11 May 2006

GIS Zone website strikes gold

Ordnance Survey has won a gold award in the annual Geographical Association (GA) Awards.

Presented at the GA Annual Conference in April 2006, the GA Awards aim to recognise material that has made a significant contribution to geography in primary schools, secondary schools or colleges, and to encourage the creative development of new materials.

Ordnance Survey was presented with the award for the GIS Zone on its MapZone, a bright and lively website that teaches mapping skills by using a combination of interactive play, stimulating questions and answers, and animations and games. Visit www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone.
 
Developed by 3T Productions, GIS Zone is a learning resource that is fun, visually attractive, interactive and easy to follow whilst also providing maximum opportunities to stimulate learning.

Finbar McGaughey, Commercial Director 3T Productions comments, "The site defines GIS, using visuals and animations to help. It covers the reasons why so much in life depends on the use of GIS; the benefits of using it and some of the key components that make up GIS such as hardware, software, databases, digital mapping and imagery.

"The site also includes valuable interactive exercises or missions in the form of educational games. These give students the chance to use a GIS simulation to put into practice what has been learned in the previous sections. They can use their new skills in a number of scenarios, for example, to find the most suitable sites for wind turbines take on the role of an ambulance controller or choose flood defences to protect a town from devastation. There is not always a single solution to the games, and this promotes discussion when the various results are compared."

Elaine Owen, Ordnance Survey’s Senior Education Manager, says: "We are delighted to have had the GIS Zone acknowledged in this way by the Geographical Association. When we commissioned the site our aim was to provide a resource that was stimulating and engaging for pupils whilst pre empting questions that teachers might have and advising how GIS can be implemented into the curriculum. This award confirms that we have been successful in our aims."

 

Note to editors:

3T Productions is a leading interactive media design and development agency with over 20 years’ experience in creating educational software. An extensive internal skills base means that 3T can provide content management and development as well as intuitive visual designs that motivate and engage the target audience.

For more information on 3T Productions: Helen Windsor/Sue Murray, Mango Marketing, 1B The Quadrant Courtyard, Quadrant Road, WEYBRIDGE, KT13 8DR; phone: 01932 829077 or Kate Kilpatrick, Marketing Manager, 3T Productions Ltd, Pennine House, Carrs Road, CHEADLE, SK8 2BL; phone: 0161 492 1400

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Chief Press Officer - Scott Sinclair

Email: scott.sinclair@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2265

Senior Press Officer - Bryn Jones

Email: bryn.jones@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2708

Press Office fax: (+44) 023 8030 5295