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Understanding the Use of Geospatial Technologies to Teach Science: TPACK as a Lens for Effective Teaching

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Teaching Science and Investigating Environmental Issues with Geospatial Technology

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Abstract

Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge, or TPACK (pronounced t-pack), is a theoretical framework to examine how a specific technology creates meaningful opportunities for teaching and learning. For 3 years we engaged three cohorts of teachers in a sustained professional development project entitled GIT Ahead. GIT Ahead helped teachers identify ways to teach science using geospatial technologies. This chapter presents a case study of one GIT Ahead teacher’s use of Google Earth and ArcView software to teach students about watershed concepts and issues. TPACK provides a framework for analysis of both the types of teacher knowledge required to successfully implement technology-based science learning and the pedagogical choices necessary to achieve intended learning outcomes. In the watershed case study, Google Earth enabled students to explore a 3D representation of their local watershed, change their view or perspective as needed, and access supplementary information that helped them to interpret the landscape. Using ArcView they measured various attributes of the watershed, which required them to understand individual scientific concepts and the interrelatedness of those concepts. Ultimately, TPACK provides researchers with a knowledge framework for research on the use of geospatial technology to teach science. A productive area of future research might examine how content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and technological knowledge vary among teachers using similar technologies or teaching similar concepts.

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Acknowledgments 

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under DUE Grant No 0602751. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 300 Pulteney St., Geneva, NY, 14456, USA

    James MaKinster

  2. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA

    Nancy Trautmann

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  1. James MaKinster
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  2. Nancy Trautmann
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Correspondence to James MaKinster .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Geneva, New York, USA

    James MaKinster

  2. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, USA

    Nancy Trautmann

  3. Lynch School of Education, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA

    Michael Barnett

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MaKinster, J., Trautmann, N. (2014). Understanding the Use of Geospatial Technologies to Teach Science: TPACK as a Lens for Effective Teaching. In: MaKinster, J., Trautmann, N., Barnett, M. (eds) Teaching Science and Investigating Environmental Issues with Geospatial Technology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3931-6_16

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