Historical GIS
1) Historical GIS is the pairing of the mapping capabilities of geographic information systems with the study of history for the purpose of illustrating or shedding light on historical narratives or phenomena. 2) Robert Churchill identifies four distinct purposes for using GIS in history education. First, he mentions the analytical and problem-solving practice that using GIS provides for students. Next, GIS helps students understand the power and potential in visualization. Also, he sees GIS as a means of helping students understand sociopolitical issues and controversies (giving an example of personal privacy and the web), and lastly, he views it as a “pedagogic context” through which teachers can explore issues, such as gerrymandering, that can best be explained and understood through GIS (71). Amy Hillier also sees GIS as a useful teaching tool in that it will engage students in new ways with technology with which they’re already familiar (through the use of navigational tec...