Reading, ‘Riting, ‘Rithmetic...GIS - The Fourth “R” in Education?

Reading, ‘Riting, ‘Rithmetic...GIS - The Fourth “R” in Education?

(Version 11/7/07)

Donna L. Goldstein

ABSTRACT: For better or worse, computers have revolutionized every aspect of our lives. As we quickly make the transition from an industrial to an information age, computer literacy skills have become a basic necessity. Technology skills are now referred to as the "Fourth R" in education. To successfully learn and use GIS (Geographical Information Systems) technology, one must incorporate the skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Understanding and utilizing a GIS system requires a holistic combination of reading instructions, data, and maps; writing hypotheses, reports, and presentations; and using arithmetic to understand queries and spatial analysis. Thus the 4th R as it relates to GIS is a new elevated skill that incorporates the three original R’s in education. Teaching GIS may be just the boost our public educational system needs to adequately prepare students for entrance into the emerging global society.

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