orthophoto

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GIS Success Stories

I Can See My School!

girl scouts at lake county park

sample of 2005 orthophotography

Creating and fostering enthusiasm for GIS in kids can be difficult. The financial and time constraints can be overwhelming for educators and youth leaders alike. The Indiana Statewide Orthophotography Project afforded an opportunity to address this challenge using real-world applications, showing teachers and students practical uses of the orthophotography.

IGIC was the lead organization on the Huck Finn project. Through a series of lesson plans and activities, Huck Finn encouraged youth to develop creative, large-scale, outdoor artworks to be captured in the statewide orthophotography.

To capitalize on this effort, IGIC partnered with the Geography Educators' Network of Indiana (GENI) to develop an outreach package for Huck Finn participants. Centered on the orthophotography, kits included the aerial photography, GPS units, and GIS viewing software. In return, recipients were asked to write a lesson plan or activity.

Results

In all, 10 participants from around the state received the packages and developed activities. The lesson plans covered everything from "Geotechnology and Environmental Ecology" to "Are You Looking at Me," and "Me and My Space." In addition, the project:

  • Reached a diverse audience through the Boy Scouts, 4-H, nonprofits, parks, and schools
  • Showed Huck Finn participants the real-world results of their efforts - the artwork they created, plainly visible from above
  • Reinforced participation in GIS activities - providing support and guidance encouraged continued engagement
  • Gave kids practical experience with 21st century technology, helping them develop marketable skills for the future
  • Tapped into a wealth of best-practices by having the recipients develop their own activities


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