Passing GIS Knowhow from University Students to secondary School Students: pedagogical Approach in developing youngster’s Capabilities and Understanding in GIS

Abstract

The present work reports an effort done by the GIS Center at the University of Balamand (UOB) to spread spatial awareness and GIS knowhow among youth. It also reports a change from conventional methodology in teaching the GENG 310 GIS course to a modern one that incorporated a community-driven project-based learning. To implement such change and promote the use of GIS within the community and spread spatial awareness, it was decided to incorporate the “UOB Recycles” project within the framework of the GIS course work. “UOB Recycles” is a project launched by the University of Balamand as an individual effort toward the emerging pollution situation in Lebanon. It aims to promote recycling activities and implant the sense of civic and environmental responsibility among school students. This project constitutes an interdisciplinary approach that will enable university students to deploy GIS skills to address this problem, and pass on their GIS knowledge to school students using constructivist pedagogical learning approach.

Modern educational methodologies are highlighted as complementary approaches in the learning process at University level. Additionally, Community based programs are presented as an integral part in the development of individuals at early ages. The work focuses on Service Learning and Project Based Learning as powerful concepts in promoting education. It shows how students throughout these processes learn to deploy their academic knowledge to meet community needs, develop practical skills and build leadership qualities. It also examines how students sense civic responsibilities, develop team spirit and share knowledge through experimental learning.

The experience of the University of Balamand (UOB) in Lebanon is presented in this paper as a supportive example. An innovative education technique is presented under the umbrella of an interdisciplinary project which succeeded in passing technological advances to younger generation through partnership between the University, a number of schools and the community. The collaborative work of several units at UOB is detailed to show a successful learning experience with students from the Faculty of Engineering at UOB. Results are highlighted at two levels (1) community service level and (2) educational level.

The projection of the University on its community is illustrated to provide a good model which could be adopted to promote spatial awareness, environmental respect, recycling behavior and team work spirit through Service Learning and Project Based Learning.

This experience resulted in an innovative pedagogical educational model which provided a smooth integration of the GIS science at the high school level. The work illustrates an alteration from the classical instructional model versus a student based active learning process: Youth teaching Youth using direct instructions and immediate feedback with minor dependency on the instructor.