Skip to main content

Abstract

The present research study is to provide an assessment of the use of GIS in teaching. A general evaluation of current literature was done to draw a global landscape of GIS in education. For the second part of this study, 15 research articles stemming from ten countries including USA, Germany, Northern Ireland, Ghana, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand written in the decade spanning across 2003–2013 were evaluated to assess the conditions encouraging and discouraging the integration of GIS usage in each country. While interest and belief in the benefits of GIS in teaching and learning among teachers have been affirmed by the research papers evaluated here, nonetheless, the adoption of GIS in schools remains low in both developed and developing countries due to a variety of factors. While common threads and challenges were identified, contextual differences among the countries present a diverse account of GIS integration into the curricula of the world today.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Baker, T. R., Palmer, A. M., & Kerski, J. J. (2009). A national survey to examine teacher professional development and implementation of desktop GIS. Journal of Geography, 108(4-5), 174–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bednarz, S. W. (2001). Thinking spatially: Incorporating geographic information science in pre and postsecondary education. In L. T. Houtsonen & M. Tammilehto (Eds.), Innovative practices in geographical education: Proceedings of the Helsinki Symposium of the International Geographical Union, Commission on Geographical Education (pp. 3–7). Finland: University of Helsinki.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalmers, L. (2006). GIS in New Zealand schools: Issues and prospects. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 15(3), 268–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Höhnle, S., Schubert, J. C., & Uphues, R. (2013). What are the constraints to GIS usage? Selected results of a teacher survey about constraints in the school context. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 22(3), 226–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, B., & Xie, Y. (2001). Data tools for real-world learning. Learning & Leading with Technology, 28(7), 18–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenner, P. (2006). Engaging students through the use of GIS at Pimlico State High School. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 15(3), 278–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerski, J. J. (1999). A nationwide analysis of the implementation of GIS in high school education. http://gis.esri.com/library/userconf/proc99/proceed/papers/pap202/p202.htm. Accessed 7 May 2014.

  • Kerski, J. J. (2000). The implementation and effectiveness of Geographic Information Systems Technology and methods in secondary education. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerski, J. J. (2003). The implementation and effectiveness of Geographic Information Systems technology and methods in secondary education. Journal of Geography, 102(3), 128–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerski, J. J., Demirci, A., & Milson, A. J. (2013). The global landscape of GIS in secondary education. Journal of Geography, 112(6), 232–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kidman, G., & Palmer, G. (2006). GIS: The technology is there but the teaching is yet to catch up. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 15(3), 289–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, M., & Lee, S. I. (2011). South Korea: GIS implementation profiles among secondary geography teachers. In A. J. Milson, A. Demirci, & J. J. Kerski (Eds.), International perspectives on teaching and learning with GIS in secondary schools (pp. 233–241). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lam, C. C., Lai, E., & Wong, J. (2009). Implementation of geographic information system (GIS) in secondary geography curriculum in Hong Kong: Current situations and future directions. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 18(1), 57–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meaney, M. (2006). Towards Geographic Information Systems (GIS) implementation: A case study. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 15(3), 283–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oppong, J. R., & Ofori-Amoah, B. (2011). Ghana: Prospects for secondary school GIS education in a developing country. In A. J. Milson, A. Demirci, & J. J. Kerski (Eds.), International perspectives on teaching and learning with GIS in secondary schools (pp. 115–123). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palladino, S. D. (1993). GIS in the Schools: Workshop Resource Packet. National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis Technical Report 93-2. http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/Publications/Tech_Reports/93/93-2.PDF. Accessed 8 May 2014.

  • Rooney, P. E. (1997). A spatial tool for schools. Hands On! 20(1), 4–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roulston, S. (2013). GIS in Northern Ireland secondary schools: Mapping where we are now. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 22(1), 41–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y. H., & Chen, C. M. (2013). GIS education in Taiwanese senior high schools: A national survey among geography teachers. Journal of Geography, 112(2), 75–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • West, B. A. (2006). Forum: Issues affecting the adoption of GIS within Australian and New Zealand schools. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 15(3), 255–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler, P., Gordon-Brown, L., Peterson, J., & Ward, M. (2010). Geographical information systems in Victorian secondary schools: Current constraints and opportunities. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 19(2), 155–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yap, L. Y., Tan, G. C. I., Zhu, X., & Wettasinghe, M. C. (2008). As assessment of the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in teaching geography in Singapore schools. Journal of Geography, 107, 52–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, X., Liu, Y., Yap, L. Y., & Tan, G. C. I. (2006). Issues in the design of GIS resources for secondary education in Singapore. In K. C. Goh & Y. Sekson (Eds.), Change and development in Southeast Asia in an era of globalisation (pp. 419–428). Singapore: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Geok Chin Ivy Tan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Japan

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Tan, G.C.I., Chen, Q.F.J. (2015). An Assessment of the Use of GIS in Teaching. In: Muñiz Solari, O., Demirci, A., Schee, J. (eds) Geospatial Technologies and Geography Education in a Changing World. Advances in Geographical and Environmental Sciences. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55519-3_13

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics