The Implementation and Effectiveness of Geographic Information Systems Technology and Methods in Secondary Education

Abstract

Geographic information systems (GIS) technology and methods have transformed decision-making in society by bringing geographic analysis to the desktop computer. Although some educators consider GIS to be a promising means for implementing reform, it has been adopted by less than 2 percent of American high schools. The reasons behind the interest in GIS, its slow implementation, and its effectiveness in teaching and learning are unclear. To address these concerns, this research describes the extent to which GIS is being implemented in American secondary education and assesses the effectiveness of lessons that use GIS. A survey of 1,520 high schools that own GIS software, along with experiments and case studies in three high schools, provided primary data for assessing the implementation and effectiveness of GIS.     

An Assessment of the Use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in Teaching Geography in Singapore Schools

Abstract

In 1998, geographical information systems (GIS) were introduced to secondary schools in Singapore as a tool for teaching geography at the secondary and junior college levels. However, general observations and feedback from school teachers suggested that only a small number of secondary schools and junior colleges in Singapore were actually using GIS to support the teaching and learning of geography. The present research study was designed to establish the level of GIS usage and to investigate the reasons for the slow integration of GIS in the Singapore secondary schools. This article presents the findings of this research and provides some insight into the use of GIS in Singapore secondary schools.     

Paper-Based GIS: A Practical Answer to the Implementation of GIS Education into Resource-Poor Schools in South Africa

Abstract

Geographical information systems (GIS) were phased into the geography curriculum of South African schools from 2006–2008 as part of the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) for grades 10–12. Since its introduction, GIS education in schools across the country has been met with a number of challenges including the cost of purchasing the hardware and software required to elucidate the basic concepts of GIS to learners. This article examines the introduction of GIS education in schools in South Africa. The development and distribution of a paper-based GIS educational package for resource-poor schools in the country is also highlighted. Preliminary educator and learner evaluations of the paper-based GIS package are discussed and the broader learning opportunities and benefits associated with flexible teaching mechanisms are examined.     

Implementation and Effectiveness of GIS-Based Projects in Secondary Schools

This study aims to provide an understanding of the main obstacles to conducting GIS-based projects in secondary schools and to determine the effects of these projects on students, teachers, and schools. The study was conducted in three public high schools in Turkey. The students first surveyed over 4,015 people in their school districts to understand the main social, environ- mental, and economic problems in their area, then conducted nine different GIS-based projects to help design solutions to these problems. As seen in the study, GIS is a very important teaching and learning tool for secondary schools; however, its effective use depends on planning, motivation, support, resources, time, and enthusiasm, especially for teachers.     

Integration of Geospatial Science in Teacher Education

Abstract

One of the primary missions of our university is to train future primary and secondary teachers. Geospatial sciences, including GIS, have long been excluded from teacher education curriculum. This article explains the curriculum revisions undertaken to increase the geospatial technology education of future teachers. A general education class introducing geospatial technology to the general student body has been developed, a cartography class has been modified to provide applied geospatial experience explicitly for future teachers, and a service learning partnership with local K–12 schools has been established where students are working with teachers to integrate geospatial sciences in their academic programs.     

全球人才流动网络复杂性的时空演化——基于全球高校留学生流动数据

高质量的人才跨越地理的流动影响和驱动着全球范围内的创新活动,正在重塑世界经济格局。研究基于全球高校留学生流动数据,构建加权有向网络模型,对2001—2015年全球人才流动网络复杂性时空演化进行全面刻画。主要结论如下：① 全球人才流动网络规模迅速扩大,网络发育具有明显的小世界性,两级分化显著。② 全球人才流动网络呈典型“金字塔结构”特征,基本呈“东向西,南到北”的地理格局,新兴国家作为人才吸纳国的角色逐渐上升。③ 全球人才流动网络核心-边缘结构显著,核心国家间存在较强的关系流,边缘国家间联系较弱,其人才主要流向了核心国家和半边缘国家。④ 全球人才流动网络分化成美国社团、欧盟社团、中国社团、南美和南非社团、马来西亚社团、独联体社团等6个凝聚子群。     

