Using GIS Technology to Support Citizen Science Projects and Learning Objectives

Elena S. Takaki, Program ManagerNational Geographic

Our goals

Build understanding

Establish connections

The Opportunity

Bring together

the latest technology

and

firsthand experiences in nature

for

hands-on science learning

Outdoor experiences for students

Exploring nature

Collecting data

Real education goals

Local and regional perspective

Belonging to community

FieldScope

Web based Geographic Information System

Customized for student use

Focus on data sharing and analysis

Student and professional data

FieldScope

• Leverages cutting-edge technology to make interactive mapping and geospatial data analysis tools accessible

• Enables students to upload their own data, including quantitative data, field notes, and media

• Fosters collaborative sharing and analysis of data

• www.fieldscope.us

Chesapeake Bay FieldScope Project

MWEE experience

Integrated MWEE experience

Moving from proof of concept

to full implementation

with strong partners

Status and Next StepsStatus and Next Steps

A Vision of the Future: Education

Our goal is to reach

every school

in the

watershed

and

every student in those schools

A Vision of the Future: Technology

FieldScope is one component of a geographic information (GIS) infrastructure that can simultaneously support:

• Planning (e.g., open-space planners)

• Commerce (e.g., tourism)

• Civic engagement (e.g., public comment)

• Education (e.g., citizen science)