Geographic information systems in schools geography (learning materials)

In early 60-ies of XX th century the computer is born and begin to inculcate in various range of life. Text data have been changed into digital databases. In late nineties computers becomes concurrent with our daily life. In year of 2001 government begins to fund computerizing of secondary schools in Lithuania. According, to analysis of situation in secondary schools computerization, we can admit that the level of computerization is high. Situation with geography computerization is quite comfortable too. It is good situation to begin apply GIS to secondary education. In year of 2002 a document of “Geography education standards for secondary schools” was realized, and GIS, as a part of geography, has his place in this document. Talking about textbooks of geography, it is only one of them that includes information about GIS (prepared by David Waugh), but considering to geography standards, to form informational skills of students, information about GIS in this textbook is insufficient. Looking for information about GIS we regarded of qualitative information standards, that is set by Education evolutionary centre. Information about GIS is divined into several rubric, they are: definition of GIS, history and birth of GIS, shape of data used in GIS, usage of GIS in modern world. It is important to overview all of those rubric as a main information that is needed to gain a modern calibre of geography. Introduction to GIS programs is important too. Because, at the moment, we don’t have a chance to introduce students with real GIS programs, we need to find alternative. In alternative we used a partly GIS programs, they are: Akis M, a digital map of Vilnius, a digital map of Lithuania and internet GIS program maps.lt. As analysis of Vilnius secondary schools showed, it is good situation to start teaching about GIS in schools. Elder student has main skills working with computer, and cause no problem during teaching about GIS process. Technology of GIS is evolving day by day and becomes a irreversible technology in daily life. As the irreversible par of geographic data storage, addition and processing GIS is appreciable by a lot of official and private institutions. That is because of GIS as a modern geography part, concurrent with traditional geography and extending limits of modern geography.Švietimo akademijaVytauto Didžiojo universiteta