Teaching spatial thinking with GIS: why and how

Joseph Kerski

Chapter 1 in Teaching Spatial Thinking with Geographic Information Systems, 2026, pp 1-38 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Why, where, and how can spatial, holistic, and critical thinking be taught across multiple disciplines with GIS? Through technical tips, pedagogical guidance, and a series of hands-on activities, students and instructors will immerse themselves in location-based analysis across places, scales, and time periods. The “whys of where” will be explored through activities and foundational content on water, sounds, childhood memories, hazards, invasive species, and other topics. What is GIS, how is it changing, and how can it be effectively used in instruction? A rigorous immersion in multiple types of maps and visualizations is sprinkled throughout the chapter with a focus on interactive maps that can be used as tools for inquiry- driven investigation. This chapter equips instructors and students with the framework and skills to ask thoughtful questions and to confidently investigate issues in geography, earth and environmental science, sociology, business, economics, mathematics, history, art, and other disciplines.

Keywords: Maps; Spatial Thinking; GIS; Teaching; Visualization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035302260
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