Resources and Useful Links

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There are many articles and curriculum resources available - both in print and online - outlining the role of satellite navigation and spatial information mana​gement systems in modern society.  The links below are a sample of some of the informatio​n available.  New resources, articles and links will be added as they are identified.

​​GPS resources and us​​eful links

In​​formation for educators on the official GPS page, including background about the range of GPS applications.

U​​NAVCO is a non-profit university governed consortium - the University of Tasmania is an Associate Member. Conent includes lesson and activities for grades 6 - 12.​

​Includes a variety of resources on the use of high accuracy GPS in earth sciences, including a worldwide map of GPS stations with time series plots indicating their changing location associated with tectonic movement.

GPS ideas for geography teachers – from the UK.

Examples of lesson ideas using GPS for 5th to 8th grades in the USA.

​Mapping and Geographic Information System (GIS) resources and useful links

​ESRI​'s global billion dollar initiative putting GIS mapping resources into schools landed in Australia in June 2017.  The $100 million dollar committment provides software and data for teaching, a gallery of ready-to-go learning materials on a range of curriculum linked topics, as well as turorials, questions for guided discussions and professional development events.​

Site explaining how digital mapping is everywhere and why it is important in the modern world.

Guideline document providing useful advice and tips for educators and spatial industry professionals teaching spatial technology concepts​​​​​

Provided by Esri through their Arc​GIS online service, Story Maps use geography as a means of presenting information to tell a story.  Users can create their own story maps using a variety of Apps or browse the gallery of shared stories.


A narrative of the Burke and Wills Expedition told using a Story Map is an example in the Australian context​​, whilst the historic Sharland Map of Launceston​ from 1826 ​is an historical narrative overlaid on a map of the current City of Launceston. 


 

Spyglass Tool - Taroona then and now

Land Tasmania has utilised a number of apps to create the following Story Maps highlighting the value of Tasmania's historical imagery and plans.

​​Es​ri Insider, a blog site, features a continually updated blog  Speaking the "Language" of Spatial Analysis via Story Maps of interesting global story maps.

Apps supporting delivery of K-12 educational content across a range of subjects.​

​Interactive PDF and online lesson illustrating how to use maps to - you guessed it - tell a story.

A collection of free resources for teaching and learning wit​h GIS aimed at the USA, including ​​​​​​​​​free ​less​ons​ that may be used as examples for the Australian context​

National Geographic teaching resources provides a range of classroom materials - years K-12 - in a modular system featuring individual activities through to full units and includes examples of game based learning .​

Fun sit​e with resources about mapping and GIS including games for younger students.

An Australian repository of teaching resources, images, commentary and website links.​​

Edu​cational sharing site about GIS, including information about QGIS.

Widley used free and open source GIS software package.

​​​​​An awesome site that displays man-made transportation, communication and energy infrastructure globally on a single map. ​ ​Despite the map only visualising these services there is enough infomration to readily see the world's geography.

​​​​A stunning map that shows the movement of the entire global merchant fleet during 2012. Once you hit the play button the site will be described including ​​how the information is used to calcuate the exact CO2 emissions of the fleet for the year.

An anima​ted map of global wind, weather, and ocean conditions.​​​​​

Live ma​​ps i​ndicating the emerging use of real time information - in this instance to plot the locations of registered planes and boats worldwide.

These particular maps of over 6 billion tweets and 10 years of photos from Flickr respectively illustrate how open source information with a location attribute can be readily obtained and overlaid with open source background maps, in these instances resulting in a powerful visual impact.​​

The Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM) has prepared this comprehensive overview on mapping concepts, principles and practice for use by educators in Australia.​

​Esri Story Map featuring amazing movies and visuals ​that tell the tale of the Earth's tectonic plates like you have never seen before.

​Precision Agriculture (PA) useful links​

USA sit​​e with interesting observations about GPS and farming.​

​GPS.gov site describing uses of GPS in agriculture with links to other useful www content

USA lesson plan for grades 6 - 8

​​General resources​, including examples of PA in practice, from the Society of Precision Agriculture Australia (SPAA)

​​ESRI site uses Story Maps to describe PA a​nd highlights succesful examples of increased productivity derived from using GIS technology in agriculture.

USA university outreach site with a range of resources on PA technology and techniques including videos