Interactive Learning: Interactive Learning: Teaching Geographic Teaching Geographic Information Systems Information Systems

(GIS) with WebCT(GIS) with WebCT

By: Andrew ClarkBy: Andrew ClarkUniversity of ArizonaUniversity of Arizona

Department of Geography and Department of Geography and Regional DevelopmentRegional Development

Copyright Andrew Clark, 2003. This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.

Geography 416B:Geography 416B:Introduction to Geographic Introduction to Geographic

Information SystemsInformation Systems This course is designed to introduce This course is designed to introduce

the student to Geographic the student to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)Information Systems (GIS)

Recently, a project was begun to Recently, a project was begun to integrate web-based instruction with integrate web-based instruction with classroom and lab activities.classroom and lab activities.

Interactive LearningInteractive Learning

Studies have shown that students learn Studies have shown that students learn better if they are allowed to adopt better if they are allowed to adopt information on their own termsinformation on their own terms

The internet enables students to explore The internet enables students to explore and create knowledge and informationand create knowledge and information

We use an extension of internet-based We use an extension of internet-based learning learning • This hybrid approach combines web-based This hybrid approach combines web-based

instruction with classroom examples and lab instruction with classroom examples and lab assignmentsassignments

Old Course CompositionOld Course CompositionGIS Instruction

Classroom Instruction Hands-on lab assignments

Textbook Material

New Course CompositionGIS Instruction

Class Instruction

Web-based Lectures Hands-on Lab Assignments

Project GoalsProject Goals

Reach and engage GIS students Reach and engage GIS students through a combination of internet through a combination of internet learning and classroom instructionlearning and classroom instruction

Discover information seeking Discover information seeking behaviors used by students behaviors used by students • help students more easily engage and help students more easily engage and

access GIS materialaccess GIS material• help the future integration of internet help the future integration of internet

and classroom teaching techniquesand classroom teaching techniques

How will these goals be How will these goals be accomplished?accomplished?

By the creation of web-based lecture By the creation of web-based lecture and testing materials with the help of and testing materials with the help of WebCT.WebCT.

The use of surveys and monitoring to The use of surveys and monitoring to discover the most effective way to discover the most effective way to convey the lecture information (i.e. convey the lecture information (i.e. Text vs. Graphics).Text vs. Graphics).

Student and Instructor evaluations of Student and Instructor evaluations of the integration.the integration.

Information-Seeking BehaviorInformation-Seeking Behavior

The core assumption of information theory The core assumption of information theory is that - information exists independently is that - information exists independently of and externally to human action and of and externally to human action and thought (Dervin, 1977)thought (Dervin, 1977)

If we can understand how the students If we can understand how the students access the information, we can thereby access the information, we can thereby modify our teaching strategy to help the modify our teaching strategy to help the students access the information easier.students access the information easier.

Expected ResultsExpected Results

Better student comprehension of the Better student comprehension of the materials materials

Painless instructor and student transition Painless instructor and student transition between the old method of teaching and between the old method of teaching and the new hybrid approachthe new hybrid approach

Greater understanding of students Greater understanding of students information seeking skillsinformation seeking skills

From that greater understanding, future From that greater understanding, future course evolution to assist with the first two course evolution to assist with the first two expected resultsexpected results

SummarySummary

Through the use of WebCT and Through the use of WebCT and classroom-based GIS instruction we are classroom-based GIS instruction we are discovering how students learn.discovering how students learn.

This will be done by monitoring student This will be done by monitoring student movements online and series of movements online and series of surveys.surveys.

This research should aid future This research should aid future web/classroom hybrid teaching web/classroom hybrid teaching approaches.approaches.

The EndThe End

Any questions or comments, Any questions or comments, please feel free to email me: please feel free to email me: clark42@email.arizona.educlark42@email.arizona.edu