Esri Ireland has released a new interactive map highlighting the major successes of the first year of its ArcGIS for Schools programme.
Last year Esri Ireland announced plans to provide all schools across Ireland and Northern Ireland with free access to its ArcGIS mapping platform and specialised training for teachers to integrate it into their teaching plans. The ArcGIS for Schools programme was an immediate success, with over 165 schools in 29 counties using Esri's digital mapping software as a learning tool.
Some NI schools have produced incredible projects using the software, including a ground-breaking cross-community project between Lurgan College, St. Ronan’s College, and Lurgan Junior High School that brought together Protestant and Catholic schools in the area to explore and catalogue the sectarian divisions in Lurgan. The students were then invited to present their project to 19,000 people at the world's largest GIS conference in San Diego.
The scheme officially started in November 2018 in Ireland and came to Northern Ireland in February of this year. To celebrate the scheme's one year anniversary, Esri Ireland has created an interactive story map using its tools that highlights some of the biggest successes of the scheme.
It's been a good year for Esri's educational initiatives, with the company winning the Education Partnership award at the Northern Ireland Responsible Business awards and being encouraged for its role in developing spatial skills and critical thinking in students. The scheme has helped promote STEM skills and encourage a new generation of students to improve their communities.
Top highlights include the Northern Ireland Science Festival, workshops with schools and universities, award events, and the Lurgan school project. The ArcGIS for Schools programme has now partnered with Ulster University, Queen's University Belfast, and the Association of Geography Teachers in Ireland to deliver free workshops and educational initiatives to students aged four to 18 across the island of Ireland.
Esri Ireland Director & Country Manager Paul Synnott commented on the anniversary: "The first year of our ArcGIS for Schools has been a huge success and something that the Esri Ireland team is immensely proud of. Our efforts to encourage STEM learning have been met with enthusiasm from both students and teachers around Ireland - North and South - and this positivity is a hugely encouraging sign for the future of the programme."
Source: Written based on press release
