New Hampshire DOE Signs Statewide GIS License Agreement with ESRI

From Environmental System Research Institute (courtesy Lara Bryant, Geography):

Over 200,000 students in New Hampshire schools now have the ability to learn and apply 21st century geospatial concepts using the ArcGIS software developed by Environmental System Research Institute (ESRI). Thanks to a statewide partnership between ESRI, the world’s leading geographic information system (GIS) software developer, and the New Hampshire Department of Education, this new partnership will allow every public and private school throughout the state unprecedented access to ESRI’s state-of-the-art GIS tools for use in education and research. The agreement also includes school administrative use for tasks like creating district maps and efficient bus routes.

“I have been working with future teachers, teaching them how to effectively use the software in their classrooms to support geographic inquiry,” says Dr. Lara Bryant, an assistant professor at Keene State College, who teaches a GIS in K-12 education course and is also the coordinator of the NHGA. “It is now exciting that the software will be available to them when they begin teaching. GIS really allows teachers to create an inquiry based learning environment; one in which students can ask questions, explore spatial data and begin to derive possible solutions to the variety of geographic issues our communities face.”

For the full release and more information regarding the partnership, visit http://www.nhedgis.org.