Although Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are viewed as increasingly valuable for educational use, few tools have been developed to assess the effects of GIS on student learning. This article describes a project that focuses on the development of evaluation tools to determine what, if anything, students gain from using GIS in a classroom setting. Anecdotal evidence suggests that there exist tangible benefits for students--whether in content understanding or in attitudes--but it is necessary for tools to be created to measure such effects. Teachers, principals, and other district administrators need to see measurable benefits in using new technologies in order to determine whether investments in equipment and staff training is justified. (Contains 2 tables.)