Why Learn GIS through 4-H?

Geographic Information
The problems we face in the 21st
Century—natural hazards, crime,
terrorism, water availability and qual-
Systems (GIS) in 4-H
ity, biodiversity loss, climate change,
urban sprawl, energy needs, and
many more—are becoming more se-
rious and are growing in geographic
extent, affecting individuals’ everyday
lives. Each of these problems has a
geographic component. Education in
spatial analysis using GIS as the tool
is an important skill that must be pro-
moted if we hope to grapple with
these issues. (a)

GIS can be used in educational, gov-
ernmental, commercial and industrial
fields. The scope of GIS use in all
these fields will only increase over
the next decade. The U.S. Depart-
ment of Labor has identified GIS as a
key emerging and evolving industry
with plenty of opportunities as a ca-
reer path. (b)
4-H GIS Technology Workshops for Youth
Contact Scott Foster 4-H Youth Extension Educator at
fostersp@purdue.edu to sign up.
Purdue Extension- Please sign up by September 30th to reserve a
317-745-9260
Hendricks County E-mail:
1900 E. Main Street spot-space is limited!
fostersp@purdue.edu
PO Box 7
Danville, IN 46122-0007 www.ces.purdue.edu/hendricks
It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Exten-
sion Service that all persons have equal opportunity and
access to its educational programs, services, activities, and
facilities without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age,
national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status,
sexual orientation, disability or status as a veteran. Purdue
University is an Affirmative Action institution. This material
may be available in alternative formats.
What is a Geographic Session/Project Schedule
Training Modules/Project Sessions-All Hands on
Information System?
Labs
A geographic information system is a
combination of elements designed to October 28, 2008 (Module I)
store, retrieve, manipulate, and dis- November 11, 25, 2008 (Module II-III)
play geographic data—information
about places. It is a package December 2, 9, , 2008 (Module IV-V)
consisting of four basic parts: robust January 6, 27, 2009 (Module VI)
hardware, powerful software, special
February 10, 24 2009 (Project Sessions)
data, and a thinking explorer (c).
March 3, 17, 2009 (Project Sessions)
April 7, 2009 (Final Session)
May 5 (Completion Program)
All Sessions begin at 7 p.m. in the Board Room
Hendricks Co. Fairgrounds
Program Expectations
*Have Fun Learning GIS Technology
*Attend As Many Sessions as Possible
*Complete an Individual and/or Team Project
*Counts as major 4-H workshop whether enrolled
in 4-H for the first year or tenth year
*NO COST to you...just your time
*Display Final Exhibits at 4-H GIS Day at the
Hendricks County 4-H Fair in July
What Will You Learn?
Several main goals have been identified
for the 4-H GIS program in Hendricks
County. They are:
1. Increase geographical awareness
through the use of technology.
2. Build technical and critical thinking
skills.
3. How to use GIS in a hands-on learn-
ing environment.
4. Develop individual and/or team pro-
jects for the Community Atlas pro-
gram.
5. “...And My World…” Youth will
discover more about the environ-
ment and world around them.
(a) Geographic Information Systems in Education.
USGS-Science for a Changing World
(b) Mapping out a GIS Career; http://www.gis.com/
careers/index.html
(c) GIS in K-12 Education; An ESRI White Paper, March
1998, ESRI.
317-745-9260
E-mail: fostersp@purdue.edu
www.ces.purdue.edu/hendricks