The Maine Department of Education, Maine Geographic Alliance, and the Maine GIS User Group are collaborating with local teacher-founded organization, Maine GIS Education Partners, to bring Geographic Information Systems to Maine classrooms. GIS is a proven method to help students gain twenty-first century skills and advance their knowledge of geographic science.
On the newly launched website megised.org, educators will find forms to assist in acquiring GIS technology, suggestions for free and paid professional development programs, links to support organizations in Maine, ideas for GIS units, lessons and activities, and practical strategies for teaching. The website will continue to be updated with new resources as they are made available.
Maine GIS Education Partners was founded by two Maine teachers, Erin Towns and Margaret Chernosky, with the primary goal of supporting K-12 educators in the implementation of geospatial thinking and tools that answer geographic questions of local, national and global significance within Maine classrooms. The partnership aims to advance geographic knowledge of all Maine students in science, health, social studies, math, ELL, English, world languages, vocational and special education classrooms. The organization is open to all, regardless of technological proficiency.
For more information contact megised@gmail.com or Maine DOE Social Studies Specialist Kristie Littlefield at kristie.littlefield@maine.gov.