GIS Classroom Kit, Columns and Articles on Rockyweb, Hurricanes, Geologic Map of New Mexico

(1) With grateful appreciation to New Zealand educator Anne Olsen, I have
learned about the impressive GIS Classroom Resource Kit:

http://www.spatial.org.au/seda/kit/

This collection of 10 GIS applications was written for educators in
Australia to use within their curriculum framework to introduce students to
GIS concepts and procedures and develop their ability to analyse spatial
information. They range in scope from beginner to advanced level projects,
and provide opportunities for the integration of GIS into the classroom
throughout high school.

Projects are presented as a set of guidelines, with step-by-step
instructions and illustrations to direct students through the problem
solving process. Additional information and teacher notes are supplied for
the educator. All projects are available in both MapInfo and ArcView GIS
formats, and all * * data can be accessed via the website * * . Provided
the appropriate data is available, these projects are adaptable for
teachers wishing to make them relevant to their students' local area.
While the applications have been designed by geography teachers, the
subject material is often applicable to other disciplines such as
economics, science, history, mathematics and environmental studies. I've
looked at this and the lessons are quite detailed and impressive.

(2) I have added an articles link to my education resources page. These
include the column I am writing for the NCGE Perspective, Isn't That
Spatial, as well as articles on the implementation and effectiveness of GIS
in education, and more. See the "columns and articles" link on:

http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/public/outreach/

or access the articles directly on:

http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/public/outreach/articles.html

(3) I have created a North American Hurricanes GIS-based lesson, on:

http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/public/outreach/gislessons/hurricanelesson.html

(4) New Geologic Map of New Mexico

Stock #'s: 32378 (legend) and 32379 (map)
Price: $20.00 for the set, plus $5.00 handling
Scale: 1:500,000

In 2003, the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources published
the Geologic Map of New Mexico in cooperation with the U.S. Geological
Survey. This map represents the first substantial revision of the Geologic
Map of New Mexico, at this scale, since 1965. At that time the U.S.
Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources, published the State Geologic Map of New Mexico.

This latest version contains two sheets that measure approximately 54 x 47
inches for the map and
50 x 42 inches for the legend. The map has over 100 geologic units
represented and the legend includes a detailed key, correlation charts, and
references. It was produced in Macromedia Freehand from Arc Info files
created by Greg Green of the U.S.Geological Survey. G. Robert Osburn
started this compilation in 1985, with the bulk of the work being done
between 1987 and 1998 by Orin J. Anderson and Glen E. Jones. Since 1998,
the map has been reviewed and revised with substantial revisions being
made. Work on this project has spanned the administrations of three
directors at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.

For GIS users, the data are also in ArcInfo Export format on:
http://minerals.cr.usgs.gov/publications/maps.html

For further information, or to purchase a copy of The Geologic Map of New
Mexico, contact a USGS Earth Science Information Center (ESIC). To locate
the nearest ESIC, call: 1-888-ASK-USGS, or visit http://www.usgs.gov.

Author:  

Dr.  Joseph J. Kerski

Geographer
Box 25046 - MS 507 

Denver, CO  80225-0046 USA

jjkerski@usgs.gov 

Tel  303 202 4315