College of Education works with local educators to hone GIS skills in advanced geospatial workshop

May 12, 2026 - 02:34

The College of Education recently hosted an advanced geospatial workshop designed to help local educators build practical skills in geographic information systems, or GIS. The hands-on session brought together teachers from across the region to work directly with ArcGIS StoryMaps, a tool that combines maps, narrative text, and multimedia to create interactive learning experiences.

During the workshop, participants focused on developing model StoryMaps centered on the St. Louis area. These projects are meant to serve as ready-to-use classroom resources that other teachers can adapt for their own students. By grounding the maps in local geography, history, and community data, the educators aim to make lessons more relevant and engaging for learners.

The training goes beyond basic map reading. Teachers learned how to layer data, embed images and videos, and craft compelling narratives that align with curriculum standards. The goal is to give students a richer understanding of their city while building critical thinking and digital literacy skills.

Organizers emphasized that this kind of professional development helps bridge the gap between technology and teaching. By equipping educators with advanced GIS tools, the college supports a shift toward more interactive, place-based learning. The resulting StoryMaps will be shared across school districts, giving more teachers access to high-quality, locally relevant materials without needing to build them from scratch.