10:50 AM - 11:05 AM
[O01-05] More maps in the classroom!
- Activities of Geospatial Information Authority of Japan to support geoscience education-
★Invited Papers
Keywords:support of education, toolbox for geography education, education for disaster reduction, geospatial information literacy, GSI maps
The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI), which is the national organization within the Japanese government tasked with producing and coordinating basic geospatial information, had hitherto not concerned itself with education. However, in response to the recent discssion for revision of the National Courses of Study, GSI established a team to tackle the issues of geography and earth science education and started a study on how it can play a more important role in the promotion of geoscience education in November 2015. In light of introduction of compulsory lesson of geography and raise of course rate of earth science in high schools, GSI considers it important to support the majority of teachers who did not specialize in geoscience. In this regard, GSI has implemented various actions such as the establishment of a web page named “toolbox for geography education,” holding a “summer seminar” for young geography students and an explanatory meeting for textbook publishers and visiting schools to provide special lessons. Especially it puts strength into spreading the use of “GSI Maps”, web-based map browser with the variety of functions such as overlaying various maps and 3D presentation of maps and aerial photographs, which seems effective for geoscience education. Moreover, it is important to establish a network among stakeholders such as teachers, geoscientists, governments, private sectors for mapping and GIS and GSI to share information and experiences and collaborate in in the promotion of geoscience education.+