Geospatial technology changes rapidly and our group has a real interest in how this can be embedded in geographical learning. We are a diverse range of Geographers, including a mix of current Teachers, Heads of department, Teacher trainers, as well as people from Professional organisations, such as the FSC, who work in advisory teaching roles. Members work in a variety of settings, including Primary and Secondary Schools, as well as International and Teacher Education. As a group, we are currently working on developing more classroom friendly resources, with our current mission being to make GIS use more accessible for ALL teachers, so they feel able to use it routinely in their Geography lessons.

We meet three times a year via Zoom although we also hold face-to-face and hybrid meetings too. We also welcome guest speakers and other GA experts to some of our meetings, to enhance our knowledge and understanding of immerging new applications and technology. We draw on the diverse expertise of our members who range from those with a very specialised and practical knowledge of using GIS in the classroom, to those with a more general interest, who want to learn more about how best to start using digital tools to support their teaching. We use social media such as twitter to share ideas and regularly present sessions at the GA’s Annual conference, in addition to writing articles for Teaching Geography, and engaging with other outside agencies such as ESRI and Digimaps.

Members get involved with a number of initiatives and projects – recent examples have been;

o   Providing digital maps using GIS for the Worldwise quiz

o   Submitting photos for the GA’s Fieldwork week

o   Working with Esri on UK Climate change resources

o   Developing resources to support the Atlas of the Invisible 

o   Involvement with the Gi Pedagogy, Erasmus+ project work

o   Working with GIS maps + Stream lit app with the University of Tennessee

o   Publishing an article in Science Education Research, titled - Expanding the field: using digital to diversify learning in outdoor science

So, if you have an interest or expertise in digital technology and its use in geography teaching and learning, why not come and join us? We are currently looking for new members – and would actively encourage in particular, Primary and Early Career teachers to apply. If interested, why not come along to one of our sessions at the GA’s Annual Conference in Sheffield in April? or alternatively meet us at our stand in the main exhibition area, or simply send an e-mail to heidi.quenby@outlook.com. For more information follow us @GASIGICT.