Lorraine Innes, University of Cape Town and MapTrix Services, South AfricaGDEST 2008 Conference Sessions
Theme 2 - Analysis of Regional Challenges
Preparing future spatial decision makers: using GIS to improve map skills in the classroom
Lorraine Innes, University of Cape Town and MapTrix Services, South Africa
An understanding of spatial information is usually fostered in the geography classroom. All South African learners at junior secondary school take a compulsory half course in geography as part of the Social Sciences Learning Area. Geography is taken as one of the six electives required by senior secondary learners. The map skills component (including GIS from 2008) of the geography curriculum is examined in a separate paper in the school leaving examinations. Fostering spatial competence bodes well for these learners’ ability to make informed spatial decisions once they enter the research arena and/or the work place.
Two computer-based, self-instruction programmes have been developed to teach map skills. The first (provisionally named MapTrix Digital) uses a card game to teach topographic map reading. This skill is a pre-requisite for topographic map analysis. The second (provisionally named MapTrix Geomatica) is a GIS enabled programme designed to teach map analysis.
A successful pilot study using the MapTrix Geomatica prototype was conducted with volunteers from various schools, during the mid-year holidays, in a computer laboratory at the University of Cape Town. Three school-based trials were later undertaken to assess whether the programme would be as effective within the classroom environment. Using the test-intervention-test methodology learner’s scores on eight map analysis tasks improved. Participant data was analysed to investigate how various characteristics influenced their map use competence including their attitude to maps, age, gender and access to computers.
Presentation (pdf - 1.3MB)
Paper (pdf -0.3MB) | 