A Pedagogic Framework to Link GIS to the Intellectual Core of Geography

Abstract

This paper aims to develop a new pedagogic framework for teaching GIS at the college and university level using Berry's geographic matrix. By synthesizing different schools of thought, this paper argues that GIS education essentially involves two aspects—how to teach about GIS and how to teach with GIS. Berry's geographic matrix can be used to tie these dual aspects of GIS education together neatly. As an abstract representation of geographical phenomena, the geographic matrix embeds all three entities of GIS—location, attribute, time—and thus can help GIS instructors teach about GIS. As a synthesis of geographical approaches, the geographic matrix can assist GIS instructors teach with GIS. This paper demonstrates that GIS is actually an implementation of Berry's geographic matrix. Furthermore, the 10 approaches to geographical analysis, originally proposed by Berry for the geographic matrix, can be executed routinely in a GIS environment. By incorporating Berry's geographic matrix into GIS education, teachers can enable students to surpass technical issues and to appreciate the conceptual and functional linkages between GIS and geography's intellectual core.     

Using inquiry to enhance the learning and appreciation of geography

Abstract

To meet national geography standards, instructional materials using issues-based inquiry are needed. This paper reports on national classroom trials of drafts of Geographic Inquiry into Global Issues (GIGI), a set of inquiry modules for secondary geography. The analysis focuses on three modules about environmental issues, tried by 480 students in 18 schools. Students made significant gains in learning the modules' cognitive and skills objectives, but they showed no change in interest toward studying geography or these environmental issues. Student comments about the modules underscored the necessity of connecting classroom materials about global issues more closely to local experiences. These findings support current models in environmental education. Reflecting this analysis, the published modules now include activities emphasizing inquiry into local issues, to complement the study of global environmental problems. The improved GIGI materials can better meet the goals of both geography and environmental education.     

A Landscape Ecology Approach to Assessing Development Impacts in the Tropics: A Geothermal Energy Example in Hawaii

Geographic information systems (GIS) are increasingly being used in environmental impact assessments (EIA) because GIS is useful for analysing spatial impacts of various development scenarios. Spatially representing these impacts provides another tool for landscape ecology in environmental and geographical investigations by facilitating analysis of the effects of landscape pattern on ecological processes and examining change over time. Landscape ecological principles are applied in this study to a hypothetical geothermal development project on the Island of Hawaii. Some common landscape pattern metrics were used to analyse dispersed versus condensed development scenarios and their effect on landscape pattern. Indices of fragmentation and patch shape did not appreciably change with additional development. The amount of forest to open edge, however, greatly increased with the dispersed development scenario. In addition, landscape metrics showed that a human disturbance had a greater simplifying effect on patch shape and also increased fragmentation than a natural disturbance. The use of these landscape pattern metrics can advance the methodology of applying GIS to EIA.     

GIS Teacher Training: Empirically-Based Indicators of Effectiveness

In spite of various actions, the implementation of GIS (geographic information systems) in German schools is still very low. In the presented research, teaching experts as well as teaching novices were presented with empirically based constraints for implementation stemming from an earlier survey. In the process of various group discussions, the participants developed ideas for overcoming the constraints in the field of continuing teacher education among others. These ideas were used to create empirically based strategies for the future design of training activities in continuing education of teachers while taking these constraints into account. These strategies were later validated externally by comparing them to empirical findings on effects of training activities in continuing teacher education in general and empirical findings on GIS implementation from other studies.     

GIS in Bulgaria: development and perspectives

Abstract

The paper describes the present state of GIS in Bulgaria, points to some problems with its development, and puts forward several ideas about ways to improve the implementation and use of GIS in the country. Special stress is placed on the danger of centralizing GIS functions within the planning institutions of the national state, on the importance of GIS education, training and pilot projects for the future development of GIS, and the necessity to reduce the technological and informational gap between Western countries and Bulgaria.     

