GAINESVILLE - Teachers in Hall County are learning high-tech mapping techniques, then incorporating them into coursework.

Professors at Gainesville State College's Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis are teaching elementary, middle and high school teachers about the software and equipment they can use to help students in environmental science, technology and business classes.

Gary Martin, technology teacher at the Da Vinci Academy of South Hall Middle School, first incorporated geographic information systems simulations into his classes after attending the workshop last summer. He came back this week to learn more.

"After my first exposure, I just jumped in, and now I'm trying to get more proficient," he said. "I'm planning a two- or three-week unit to expose students to GIS and give the technological tools to complete research projects."

During the workshop, Zac Miller, Gainesville State's GIS outreach coordinator, and Chris Semerjian, associate professor of GIS, discussed satellites and GPS technology. The teachers then picked up a GPS unit of their own and tracked locations on the college campus.

Last year, Da Vinci students Logan Allen and Chad Newstrom won awards from the Georgia Urban and Regional Information Systems Association for maps they created about Hall County's test scores and Georgia hospitals.

"I teach them the technology tool belt, and the students create research projects, such as a Web page or movie," Martin said.

"GIS is another one of those tools. It's an emerging technology, and we're trying to give the students a skill that is transferable to the job field."

Kathy Mellette, a North Hall Middle School directed studies teacher, wants to learn more ways to use the Gainesville State Virtual Lab, a remote-access system set up between the college and South Hall and North Hall middle schools.

"My students were virtually connected to the Gainesville State GeoTech center, allowing us to use the GeoTech programs and data to complete a simulation activity," she said. "Chris and Zac work very hard to provide resources and support for both Hall County and Gainesville schools not only in our county but the entire state."