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Welcome to GIS for PA!

Are you a teacher with an interest on how to use GIS in the classroom? You have come to the right place. This wikispace was created to give teachers in the great state of Pennsylvania a place to find information on how to use GIS in the classroom.

I was first introduced to ArcView, probably one of the most popular of GIS programs, in 1999 at a [|Satellite and Education conference] sponsored by [|West Chester University]. This was a great conference, but unfortunately the conference has moved to the West coast. One of the workshops I attended introduced me to ArcVoyager. One of the earliest versions of the GIS developed by ESRI. At the workshop I got a little taste as to what a GIS program could do. I instantly was hooked and realized the potential fof this tool to help give students the skill of spatial anlaysis, an important skill needed for the 21st century workplace.

I expected this tool to really take off in the field of education in Pennsylvania, but alas, it has not. I decided to develop this site to help teachers find the resources they need to start using this program in the classroom. A place where questions specific to teaching GIS could be answered. A place where educators could discuss best practices, stay on top of events and updates, and have an opportunity to share lessons with other teachers.

So I am glad you stopped in. Feel free to have a look around. I would like for this wikispace to expand, so suggestions for improvements are always welcome.

Terry Laughlin GIS for PA