4-H Technology GIS/GPS
Teaching Marketable, High-Tech Employment Skills
Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and other cutting-edge technology are being used in more and more applications--from road construction to compiling census information and maps. Finding ways to teach these technologies to young people can help them learn about community issues while giving them solid information for approaching local government to affect change in resource management practices.
Training young people for high-tech careers has been identified as a need of the Colorado River Indian Tribe (CRIT), whose representatives wanted their tribal members to become employable while also developing technological job opportunities on the reservation. It was also determined that a statewide technology program, focusing initially on GIS/GPS, would be beneficial to all 4-H youth.
Arizona has formed a statewide 4-H Technology Program providing learning opportunities in a number of emerging fields. Technology training for UA extension faculty allowed them to take the knowledge back to their local communities. Arizona is participating in National 4-H Technology projects with a state technology representative, Linda Masters, who is also serving on the national 4-H GIS/GPS Design Team and on the planning team for the 2006 National 4-H Technology Leadership Conference.
Some of the objectives of the Arizona 4-H GIS/GPS technology project include:
-Teaching youth about the use of a variety of GPS units and selected GIS computer programs.
-Local employment opportunities for Tribal and other youth in a broad range of skill and knowledge levels.
-Tribal members will be qualified for challenging, high-paying jobs anywhere that they want to work. All youth, regardless of race, will develop marketable employment skills.
In western Arizona,
-5 Youth, 3 Adult volunteers completed the new GIS/GPS technology Program for a total of 24 hours of instruction
-A GPS workshop was conducted at the 4-H Summer MoPaz Camp, with 52 Youth participating
-3 adults have provided 15 volunteer hours for 4-H GIS/GPS program
-Local workshops included field trips to collect GPS data which were entered into the National 4-H Youth Favorite Places Web site.
GIS/GPS curriculum has been developed, specially adapted for use by 4-H youth. GPS classroom materials covered include basic compass use, basics of geospatial coordinate sytems, Global Positioning Systems, GPS use, Handheld computer use, HGIS Software, and ArcView Software.
Data collection for a local community service mapping project of diseased trees resulted in a map and database presented by youth to the Parker Town Council and the CRIT Tribal Council, in order to better inform them of the extent of the problem.
-75% of GPS/GIS youth participants stated that they wanted to go into a career using this type of technology
-100% of GPS/GIS youth & adults involved felt strongly that they learned information useful to their lifestyle.
This project is undergoing recruiting and rebuilding in western Arizona.
Linda Masters • lmasters@cals.arizona.edu
PO Box 3485 •
Parker AZ 85344-3485
(928) 669-9843
