Embedded Files
Welcome to the Pilot version of the MN Community Atlas.
You are invited to explore and use this new teaching and learning resource from MN GreenStep Schools. There is a short survey to provide feedback on the resource in order to make it more engaging and useful.
Please note that this is a sneak preview. As of 1/16/25 this pilot is in a Beta Testing state - so you may find some non-functioning parts.
Introduction
Introduction
The MN Community Atlas is a student-friendly Geographic Information System (GIS) resource which can help students and teachers explore interactive maps of Minnesota as a whole, or focused on their communities. Students can compare maps to each other, print out maps, or even download the layer if they are using GIS software to make their own maps and StoryMaps, which are multimedia web applications for communicating and storytelling using maps.
The atlas is a collection of StoryMaps organized by 10 topic sections:
Water
Agriculture
Green Infrastructure (and related natural resources)
Energy Infrastructure
Transportation Infrastructure
Industry (coming soon)
Residential Areas
Institutions
Economic Development (coming soon)
People
Each topic section includes an introduction, how to use the story map, each of the interactive maps in that section with a user-friendly description of the map. Students can search for their school, or any place on the map to get a close up view, or explore the patterns in Minnesota and beyond. At the end of each story map is a link to a tool to compare maps in that section, sketch and diagram on the maps, or print them.
Without logging into any software, both teachers and students can explore, and customize maps for teaching or student projects. In classrooms where teachers and students are using GIS software, this tool provides an introduction to the variety of maps available and makes downloading map layers into their GIS projects easy.
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
This atlas is offered from MN GreenStep Schools which is housed at the Minnesota Design Center at the University of Minnesota. The early development of this atlas was co-conceived with other projects at the Minnesota Design Center such as D4CR which assists communities with strategizing their future through geodesign. This atlas is made possible through the funding and efforts of many:
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, via its funding of the MN GreenStep Schools Program
Southwest Regional Development Partnership, via its grant to Youth Eco Solutions (YES!) and MN GreenStep Schools to develop the Youth Mapping Progress GIS training program to empower youth to use the power of spatial thinking and maps to enhance their action projects with deeper understanding and more compelling storytelling for their communities.
MN GreenStep volunteer consultant, Cora LaVallie, who collaborated with GreenStep Schools program leader, Jonee Kulman Brigham to create user-friendly guidance and text throughout the Community Atlas.
U-Spatial and the Minnesota K12 GIS Education group at the University of Minnesota, specifically Shana Crosson and Stacey Stark
You! This early pilot version of the MN Community Atlas needs your input to make it useful and engaging. Please explore the Atlas and give us your feedback in the survey linked above.
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