Arizona Electronic Atlas Training Module Script

This script can be used by the trainer to guide his or her presentation. This script follows the training session outline. Quotation marks will denote items meant to be spoken aloud to the class. Writing in parenthesis or without quotes are meant as cues for the trainer.

A. Introduction

1. Goals of the lesson - using the goals and objectives sheet, go over the goals of the lesson with staff

2. Pre-Exercise - "The basic functions of the Atlas are easy to learn and use. We will begin with this exercise. Please work independently and I will circulate around the room to provide assistance as needed."

B. Information And Demonstration

1. Purpose of the Atlas

"The purpose of the Atlas is to :

• allow users to create dynamic maps of Arizona, choosing the data that meets their needs
• allow users to save, email, and download their maps so they may be integrated into other applications
• provide easy and convenient access to geo-spatial data
• improve geographic literacy"

2. Map Themes

"The Atlas has more data available than can easily be viewed in one map, so four map themes were developed. These map themes are: Natural Resources, People and Society, Business and Economics, and Environment and Population" (direct students to go to Make a Map so that they can follow along)."

"Within each theme, you can compare data and see some relationships between one data layer and another.
For example the Environment and Population theme contains data such as Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Sites, Percent total deaths for selected causes such as lung cancer, female breast cancer by county, and Percent of each race by census tract, county, congressional district."

"Each theme, as you can see has some unique data associated with it."

3. Layers

"A data layer is a grouping of similar or like information. For example each of the following is a separate data layer (go into the Natural Resources theme and click on the Animals folder) Reptile Species Richness, Mammal Species Richness, Bird Species Richness, and Amphibian Species Richness."

"In the pre-exercise you just worked with a data layer called EPA Ecoregions. When you selected it and then clicked on Redraw Map you got a map of the state showing where the different ecoregions are."

"In most cases you can only view one distinct layer at a time. But there are some exceptions. For example, in Natural Resources (open this map theme) you can view EPA Superfund sites and EPA Ecoregions- two separate layers-at the same time (click on each of these layers, then redraw the map so as to illustrate)."

"However you can not view EPA Ecoregions and Watersheds at the same time (illustrate where Watersheds are by clicking on the Waterways folder). This is simply a limitation of the Atlas functionality at this time. Advanced users can work around this by downloading the data and using it in ArcExplorer."

OPTIONAL: An additional way to explain layers:

Another way to illustrate the concept of layers is with a set of overhead transparencies. Each overhead would need to show different information (such as county boundaries, highways, and lakes - i.e. each overhead would show a different layer). You could place each overhead down on the projector one at a time, resulting in a map showing a series of layers.

4. Show map layout - go into the screen layout tutorial (as shown below)

"The map is your canvas: on the right --- content, information and data to create your maps;
Top --- are your tools to view the map in various ways and to manipulate it;
Left --- are additional function tools to print, download and to query the map or atlas."

(First go into one of the map themes.) "The print map button here (show where it is located) will allow you to print any map you've created. When you click on the button, this screen will come up (click on button). This screen will allow you to create a title for the map, enter your name as author, and select some print options"

"A Basic query (click on basic query) will allow you to locate a specific county, city or congressional district. Let's do a query for Bisbee." (Enter Bisbee after clicking on city. Click on magnifying glass in the Search Results window and bring up the map. Note that the city boundaries for Bisbee are in green and the map has automatically zoomed in on Bisbee.)

"You can also do a Place Finder search for a variety of features. If you'd like to search for a particular type of place, use the pull down menu (show the pull down menu). As you can see, this menu will let you search for a variety of types of places such as airport, arroyo, or bridge."

"This data comes from a government database called Geographic Names Information System Database. Let's search for Bisbee under Place Finder (Show how task done). You can get additional data by turning on "Show Data" and clicking on the point."

"Now I'll show how to make a map with two layers (go into the map theme - Environment and Population; click on the box to the left of "EPA Superfund Sites" and on the folder "People by County;" click on the box to the left of "2000 Percent Total Deaths-Female Breast Cancer;" and click "Redraw Map"). Orange is the highest, white is the lowest. The results may or may not allow you to make a direct correlation; however you see a graphic display of the data. This information may bring up questions to pursue."

"Some layers present such detailed information that you must "Zoom In" in order to see them (begin making a map in the Natural Resources Theme in order to show this). For example, when you look at Native Vegetation in the Land folder it is telling you to "Zoom In." (Click on the map (default is zoom in) and keep zooming in until the check box for Native Vegetation appears.) When the check box next to Native Vegetation appears, that means we've zoomed in enough to display that layer." (Click in the check box next to Native Vegetation and click on "Redraw Map.")

5. Show Tutorials, FAQ, Glossary, and Links

TUTORIALS:

"The tutorials were designed for people who prefer to learn by working alone, and going through instructions in a methodical way. There are several tutorials available (click on tutorials and scroll down to demonstrate):

1. Screen Layout

2. How to Make a Map - Basic Tutorial which shows how to select a map theme, layer, zoom in, zoom out, pan, and print a map.

3. How to Make a Map - Intermediate Tutorial which shows how to do a basic query, use Place Finder, and download a map.

4. Advanced Tutorial which shows how to use the measure tool, how to show data, and do advanced queries

There is also a tutorial which shows how to import an Atlas map into either Word or PowerPoint."

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):

"There is also a FAQ section (click on FAQs and scroll down to illustrate). This section was designed to answer common questions/difficulties about the Atlas. It is divided into sections such as: Hints, Requirements, How Do I?, About the Maps,  Data Information, and Problems."

Scroll down and read a few of the specific questions aloud.

GLOSSARY:

"The glossary was created to explain unfamiliar terminology (click on glossary and scroll down to illustrate). The glossary includes geographic terms, census terms, and GIS terms, to name a few.

Sources of glossary terms include:

1 USGS Glossary <http://interactive2.usgs.gov/glossary> Site no longer available

2. National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center Glossary <http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outreach/glossary.shtml>

3. Encyclopedia Britannica Online <http://search.eb.com/dictionary>

All other definitions are from the American Factfinder <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet> and other sources."

LINKS:

"Links (click on to illustrate) provide access to additional map resources, such as map information, creation and displays, at the national, regional, state and local level. Links to map data on a variety of subjects such as labor, health, employment and education are also included."

OPTIONAL: (if your trainees are teachers, this page may be useful for them)

"The teaching resources page (click on link to illustrate) provides resources to assist instructors in developing assignments that use the Arizona Electronic Atlas. Several additional learning modules have been written so far. Two of these include Biotic Communities - the goal is to gather relevant natural resources information for a specified stretch of highway in Arizona and Environment and Society - the goal is to investigate the spatial relationship between EPA Superfund Sites and Hispanics in the Phoenix area.

The developers of the Atlas invite you to share any modules you develop. Please contact Chris Kollen if you would like to do this."

C. ATLAS EXERCISES

1. Exercise 1

"Now we will complete Exercise 1, working together step by step. I will circulate around the room and provide assistance as needed. Please think about the following as your work on the exercise: what problems, if any, did you experience? What concerns or questions do you have about the Atlas? We will have a whole group discussion on this once we complete the exercise."

(After everyone is completed) "Please share any problems, concerns, or questions you have about the Atlas now that you have completed Exercise 1."

2. Exercise 2

"The purpose of the next exercise is to give you a chance to work individually at producing a map with two layers. I will circulate around the room and help as needed. After everyone has had a chance to complete the exercise, I will ask you to participate in a discussion about which map theme you chose and why, and how you answered question 10 in the exercise. Please begin."

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