District Superintendent Impressed with Esri's Vision for GIS in K–12 Education
REDLANDS, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — November 9, 2010 — The Coppell Independent School District (CISD) in Coppell, Texas, recently implemented a three-year Esri site license that will allow all its primary and secondary school students to learn geographic information system (GIS) software. Initially, ArcGIS will be introduced in a variety of subjects in the district's middle and high school classrooms.
Dr. Jeffrey Turner, superintendent of CISD, was introduced to the benefits of learning GIS in a K–12 education seminar at Esri headquarters in Redlands, California. "GIS software is one of the most exciting tools that I have seen in a long time," says Turner. "It puts the world in the hands of our learners and engages them in a way that captures their imagination and enhances their creative spirit."
Says Teresa Tate, director of social studies at CISD, "GIS is not only a technology tool; it is a means of connecting our students to spatial thinking while investigating and [doing] problem solving [for] scientific, geographic, cultural, and political issues in a global society. It provides our teachers and students with learning experiences using industry tools, building a bridge between the classroom and real-world decision making."
Among future plans, the district has indicated an interest in investigating GIS for administrative functions. However, it has made a tactical decision to implement it first in the classroom based on Superintendent Turner's view that all the 10,000 students in the district should have the opportunity to learn geospatial technologies.
For more information about Esri's GIS for Schools program, visit esri.com/schools.
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Founded in 1969, Esri ( esri.com) is the world leader in the GIS software industry. Esri offers innovative solutions that help users create, manage, analyze, and display information to make timely decisions and solve problems they encounter every day. Esri's comprehensive product line ranges from desktop GIS to GIS for the enterprise.
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