Using GIS to visualise global trends in urbanisation
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use GIS to visualise global trends in urbanisation.
Key learning points
- For the first time ever, humanity became ‘urban’ around 2007.
- GIS can help us to manage and visualise big data about world cities using filters and pop-ups.
- GIS helps us to manage and visualise big data about trends in urbanisation using choropleth maps and pop-ups.
- GIS choropleth maps use shapefiles which are ‘joined’ to attribute using place identifiers in the shapefiles.
- GIS pop-us can be configured to visualise trends in big data about urban population.
Keywords
Filter - the selection of some data in a GIS layer to visualise spatial patterns more clearly
Pop-up - in GIS, a read-only display of attribute information (e.g. text, images, charts) often linked to a location
Choropleth - a cartographical method used to visualise data for bounded areas (polygons) using shading or colours
Shapefile - in GIS, a vector data storage format used for location, shape and attributes of geographic features, e.g. borders of polygons showing the outline and area of a country
Common misconception
When using filters, selecting the incorrect 'condition'; when configuring pop-ups, using the incorrect formula of words to link with attribute titles.
Advise caution when selecting the 'condition' for a filter; take care when typing text and typing or selecting attribute titles.
Teacher tip
No matter what your level of experience is with GIS, go through all the steps yourself first until you feel confident and fluent. Don't worry if you make a mistake, everybody does, even experienced practitioners!
Equipment
The lesson will require students to have access to a suitable IT device e.g. laptop. Some tasks would be facilitated by the students using a mouse for more effective and faster control of the cursor.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions:
The increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities
A city with over 10 million people
Movement of people from the countryside to cities
Q2.What is a common cause of urbanisation in many LICs and NEEs?
Q3.Which of the following cities is a megacity?
Q4.In which world region is urbanisation currently happening most rapidly?
Q5.What is the main difference between urbanisation in HICs and LICs?
Q6.What is a likely push factor in rural-urban migration?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords with their definitions:
Selecting some data to highlight spatial patterns
Display of attribute information often linked to a location
A shading method to show data for different areas
A vector data format used for storing shapes/data
Q2.What is a shapefile used for in GIS?
Q3.A map shows differences between areas using shades or colours.
Q4.What is the issue with choosing the wrong condition when applying a filter?
To help you plan your 11 geography lesson on: Using GIS to visualise global trends in urbanisation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 geography lesson on: Using GIS to visualise global trends in urbanisation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 geography lessons from the Urban change unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.