June 17, 2025
The Future of GIS in the Classroom
If there is one constant in this world, it is change. The Earth, climate, technology, and markets are constantly evolving. Upcoming professionals need to be able to adapt to change and problems that arise with it.
GIS or Geospatial Information System is a computer system that analyses and displays geographic information. It is a tool that allows users to track and monitor changes, which then supports critical thinking that leads to problem-solving. In other words, the future of GIS directly impacts problem solving in an evolving world.
Unlike statistics or biology, GIS isn’t frequently a degree requirement, but in order for graduates to be competitive in the job market, they should consider integrating this tool during their education. Here at Blue Marble Geographics®, we know the value of supporting students while they are preparing to become well-rounded professionals. We work with colleges and universities in the US and Canada to offer free academic licensing of Global Mapper® and Geographic Calculator® for classroom use. Learn more about our academic programs and how to apply for an academic license.
The Scope of GIS
One of our close partners is located in Biddeford, Maine, at the University of New England. Dr. Will Kochtitzky teaches GIS and remote sensing and strives to prepare students to face the real world and the challenges that come with it. When asked about how he sees the future of GIS in the classroom, he highlighted that it “is increasingly becoming a skill that most graduates need to have to be competitive in the job market across fields, including natural sciences, urban planning, public health, and more. Students need to understand a discipline at depth and have a toolkit that includes GIS and related geospatial skills.”
GIS is more than just maps and coordinates. As Dr. Kochtitzky pointed out, it applies to a wide range of disciplines, not just environmental or surveying. Golf superintendents need to understand the terrain slope of a course, builders need to calculate the volume of earth to move to flatten a site, and cell phone carriers need to manage their towers and vegetation encroachment. Geospatial technology is not a plug-and-chug application, but rather a toolkit that can be applied to a broad scope of industries and careers.
Powerful Problem Solving
Growing up, many students remember sitting in calculus and wondering when they were ever going to use derivatives in real life. Time and time again, students are told that half of school is learning how to learn. While part of this is true, it also goes a step further; education equips students with the tools and knowledge to solve real-world problems. While the problem isn’t usually a logarithmic equation, professionals need to comprehend the issue at hand and break it down to figure out a solution.
Similarly, GIS is more than just a technical tool. Dr. Joseph Cerreta, professor of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide, explained that, “it’s a critical thinking platform that helps students engage with their data, understand spatial relationships, and make evidence-based decisions in a world increasingly defined by location intelligence to solve real-world problems.”
“As software continues to evolve, we also need to train students to be flexible to work across platforms and use the tools that power their work. It is important to train critical thinkers in GIS techniques and not button pushers to help solve the world’s spatial problems.” -Dr. Kochctitzky, UNE
Dr. Kochtitzky, from UNE, mirrored Dr. Cerrata, outlining that, “as software continues to evolve, we also need to train students to be flexible to work across platforms and use the tools that power their work. It is important to train critical thinkers in GIS techniques and not button pushers to help solve the world’s spatial problems.”
Just as most academics will not grow up to be mathematicians, the majority of those who need GIS are not cartographers. The integration of critically analyzing geospatial information into the classroom equips students to tackle problems that arise during their postgraduate endeavors. If you want to learn more about the problems GIS can solve, be sure to check out our customer use cases, as well as our geospatial podcast.
