Latest Contributions by PhillipHare1

Management: I use the GeoJobe app to manage/cull old accounts and this works pretty well. I'd be interested in looking at the Python method Tom will show. I typically use CSV files to batch upload students. This works well, especially as more options for assigning licenses have been introduced for the whole batch, or later for whole groups. I am looking forward to seeing if my district can get SSO working for MS Active Directory. I don't currently have high hopes, but that is mostly internal concern. Overall I really enjoy using AGO with students. Operations: Shoutout to AGO and Collector. Successfully used it doing some IB Geography fieldwork this week, worked flawlessly, and students continue to find the interface user-friendly. StoryMaps, and other web apps, continue to be an effective way to build content for class instruction. A couple recent examples include teaching about drainage basins, cut flower supply chains on Valentine's Day, tomato supply chains, and urban street design. It can take a little time, just like any presentation, but I'm always really happy with the result when I take the time. Issue:  managing student work: it would be nice to set some more granular privacy boundaries on some files. For instance, I don't want all students to be able to see each other's work while they work on something to avoid the copying of others maps, but then I need access to it. If students were collaborating in a small group on a project it would be nice to set viewing only for members in that group, once again to avoid the copying of others' work. I may just be missing a setting or something though. Managing student work: I havent worked enough yet with the Categories feature in Groups, but it can be difficult, beyond using tags, to get all assignments from a class in one place. Using good metadata tagging can definitely help with filtering and searching, but project folders within groups would kind of be nice. Maybe the Categories feature will provide a solution though. Overall this year, my students have been using it less, so goals for the second semester. ... View more

A little behind in posting to the group, love seeing everyone's work. Here are some recent highlights of my own: Four quick stories: In my classroom - hurricanes have meant lots of lost days here in South Caroline and this has created difficulty fitting in some of my larger, more student oriented projects so far in AP Human Geography and IB Geography. However, the GeoInquiries continue to provide great opportunities for seeing geography happen in whole group and small group instruction as we work through content in both AP and IB Geography. For instance, both Human Geography Development Geoinquiries were used again, with one redone as questions for a student conducted activity. These are easy to integrate even as we work to deal with making up lost time. In my building - I've gotten another World Geography teacher working more with the GeoInquires. Specifically they used some of the tectonic stuff from maybe the middle school earth science collection (this class is academically struggling 9th graders, so it works great). The teacher has found the activities to be engaging for the students and has worked to redo some into the scripted, student conducted activity type. Much broader - I'm working on a K-12 Education subcommittee for USGIF. They are looking at broadening some of their material. Although I've gotten a little push back from another high school teacher (of the "GIS is too much for many teachers" variety), the GeoInquiries continue to provide so many points of easy entry. I'm trying very much to make sure the free accounts and Geoinquiry material are highlighted as great tools for teachers working to integrate more into their classrooms. Of course I am highlighting other free resources like QGIS, but most teachers with limited time to learn and do are going to look at the GeoInquiries and say "Ok, these are aligned with content, have full directions, and are easy to use in class." I'll see where this goes, but hopeful I can use this for some good T3G-style evangelism. I just signed on to present at the annual Geofest for the SC Geographic Alliance where I'll share lessons aligned with our new geography standards for middle and high school. You can be sure I'll work AGO and GeoInquiries into this, and possibly accounts if time allows. Request: keep supporting us in the classroom! There is still nothing like AGO for us classroom teachers. It is still an uphill battle getting people, but the resources ESRI has provide and continues to provide make my students' experience much better. It also makes the pitch to other educators much easier. So a big Thank You to you, your fellow ESRI Education staff, and ESRI for the committment and support! ... View more

Yes, thats it! Thanks Charlie! ... View more

Thanks for posting these.  I have shared them with our district content coordinators, as well as a couple of English and Math teachers in my building and will be following up with them in the next week or two to see their thoughts.  I know some of our English teachers regularly use some of those titles, so that should help with integration.  Hopefully we can arrange for some PD for next school year on integrating these types of activities. ... View more

During the past year I have been trying to engage teachers of AP Human Geography.  I have found that starting with a couple of GeoInquiries, coupled with showing how they align with the course outline and previous free response questions, has been an effective gateway with a group where instructional time and tech concerns can be paramount.   However, I have not been able to plan or work with longer training periods and I have heard from some I've worked with that they still get stumped when trying to push farther into AGO.  They get stumped on the data acquisition, the button pushing, etc.  I know there are lots of good material for just those issues. Does anybody have a favorite resource for getting teachers over the "post-excitement over GIS now I need to go practice" hump? ... View more