondary Education, © Copyright Joseph J. Kerski, Geography, University of Colorado-Boulder, 2000 

Title, Abstract, Acknowledgements, Table of Contents, List of Tables, List of Figures

Chapter 1:   The Problem and Its Setting:   Geographic Information Systems in Secondary Education:  Promise and Reality

Chapter 2:   Situating the Study:  A Review of the Related Research

Chapter 3:   GIS in American High Schools:  A National Survey

Chapter 4:   The Effectiveness of GIS in Secondary Education:  Experiments in Three High Schools

Chapter 5:   The Implementation and Effectiveness of GIS in Secondary Education:   Case Studies Inside Three High Schools

Chapter 6:  Synthesis and Conclusions

Dissertation Bibliography

GIS in Education Bibliography:  Books and Dissertations

GIS in Education Bibliography:  Articles

Selected research and application articles, dissertations, and theses published on GIS in education.   

Appendix 1:  Glossary of Terms

Appendix 2:  Questionnaire Comments from Pilot Panel

Appendix 3:  National GIS in Education Survey and Results

Appendix 4:  Major Brands of Desktop GIS Software

Appendix 5:  Content Standards

Appendix 6:  The Hill Lesson

Appendix 6a:  The Hill Lesson-GIS

Appendix 7:  Standardized Test, Riparian and Prairie Vista High Schools, Part A

Appendix 7:  Standardized Test, Riparian and Prairie Vista High Schools, Part B

Appendix 7:  Standardized Test, Riparian and Prairie Vista High Schools, Part C

Appendix 7:  Standardized Test, Riparian and Prairie Vista High Schools, Part D

Appendix 7:  Standardized Test, Riparian and Prairie Vista High Schools, Part E

Appendix 7:  Standardized Test, Riparian and Prairie Vista High Schools, Part F

Appendix 8:  Standardized Test, Hope High School

Appendix 9:  Spatial Analysis Test

Appendix 10:  Africa Lesson 1:  GIS Version

Appendix 11:  Africa Lesson 1:  Non-GIS Version

Appendix 12:  Africa Lesson 2:  GIS Version

Appendix 13:  Africa Lesson 2:  Non-GIS Version

Appendix 14:  Africa Lesson 3:  GIS Version

Appendix 15:  Africa Lesson 3:  Non-GIS Version

Appendix 16:  Africa Lesson 4:  GIS Version

Appendix 17:  Africa Lesson 4:  Non-GIS Version

Appendix 18:  Africa Lesson 5:  GIS Version

Appendix 19:  Africa Lesson 5:  Non-GIS Version

Appendix 20:  Africa Lesson 6:  GIS Version

Appendix 21:  Africa Lesson 6:  Non-GIS Version

Appendix 22:  Africa Lesson 7:  GIS Version

Appendix 23:  Africa Lesson 7:  Non-GIS Version

Appendix 24:  Earthquake Lesson, GIS Version

Appendix 25:  Earthquake Lesson, Non-GIS Version

Appendix 26:  County Social Area Analysis Lesson, Hope, GIS Lesson

Appendix 27:  County Social Area Analysis Lesson, Hope, Non-GIS Version

Appendix 28:  County Social Area Analysis Lesson, Prairie Vista

Appendix 29:  County Social Area Analysis Lesson, Prairie Vista, Field Analysis

Appendix 30:  Oil Lesson

Appendix 31:  Geography Course Survey

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USGS Education Portal

Educational Columns and Articles

  Read about research in geography and science education using spatial technologies, and ideas for incorporating USGS and other resources in geography and in other curricula through columns and articles. 

For more information on these columns and articles, contact:

Joseph Kerski 

Geographer

USGS

Education Program 

jjkerski@usgs.gov

(303) 202-4315