褚绍唐先生的学术思想与贡献

褚绍唐先生是中国著名的地理教育家,历史地理学家,华东师范大学地理系教授。褚先生的地理教育思想构建起了中国中小学地理教育教学与研究的基本框架,先生组织发起的地理教育学术组织和创办的学术期刊仍发挥着巨大作用,先生编写的中小学地理教学大纲和教材惠及数代人。褚先生对上海历史地理的研究颇有建树,对上海的城市发展过程、成陆过程,水系变化等有独特见解。褚先生对《徐霞客游记》的整理和校点工作具有划时代意义,同时,先生也是徐霞客研究领域的大师。此外,褚先生还在城市地理学、地图学、地理文献翻译等领域做出了贡献。     

挠力河流域湿地景观演变的累积效应

基于累积效应方法和原理,利用遥感和GIS技术,分析了挠力河流域湿地景观时空演变过程及其产生的累积效应。结果显示,该流域湿地景观变化是人类土地开发活动不断叠加、影响强度和空间范围不断扩大的结果。产生的直接累积效应包括湿地景观面积丧失、景观结构破碎化、水文情势变化和生态系统退化;间接的累积效应主要包括生物多样性下降和区域气候趋暖变干。目前,挠力河流域湿地景观变化已经超过了阈值条件,累积效应达到了极为显著的程度。其中,湿地景观多样性趋于丧失,植物物种多样性发生显著变化,某些珍稀水禽种群数量显著下降,有些保护物种已经消失,流域湿地生态正面临极为严重的形势。     

Competing space and place identity with landscape change analysis using Web GIS through Singapore historical maps (1828–2015)

The investigation of historical maps is fundamental to understanding the dynamics of landscape changes. In this study, we propose Web GIS tools as a way to compare historical maps efficiently for knowledge production. A key impetus of this article is to contribute to the ongoing efforts to broaden the appeal of ‘mixed‐methods research’ by bridging the epistemological and methodological gaps between GIS and qualitative methodologies in knowledge production. This article proposes a new visualization method for historical landscape change analysis by comparing multiple maps simultaneously with the mash‐up of Web GIS. Based on the analysis of exterior facts represented on the maps, four developmental footprints were investigated, namely, surviving place identity, disappeared place identity replaced by new identity, waning place identity overlapped with new identity, and waning identity by disconnected spatial relationships. To this end, the study argues that Web GIS applications have more potential in spatial knowledge production than traditional desktop GIS.     

基于GIS和盒计数法的景观类型分形研究

为探索景观分类研究的技术和方法,本研究以福建省永泰县为研究区,建立了突出人为干扰强度的三级景观分类系统,并在RS和GIS技术支持下完成数字景观类型图编制;继而在ArcGIS平台上采用盒计数法对该区域的景观要素边界征兆信息进行分形研究．研究结果表明,各景观类型边界形态的复杂性（分维值D）构成排序：水域景观〉自然景观〉农业景观〉半自然景观〉廊道景观〉人工建筑景观,此排序恰与人为干扰强度呈负相关;人类活动对景观过程及景观格局的影响在不同的景观类型上产生了诸多不同的响应．     

"一带一路"沿线国家或地区人才流动网络结构演化

基于高等学校留学生流动数据,构建加权有向网络模型,对2000~2015年“一带一路”沿线国家或地区人才流动网络结构演化进行研究。主要结论如下：① 沿线人才流动网络规模迅速扩大,人才流动的数量和路径在迅速增加。② 沿线人才流动网络呈“由中向西,自南到北”的空间格局特征,中亚地区的留学生主要向西流向俄罗斯、乌克兰等国,东南亚和南亚地区的留学生主要向北流向中国内地。③ 沿线人才流动网络分化为独联体社团、中国东盟社团、西亚北非社团、中东欧社团、南亚社团等5个社团。④ 中国内地和俄罗斯处于沿线人才流动网络的核心位置,东南亚、西亚和东欧部分国家处于边缘地带。     

Development characteristics and construction prospects for a multi-integrated economic zone in the South China Sea Region

