Library Guides: GIS Data & Software: GIS Learning Resources

Esri Learning Resources

Esri Academy
A selection of self-paced courses, instructor-led classes, MOOCs, and certification prep to build GIS skills with Esri tools. Log in with your Trent ArcGIS Account to access all resources freely available through the university’s education agreement [18].
Esri Blog
An official blog platform, offering insights, updates, and best practices directly from Esri product teams and GIS professionals. It covers a wide range of topics, including new product features, technical tips, industry applications, and user stories. The blog is a valuable resource for staying current with the ArcGIS ecosystem and learning how to apply GIS tools effectively in real-world scenarios [18].
Esri Canada Higher Education Resource Finder
An interactive platform designed to help students, instructors, and researchers discover GIS-related educational materials. It features a searchable collection of tutorials, datasets, lesson plans, and activities, all organized by audience and topic [18].
Esri Documentation
An official hub for up-to-date technical documentation, tutorials, and learning resources across the entire ArcGIS platform. It provides detailed guides for foundational products like ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and ArcGIS Enterprise, as well as tools for developers, mobile apps, and industry-specific solutions. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced user, the site offers step-by-step instructions, best practices, and reference materials to help you effectively use Esri’s GIS technology [18].
Esri Tutorials
A curated collection of hands-on tutorials and learning resources designed to help users build skills with ArcGIS tools. It features a wide range of topics—from basic mapping and data visualization to advanced spatial analysis and 3D modeling. Each tutorial includes step-by-step instructions and is categorized by skill level and estimated completion time, making it easy for learners to find content that suits their needs and experience [18].
Esri Webinars
A series of free, live, and interactive webinars led by Esri Canada technical experts. These one-hour sessions are designed to help users stay current with the latest GIS tools, product updates, and best practices. Webinars are conducted via Zoom and are open to residents of Canada and the U.S. Recordings of past sessions are also available for on-demand viewing [18].

18. Microsoft Copilot, response to "Briefly describe these learning resources: Esri Academy, Esri Blog, Esri Canada Higher Education Resource Finder, Esri Documentation, Esri Tutorials, and Esri Webinars," Microsoft, July 9, 2025. Edited for style and content.

Open Software Resources

Google Earth Engine (GEE) Help
Review the GEE Help page for technical support and documentation.
Google Maps Platform Documentation
Review Google Maps Platform Documentation to learn the basics of using Google Maps Platform APIs & SDKs.
Leaflet Documentation
You can explore Leaflet's documentation and tutorial sections for coding specifics and step-by-step instructions.
Learn GRASS GIS
Explore a collection of resources to learn GRASS GIS software.
OpenLayers Documentation
See OpenLayers documentation for getting started guides, workshops, tutorials and more.
QGIS Resources
Explore the QGIS Resource Hub.
R Documentation
Explore the wide selection of R documentation and resources.

Open Educational Resources

University of British Columbia (UBC) Library Research Commons
The UBC Library Research Commons offers GIS help through workshops and resources focused on geospatial data analysis, web mapping, and tools like QGIS, Mapbox, Leaflet and ArcGIS Online.
Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship (SCDS)
The SCDS offers GIS help through self-paced modules on geospatial data, QGIS, ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro.
Map and Data Library (MDL) Tutorials
The MDL at the University of Toronto offers GIS help through tutorials on QGIS, ArcGIS Online, and ArcGIS Pro.
Statistics Canada – Online Lectures
Statistics Canada offers many lectures on QGIS software.