The term geo-media includes a wide range of technological solutions enabling to apply geo-context into educational processes through different ways. The most popular and well-known geo-media types are:

Interactive maps

The functionality of such maps is aimed mainly at browsing available data or searching for necessary information, e.g. determining a route (how to get to school from home), finding a specified object (where is the nearest health facility) or getting detailed information about it (what is it’s exact address). It is possible to make simple measurements such as distance or area and often also generate a link to a specific map view in order to send it by e-mail to another person who then can open the link and see it on his/her own computer exactly the same thing we see on ours. Well-known examples of interactive maps are Google Maps and Apple Maps.

Geoportals

A geoportal can be defined as a web portal used to find and access geographic information (geospatial information). In contrast to the interactive maps, geoportals combine the data provided from various sources (including official resources) and enable us to display, edit and analyse this data.  Over the geoportals users get access to associated services by adding Web Map Services (WMS). It’s the term for a standard protocol for serving georeferenced map images which a map server generates using data from a GIS database.  Each of the EU countries has its own national geoportal. Students could get inspired by the use of professional spatial information resources that were created with the "serious" specialist use in mind. This makes the young people more motivated to follow instructions and complete their school's tasks.

National geoportals of MASS partners’ countries:

• Czech Republic
• Cyprus
• Estonia
• Germany
• Greece
• Latvia
• Netherlands
• Poland
  
  

Virtual globes

A virtual globe is a 3D representation of the Earth, providing the user with the ability to move around by changing the viewing angle and position. Virtual globes have the possibility of displaying additional information on the surface of the Earth – geographical features, man-made features (roads, buildings), or representations of different demographic (population) and natural quantities (earthquakes). There are lots of examples of virtual globes such as Earth Browser, NASA World Wind, OpenWebGlobe, but the most popular and recognisable is Google Earth.  

GPS devices and location-based applications

GPS (Global Positioning System) is a space-based navigation system. It is used to provide us with information about location and time.. GPS receivers and geolocation-based apps provide an opportunity for everyone to locate themselves, find the proper way (for example during field work) as well as to demonstrate the relationships between the real space and the map. GPS devices and some of the GPS-based apps (such as the PDF Maps - app) also allow users to gather their own data (e.g. results of the field measurements). GPS devices and location-based applications are great tools to support outside activities (organising field trips, exploring nature, and collecting data). Using GPS receivers and mobile apps is very attractive for students, as it combines learning with fun. 

Geotagged videos/images/posts, etc.

Maybe this surprising, but also geotagged images or videos, so widely used in social media, are examples of geo-media. If you share your photos and add information about the exact location or when you “check-in” on Facebook and post a message to your friends from a specific place, it’s also a form of geospatial metadata.  

All of the tools, that are widely available today for everyone, were developed on the basis of more advanced technologies such as satellite remote sensing and GIS solutions. These technologies were firstly used by experts/specialists and are nowadays also available to a broad range of users; e.g. students and teachers.

Open source/ commercial software for remote sensing

Nowadays satellite images are widely available through simple browsing tools such as interactive maps. In most cases they are used as a background to present some other phenomena (earthquakes for example). More professional remote sensing software is used not only to access and view, but also to analyse data acquired by satellites (filter data, perform classification and even radar decomposition). Teachers can successfully use these tools, even with young students. They are easy to use and students are eager to try them because this is software used by professionals (experts and researchers).

There are two types of software available: commercial software and open source software (available for free). Open source remote sensing software (For example: MultiSpec, SAGA GIS, GRASS, InterImage, ILWIS) enables to process data without the big financial expenses. Depending on the needs and discipline you can choose the appropriate software. Commercial software (For example: ERDAS IMAGINE, ENVI, eCognition Developer, IDRISI Selva) provide more advanced packages of tools. 

Open source/commercial GIS software

 The interactive maps and geoportals that are mentioned above offer a basic set of opportunities to work with spatial data (searching, browsing, combining andsometimes simple analyses). If we want to extend the range of opportunities to work with spatial data, it's worth reaching for desktop-types of GIS software installed directly on the user’s computer. The GIS software allows to analyse data in a more advanced way, to create our own set of data and to prepare thematic maps. 

There are two types of software available: commercial software and open source software (available for free). Both, open source software (QGIS) and commercial software (ArcGIS) offer a wide range of tools and it’s user-friendly. Some tools (ArcGIS Online) offer access through the web browser (so users don’t have to install anything on the computer) and store data in the Cloud. Most of the GIS software is also available in a mobile version so it can be used on tablets during field work. 

Because satellite remote sensing and GIS solutions are not as well-known as other types of geo-media we decided to focus on those two types of geo-media and describe them in the Tutorial in detail.