This course gives teachers the skills and knowledge to effectively integrate GIS into their geography curriculum. It highlights the benefits of using GIS to enhance students' locational knowledge and sense of place, supported by various resources. The training covers, curriculum sequencing, identifies opportunities for integrating GIS, and explores practical examples like climate change and virtual fieldwork to contextualise and improve geographical learning. Teachers will also have the chance to share practical examples and ideas for enhancing learning through GIS integration.

Supporting research / references

Research highlights the need to integrate GIS into the curriculum due to its potential to enhance spatial awareness and locational understanding (Azzari et al., 2013). Despite being part of the National Curriculum since 2008, the Ofsted Bearings report (2023) found that GIS remains underused in schools, with teachers lacking confidence and constrained by time. This training course draws on the findings of the TPACK model (Mishra and Koehler, 2006), the Model for Great Teaching (Coe et al., 2020), and the Gi Pedagogy Project (2024) to address these barriers by equipping teachers with the necessary skills to effectively use GIS in their teaching.

Key learning aims

To equip teachers with the confidence and skills to integrate GIS into their existing curriculum, enabling its regular use in geography lessons. This will help contextualise teaching by enhancing students' locational knowledge and deepening their sense of place, promoting more interactive geographical thinking.

Expected impact on teachers

• Gain a clear understanding of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and its role in enhancing locational knowledge and fostering a stronger sense of place.
• Learn how to effectively sequence the geography curriculum to include GIS by identifying opportunities within existing teaching to improve learning.
• Explore practical examples, such as climate change and virtual fieldwork, to demonstrate how GIS can support geographical thinking in students.
• Collaborate and share ideas with other attendees on integrating GIS into the curriculum.

Expected impact on student outcomes

• Improved locational knowledge and sense of place using GIS tools, to enhance students' spatial understanding.
• More effective curriculum sequencing, integrating GIS into existing geography lessons for a deeper understanding of global contexts.
• Practical examples, such as climate change and virtual fieldwork, supporting students' geographical thinking and analytical skills.
• Enhanced student learning, fostering independent enquiry that regularly incorporates GIS to promote more interactive geographical thinking.

Course programme

All sessions run from 17.00 – 18.00 on the dates specified below:

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