Fun With GIS #55: Getting Started with ArcGIS.com Direct Education Scheduler

Aug 08 2010

Fun With GIS #55: Getting Started with ArcGIS.com

Posted by Jeremy Tunnecliffe in Education Tips

Tags: 55 Getting, Getting | No Comments »

School’s getting ready to start, and many educators will be looking for good “starting activities.” Two free items bear mention: (1) Users of www.arcgis.com, on Mac or Windows, can access maps or make maps using the simple “Make a Map” application, save their map, share it, and then display it on any number of devices. (2) The latest version (just updated) of ArcGIS for iOS application, on Apple’s app store, is a slick tool for iPads and iPhones, especially when you have an account at ArcGIS Online.

I created and shared a map with 10 layers of US demographics. Here are steps for you to test it:

1. In any Javascript-capable Web browser on any tool, go to www.arcgis.com and type “USA demographics for schools” in the search box. {Or just click here.}

2. One result should appear.

3. Click on the map to jump into the ArcGIS.com Map Viewer.

4. In the contents window at left, click the “Show Contents of Map” icon in order to the 10 layers that I chose.

5. Zoom in to a region of interest. Note the scale-dependent data: zooming in from state to county to census tract to census block group, you can neighborhood characteristics.

6. Using the check marks at left, turn layers on and off. If the layers are opaque, the layer showing a check mark that is highest in the set will be the visible layer in the map.

7. Choose a new region and a new layer. Then, hover the mouse over the layer title to access the context menu, choose “Transparency”, and slide the slider.

8. Atop the left column, click “Show Map Legend”.

9. Finally, above the map, click the pull-down for “Basemap”, and choose a different background, such as “Streets”.

10. If you save your existing map (to do so, you must have an Esri Global ID and be logged in), you can then access both the original map and your new map, on whatever device you choose.

These maps are easy to make, a snap to modify, and powerful tools for introducing students to a lot of content about the world and the power of geographic analysis. As you and students get comfortable with analysis, you can DO the classification and symbolization, rather than just inherit what someone has done for you. That’s a key goal to aim for — guiding the analysis, which is where STEM-focused teachers must head. But for now, just get started, using the ArcGIS.com Map Viewer.

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