Summary
State atlases are a tool to teach students about the social, cultural, and natural history and current affairs within the context of a state’s geography. Maps help students make richer connections to a subject by engaging students to connect events to an actual place. In 2024, several members of the Geographic Alliance of Iowa (GAI) decided to create a state atlas for Iowa students. Their approach included enlisting the help of members of the Iowa GIS community from the Iowa Geographic Information Council (IGIC) to help gather data and make maps for the atlas.
During this session, you will hear from the Iowa Atlas team participants about this approach’s strengths and challenges. The Iowa Atlas team will share the vision for the Iowa Atlas, our progress and hope for the future, and how we are using the Iowa Atlas to build partnerships within the geographic and education communities. To finish our time together, we would invite a discussion including seasoned state atlas creators to share their experiences, and those interested in starting or updating a state atlas to join the conversation.
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | State Atlas | Promote Geography through Partnerships | Shared Knowledge | Curriculum and Instruction
Conference Room
Nebraska
Meet the Presenters
- Amy Logan, GIS Research Scientist, Iowa State University
- Rachel Hansen, History Education Specialist, State Historical Society of Iowa
- Thomas Larsen, Assistant Professor of Geography, University of Northern Iowa
