Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Geographic information systems--Study and teaching (Secondary)--Iowa--Polk County; Topographic maps--Study and teaching (Secondary)--Iowa--Polk County; Geographic information systems--Study and teaching (Secondary); Iowa--Polk County; Academic theses;
Abstract
Geographic information technologies (GIT) are spatially based technologies that include geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and global positioning systems (GPS). Though GIT has been used in society for decades, and has grown tremendously in the last 10 years as advancements in technology have become available, its inclusion into the K-12 curriculum has not kept pace. As the educational reform movement places an ever increasing amount of pressure on schools to produce technologically literate, workforce ready graduates, school districts are scrambling to find creative, innovative ways to accomplish this task. Rather than learning passively, GIT allows students to construct their own knowledge, making them active participants in their own education. The few studies that have been conducted involving the educational use of GIT at the K-12 level have shown that it has the capability of being an integral part of a quality 21st century education. As a high school science teacher with unlimited access to a 120 acre natural wildlife area, the researcher had a unique opportunity to test the effect GIT incorporation had on student attitudes and learning in my earth science class. By modifying an existing topographic map curriculum unit, he was able to introduce GIT to 19 high school earth science students. It was hypothesized that these students would be more than capable of demonstrating the ability to effectively use GIT, while also increasing student interest and learning of topographic maps. The effects of GIT's inclusion were measured qualitatively using a pre/post test as well as a student questionnaire. Although the impact GIT had on the learning of topographic maps could not be measured directly in this study, the student questionnaire signified that 80% of the students believed it was a valuable component of the unit, and the vast majority of students were intrigued and excited to have the opportunity to work with the technology. Almost half of the class either agreed or strongly agreed that GIT's use greatly impacted their view of science. GIT was found to be a powerful educational tool that has the ability to change the way students view their surroundings, while at the same time assisting them in preparation for life after high school. This, as well as the first-hand knowledge gained from viewing the class for the six week unit, is convincing support for its inclusion in future earth science classes.
Year of Submission
2010
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Department of Earth Science
First Advisor
Chad Heinzel
Second Advisor
Cherin Lee
Third Advisor
Lawrence Escalada
Date Original
2010
Object Description
1 PDF file (81 leaves)
Copyright
©2010 Troy Dean Schwemm
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Schwemm, Troy Dean, "Improving the Instruction and Learning of Topographic Maps through the Use of Geospatial Technologies" (2010). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 2165.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2165
Comments
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