Learners as Teachers—Teachers as Learners: A Collaborative Approach to Develop Skills in GIS Education

A geographic information system (GIS) can be defined as a computer-based system that enables the collection, management, analysis, visualisation and sharing of spatial data. As a fundamental and fast-growing part of the global economy (Gilbert and Krygier, 2007), there is a growing global demand for a skilled workforce that can use this technology to address an array of spatial issues (Richardson, 2009). GIS is taught in some higher education courses, primarily geography, which enhances students’ employment opportunities. However, while there is potential to embed GIS as a commonplace tool in schools, doing so has been a perennial challenge, with an array of obstacles to overcome, and support for those ‘intrepid souls’ (DeMers, 2016, 23) who pioneer GIS use in schools is needed. Universities may have a part to play in this.