Using Spatial Storytelling as an Approach to Teaching GIS and Spatial Literacy Skills

Libraries have been supporting instruction on GIS and spatial literacy for some time, but the proliferation of digital and spatial technologies and the increasing number of disciplines interested in using them is changing the demands on libraries. One of these tools is digital storytelling - when combined with maps it can be a powerful way to share research and advocate for change. To tell a good story is human, but to build a story with evidence that is convincing takes practice. This paper discusses our efforts to use storytelling as a base for building spatial literacy and GIS understanding in an academic library context. We present two cases, an event series including informal one-shot workshops, and a half semester course taught at a university, and offer a few suggestions to implement this on your own campus.