ADEC familiarizes teachers on the importance of using GIS in their classrooms

GIS, an evolving industry across the world, captures, manages, analyzes and displays all forms of geographic information, thus helps answer questions and solves problems in a speedy and smooth manner.

The 2012 Esri Middle East and Africa User Conference ran from December 10th to 12th 2012 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, in Abu Dhabi governments aim to introduce the different GIS careers that exist in various disciplines, from environmental science to commercial businesses and many others.

Teachers are encouraged to implement GIS and geographic education across classrooms as part of ADEC's goal to teach students to think spatially, and to include GIS as a support tool across school curricula.

"With latest advances in technology, spatial education should be recognized as a pivotal part of education that helps prepare our youth to become part of a competitive market environment. For that reason, ADEC in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Center (ADSIC) and the Environment Systems Research Institute (ESRI), has organized and moderated several educational sessions for teachers, who have all been familiarized on applying practical GIS methods in their classrooms," said Dr. Alaaeldin A. Aly, Knowledge Management Division Manager at ADEC.

"A good understanding of our geography enables us to make well-informed, coordinated and strategic decisions for the betterment of society. Through initiatives headlined by ADSIC's Abu Dhabi Spatial Data Infrastructure, the Abu Dhabi Government has emerged as a model of spatially-enabled growth across the region. We believe in the importance of generating awareness on the importance of GIS and promoting a spirit of technology-powered progress among our educators and the youths they mentor," said Mr. Abdul Karim Al Raeesi, Director of Strategy & Planning, Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre.

Internationally, educators are integrating GIS to help study subjects such as geography, earth sciences, history, mathematics, language arts and many more. This helps better equip students with spatial thinking, location based problem solving and collaborative skills using proper geospatial information, tools and methods.

Teachers and attendees were also given the opportunity to understand the direction and means set forward by Abu Dhabi government in relation to spatial education.

Additionally, ADEC demonstrated their GIS applications and tools to the public in the Abu Dhabi Government pavilion.

A guest speaker specialized in spatial education has also demonstrated the importance of adopting spatial education in schools, and how it has helped improve schools overall performance.

"ADEC seeks to develop and implement innovative educational policies, plans and programs that will improve education in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and support educational institutions and staff. ADEC utilizes the latest technologies and tools, such as GIS to help support and increase the quality of the decision making process," explained Dr. Alaaeldin.

The event has also familiarized around 200 Cycle 3 and university students with latest GIS technologies and job opportunities from other government entities.

In ADEC's aim to integrate all students in taking interest in the initiative, a number of fun loving activities for Cycle 1 and 2 students were organized to help them learn more about applying the GIS through games such as puzzles and colors.

"In leveraging GIS technology, ADEC is more capable to achieve its ten-year Strategic Plan with regards to utilizing current school buildings and planning the future locations of new schools, reducing student performance gaps between areas, and balancing the distribution load of the teachers. GIS is also a great factor in ADEC initiatives such as: development of its public and private schools master plans, merger plans and replacement of schools, management of student transportation, and the improvement of student access to schools," concluded Dr. Alaaeldin.