Workshop and Services

The 5-Step GIS Leadership Development Model
The GIS Leadership Model is a graduated program composed of a five-step series of workshops and projects. Associated with the Model Program, a leadership component trains teachers to become mentors and workshop instructors for other teachers. In their teaching of a new step, educators demonstrate increased learning and application of geographic information systems. A brief overview of each workshop follows, indicating the focus and software used. Each workshop focuses on a specific area of the environment, addressed in the workshop includes presentations by scientists, information personnel, GIS professionals, and use educational applications. In addition, management and pedagogy related to the implementation and integration of science, math, and technology into instruction are addressed. These workshops are NOT just learning software programs. These workshops ARE about gaining specific knowledge using technology applications as tools for further analysis, understanding, and learning. For example, workshops in the first three years focused on the environmental topic of hazardous waste. Workshops in the last two years have furthered knowledge of non-point source pollution, or polluted run-off – problems of water pollution.

Overview of the 5-Step GIS Leadership Model
All workshops focus on an Environmental Topic Area; some topics of past workshops include hazardous waste, river basins, watersheds, health issues, and polluted run-off.

Step I. Introduction to maps, spatial thinking, and learning about an environmental problem.
ArcVoyager GIS software.

Step II. Mapping a specific site, monitoring components and parameters of this environment (plants, temperature, animals, cover, water and run-off, and non-living components such as soil and air). GPS, GLOBE protocols, CityGreen, hand held devices, ArcView 3.x. The MOSS Mapping Our School Site has been taught for this step.

Step III. Community focus, field trips to compare various environmental factors at different locations. Individual project developed. Beginning GIS using ArcView 3.x.

Step IV. Individual project developed by each educator augmented with an APlan, specific to educator homesite, incorporating community partners. Advanced GIS using ArcView 3.x.

Step V. Each educator is responsible for developing his/her individual project. Three days are spent in the classroom, (two days with supervision by graduate students) and one day with subject matter experts. Two days are spent in the community, contacting cooperators and specific partners for each project, following the design of the APlan. Complete project plans submitted for review. GIS, CityGreen, ArcVoyager.

Leadership Component
Each educator, as they proceed toward the 5-Step Leadership Model, teaches each step, receiving a certificate as each step is completed. At the completion of the 5 Steps + 5 Steps Leadership, each educator can then receive 3 graduate credits (equivalent for their work) in the College of Natural Resources at NC State University.