The Society, in collaboration with Esri UK and the four exam boards AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel and WJEC/Eduqas, has sent a letter of encouragement to schools across the country to sign up to a free subscription of ArcGIS Online.
The software can be used as a tool in every classroom to support the use of GIS in the KS3, GCSE and A Level curricula and specifications from the AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC/Eduqas exam boards. ArcGIS Online can be used to overlay geographical datasets onto maps, as well as more advanced work collecting, presenting and analysing primary data, such as information collected through a student’s fieldwork. Ordnance Survey maps and Story Maps are also offered as part of the free service.
Currently, over 1,700 schools have taken up their free subscription and over 57,000 students are now actively engaging with the software to support their geographical studies.
Steve Brace, Head of Education at the Society said: “By providing free access to ArcGIS Online, Esri UK is putting this technology within the reach of every geography pupil, and helping to ensure that the next generation of geographers can use this vital geographical technology”.
The free ArcGIS subscription is also supported by CPD training provided by Esri UK and the Society, as well as a regional network of Geomentors - GIS professionals who can support a local teacher. Watch the video above to see how Dover Grammar School is using ArcGIS Online to support geography teaching and learning.
With the geospatial sector worth $300 billion globally, and research identifying an opportunity of up to £11 billion for the UK economy, it is important that geography classrooms connect their pupils with the use and application of geospatial data.
See what else you can do with ArcGIS Online
Read the full letter here