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Top 5 ArcGIS summer learning opportunities for K-12 educators

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Author Angela Alexander

Summer is here! Looking to do some professional development during your time away from school? Well, check out the top 5 ArcGIS professional learning opportunities that we recommend you do in the next couple of months!

Great news! Summer is here and you may be already done your school year. Let’s take some time to reflect, relax and recharge for 2021-2022. If you are looking to improve your ArcGIS skills over the summer, there are many free, virtual professional learning opportunities for you. Here are the top 5 ArcGIS professional development opportunities that we recommend:

  1. Esri Global User Conference – July 12-15: Teachers will need their ArcGIS username and Customer # to register. Contact k12@esri.ca if you don't know your Customer #. 
  2. Canadian Geographic Summer Conference – August 19: We will be facilitating an entire stream on ArcGIS StoryMaps in English and French.
  3. Self-Directed Learning: We have resources supporting self-directed learning or live virtual workshops.
  4. Esri Canada Summer School: ArcGIS Online 101 – Learn the basics of ArcGIS Online
  5. Esri Canada Summer School: ArcGIS Pro 101 – Learn the basics of ArcGIS Pro, Esri's desktop software.

The image shows the colourful logo for this year’s Esri User Conference.

The annual Esri User Conference showcases the latest ArcGIS updates and features. Discover ArcGIS use in different sectors from users around the world. Learn from GIS professionals and attend technical workshops. This is the second year that registration is complimentary for everyone and it will be virtual.

Other great resources to check out:

People Mapping: Finding and Using Demographic Data
Discover a wealth of web apps that you can integrate into your teaching with this story map presentation created by Joseph Kerski from Esri. He put this together earlier this month for his 2021 Esri Education Summit technical workshop on “People Mapping: Finding and Using Demographic Data.”

This image shows the Urban Observatory app. There are three maps with features highlighted in red that display senior population in three cities.

The Urban Observatory app is one of the resources included in Joseph Kerski’s  2021 Esri Education Summit technical workshop on “People Mapping: Finding and Using Demographic Data.”

Career Path Series
Discover lessons and other resources for secondary school students that focus on how GIS in used in different sectors in Canada.

This image shows a series of thumbnails that represent resources for secondary school students.

This collection of resources is a great way for students to discover how GIS is used in different sectors in Canada. They have the opportunity to become GIS Analysts in using ArcGIS Online to answer questions pertaining to a particular sector.

The K-12 group at Esri Canada will continue working through the summer to bring you new resources, and ideas to incorporate into your teaching. Please feel free to contact us at k12@esri.ca with any of your questions, comments and ideas for resources.

New to ArcGIS Online?

If you are new to ArcGIS Online, educators can request an account at k12.esri.ca/#access.

Check out the following beginner resources to get started with ArcGIS Online:

For Educators - Let’s get started with ArcGIS Online

For Students – Enroute with ArcGIS Online

This post was translated to French and can be viewed here.

About the Author

Angela Alexander is a K-12 Education Specialist in the Esri Canada Education and Research group. She has over 15 years of experience working with educators across Canada. Angela focuses on producing geographic information system (GIS) and curriculum-specific resources, and conducting and creating custom workshops for educators. She manages the GIS Ambassador Program and is the Technical Chair for the annual Skills Ontario GIS competition. Angela also writes monthly posts for the Esri Canada Education and Research blog, highlighting K-12 educators and partners, new ArcGIS resources and GIS-related events.

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