Spatial Thinking

INDIA GEOSPATIAL EDUCATION > Spatial Thinking

Spatial Thinking in Education: Empowering Local Solutions

Workshops on Empowering Educators: Leveraging Geospatial Technologies for Localizing Sustainable Development Goals​

Under the project ‘Catalyzing Geospatial Capacity Building,’ directed by Prof. Dr. Shamita Kumar, BVIEER collaboratively partnered with the National Geospatial Program, Department of Science and Technology (NGP-DST), Government of India. The primary objective was to conduct workshops for teachers and educators in association with the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) focused on spatial thinking to facilitate the localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The workshops aimed to equip educators with the necessary knowledge and skills to leverage open-source geospatial technologies effectively. This initiative was designed to align with the competency-based education framework outlined in the National Education Policy 2020 and the directives of the National Geospatial Policy 2022. Key activities included expert lectures on the role of geospatial technologies in education and localizing the SDGs. Hands-on training using tools like Google Earth and Epicollect5, field visits, and demonstrations. 
Prof. Dr Shamita Kumar, Principal, BVIEER highlighted the importance of SDGs in pedagogy
Prof. Dr Shamita Kumar, Principal, BVIEER highlighted the importance of SDGs in pedagogy
A visit to Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) at NIGST
A visit to Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) at NIGST
Samruddhi Patwardhan, Program Officer, BVIEER gave a hands-on
Samruddhi Patwardhan, Program Officer, BVIEER gave a hands-on
Shri Pankaj Mishra, Deputy Surveyor General, NIGST addressed the teachers
Shri Pankaj Mishra, Deputy Surveyor General, NIGST addressed the teachers

Online Workshops on Spatial Thinking: Leveraging Geospatial Technologies for Localizing Sustainable Development Goals

The program trained 154 teachers from 116 schools across 7 states (Gujarat, Haryana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Kerala, Rajasthan), impacting over 6160 students through school-based projects. Six hands-on modules enabled teachers to integrate spatial thinking, data collection, and analysis using open-source geospatial tools. Workshops emphasized SDG-linked, real-world problem-solving, digital literacy, and critical thinking through experiential, inquiry-based learning.
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Empowering Young Minds Through Spatial Thinking: A Pilot Outreach on Geospatial Literacy for Middle School Students

As part of the DST-IGET initiative, BVIEER, Pune, piloted a student-centered outreach program recently for 25 selected students from Classes 6 to 8 from different schools in Pune. BVIEER led geospatial sessions to promote scientific curiosity, higher-order thinking, and real-world problem-solving through spatial thinking. The program aimed to introduce students to spatial thinking, the basics of geospatial technologies, and their applications in daily life. It tested simple learning units designed to support inquiry-based learning, using real-world examples like satellite images, maps, and environmental data through hands-on. 

Prof.Dr. Shamita Kumar introduces the concept of Earth as a geoid
Mapping our position: Students practice how satellites detect locations using geometry
Hands-on activity: Spotting land-use changes through satellite image analysis
Exploring Mulshi’s rich biodiversity through hands-on mapping activities

Geo-enabling the global village with Generation Z and Alpha’