The Belt and Road Initiative(BRI)instigated by China is catalyzing the evolution of a new global economic landscape.To cope with the great changes in the economic landscape,China needs to view the South China Sea Region(SCSR)as a strategic focus and study carefully the characteristics of regional development and explore the possibility for construc-tion of a strategic multi-integrated economic zone which includes China and ASEAN countries.Based on key indicators,this paper outlines the overall development characteristics of the SCSR and analyzes the regional structural characteristics of industry and global trade based on the indexes of industrial structure similarity and trade commodity structure coincidence;the paper also depicts the spatial characteristics of the nine core growth areas(CGAs)in the region and discusses the construction prospects for a multi-integrated economic zone in the SCSR.The results show that,first,from 2000 to 2017,the main economic indicators of the SCSR grew quite well,and the development trend was much better than the global average for the same period.Second,driven by the global industrial transfer stages and spatial paths,the level of comprehensive development in the SCSR has evolved into four categories.Third,the index values for industrial structure similarity and trade commodity structure coincidence for the 11 countries in the SCSR have remained at a high level,and reveal an integration trend not only from the horizontal and vertical perspective,but also from an upgrading and downgrading standpoint.Fourth,nine CGAs have been established in the SCSR and the advantaged industries and the export commodity types between different countries exhibited the characteristics of convergence and complementarity due to the polarization and diffusion effects of the CGAs.Finally,from a long-term perspective,the SCSR has already acquired the internal and external conditions such as the 5th global industrial transfer initiative,the reconstruction of the global value chain,regional production-consumption networks and spa-tial entities for building a multi-integrated economic zone in the SCSR.     

国际视觉景观研究评述

视觉景观研究在旅游景区建设、城乡规划与管理等领域具有广泛的应用前景。本文对近10 年国外相关研究进行回顾, 将其分为视觉景观质量评价、视觉影响评价、视觉景观偏好3 个方面, 阐述三者的基本含义、理论来源, 重点介绍每个领域的研究主题、方法与技术, 同时分析其中存在的优缺点及借鉴意义。在景观质量评价方面, 研究重点仍在景观元素及特征对景观质量的影响, 心理物理学方法居主导地位, 呈现专家方法与之结合的趋势。在视觉影响评价方面, 城乡建筑及能源设施产生的视觉影响为近期学者关注的焦点, GIS和3D可视化技术拓展了质量评价和影响评价的时空尺度, 提高了精确性。在视觉景观偏好方面, 学者从欣赏的主客体即人与景观两个角度进行了研究, 深入挖掘人的自然、文化属性及景观特征对景观偏好的影响, 并证实对景观的偏爱能够促进景观保护与土地合理利用。最后对近期国外研究状况进行总结, 提出了未来研究的方向及对国内研究的有益启示。     

Future Teachers’ Spatial Thinking Skills and Attitudes

The spatial thinking skills and attitudes of geography majors were compared with those of future teachers majoring in elementary education and secondary social studies education. Scores were obtained for each group on two measures: the spatial skills test and the attitude toward spatial thinking inventory. Mean differences were examined based on five factors: major, gender, travel experience, geography courses, and experience using geographic information systems (GIS). For both outcome measures, results showed that the mean scores for elementary education majors were significantly lower than scores from secondary social studies majors and geography majors. Geography majors outperformed both groups of education majors on both measures. Implications for the preparation of geography teachers are discussed.     

An overview of scale, pattern, process relationships in geomorphology: a remote sensing and GIS perspective

Satellite remote sensing and geographic information systems are emerging technologies in geomorphology. They offer the opportunity to gain fresh insights into biophysical systems through the spatial, temporal, spectral, and radiometric resolutions of remote sensing systems and through the analytical and data integration capability of GIS. The two technologies can be linked together into a synergistic system that is particularly well suited to the examination of landscape conditions through the interrelationships of scale, pattern, and process, a paradigm that has gained prominence in the fields of biogeography and landscape ecology. In this study, we apply optical and microwave remote sensing systems and GIS methodologies to case studies framed within the fluvial and alpine environments. We use the scale, pattern, and process paradigm to explore landscape relationships in those environments. Satellite image processing, change-detection analyses, digital elevation models, GIS-derived geomorphic indices and variables, composition and pattern metrics of landscape organization, and scale-dependent analyses are described and related to the study of river channel abandonment and the alpine treeline ecotone. We describe appropriate remote sensing and GIS techniques for geomorphic research, and demonstrate the use of such techniques in the application of the scale, pattern, and processes perspective in geomorphic studies.