Critical Geospatial Analysis

This 10 day intensive GIS workshop focused on the foundational skills of collecting, analyzing, and creating geospatial data utilizing ArcGIS software. Utilizing other data rich resources such as census data and healthycity.org, our team was able to understand the process of critical geospatial analysis.  

We applied these skills immediately, examining current maps used by community organizations and advocacy groups in our school's area, as well as creating our own asset maps to prepare us for what would be the eventual campaign to open up small pilot community schools. The examination of data later helped to inform our public forums to discuss the need for better educational facilities in South Central and has since informed several case studies and mapping activities implemented in our classes. 

This course was rigorous, and helped us to shape how to best approach students with mapping curriculum (though it should be stated that the ArcGIS training we received was beyond the scope of our 9th grade geography elective courses). Our introductory course in Critical Geography evolved into a broader examination of community inquiry. Given the proliferation of access to and manipulation of geospatial data through mobile devices and web servers, the absolute need to use ArcGIS platforms in the creation of maps only becomes necessary when creating professional maps for organizations and businesses. Another TIIP team from Clark Magnet High School took their work around GIS more in this direction and it is worth reading about their work here.

What we were able to focus on and apply from this very informative training was how to help students utilize accessible tools such as GoogleMaps, GoogleEarth, GPS devices, as well as their own mobile devices (iPods, cell phones) to more critically analyze space in order to understand historical and contemporary human interaction and events. Some of more successful lessons incorporated a semester long look back on the Los Angeles Riots during the 20th Anniversary as well as an examination of a student led movement to amend the day time curfew law in Los Angeles.