Mapping the Way Forward inan Uncertain World

Sarah Witham BednarzDepartment of Geography

Texas A&M University

Spatial Thinking & Geography

Disclaimer & Apology

Outline & Agenda

• Uncertainty & Today’s World• Spatial Thinking & Uncertainty• Curriculum Development, Spatial Thinking, &

Innovation• Spatial Thinking, Psychologizing the

Curriculum, and Technology• Steps Toward Developing an Innovative

Curriculum– Lessons Learned from the AGSSS Program

• Mapping the Way Forward

LondonBombingsJuly 2005

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4662809.stm

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/07/0711_050711_londoncell.html

HurricaneRitaSeptember 2005

http://www.boston.com/news/weather/gallery/rita_houston?pg=2

“Although they have some functional skills, some young Americans lackthe basic practical skills necessary for safety and employment intoday’s world.

• One-third (34%) would go in the wrong direction in the event of anevacuation.• As many – one-third (32%) – would miss a conference callscheduled with colleagues in another time zone.”

National Geographic Society 2006 Roper Poll

Successful Response…

• “the maps that arean essential part ofsearch-and-rescureoperations…theGPS receivers thatallow firstresponders tolocate…road mapsthat form the basisof evacuationplanning…

Committee on Planning for Catastrophe (2007): Successful Response Starts with a Map

Key Proposal

• Spatial thinking, supported bygeospatial technologies can--andshould--form the foundation ofinnovative geography curriculum.

• Such curricula will prepare students tolive in a world perceived to be plaguedwith uncertainty…

Spatial Thinking

• To use– Concepts of space– Tools of

representation– Processes of

reasoning• To structure

problems, findanswers, andexpress solutions tothese problems.

• Knowledge, skills,and habits of mind

Spatial Thinking & Uncertainty

• A spatially literateresident of the GulfCoast…

Spatial Thinking & Uncertainty

• A spatially literateLondoner…

Curriculum Development

• Disciplinary-basedKnowledge

• Leader’s Needs

• Societal Issues

• What subject matteris worth knowing?

• What content &skills will studentsfind most engaging?

• What does societyneed?

Learning toThinkSpatially

National ResearchCouncil 2006

• Making theCase forSpatialThinking

Types of Spatial Thinking

1. Geographyof LifeSpaces

– Cognition INspace

– WorkplaceConnections

Types of Spatial Thinking

2. Geography ofPhysicalSpaces– Cognition

ABOUT space– Key

geographicallearning

This is a conceptual animation showing how polar ice reflects light from the sun.http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/arctic_soot.html

3. Geographyof IntellectualSpaces– Cognition

WITH space

http://cmap.ihmc.us/

Types of Spatial Thinking

Fabrikant & Buttenfield, 1997

3. Geographyof IntellectualSpaces– Cognition

WITH space

Types of Spatial Thinking

Benefits of Spatial Thinking

• Success in Learning• Encoding & Recalling Information• Communicating Spatial/Non-Spatial

Relationships• Dual Encoding (Paivio 1986)• Citizenship Skills

Benefits of Spatial Thinking

• Success in Learning• Encoding & Recalling Information• Communicating Spatial/non-spatial

Relationships• Dual Encoding (Paivio 1986)• Citizenship Skills• Foundation for Using Geospatial

Technologies & Risk Management

http://www.time.com/time/covers/20050912/new_orleans_map/index.html

Psychologizing a SpatializedCurriculum

• John Dewey– Interpreting subject

matter to make itrelevant to students

Psychologizing a SpatializedCurriculum

• Lee Shulman– Content Knowledge– Pedagogical

Knowledge– Content Pedagogical

Knowledge

Psychologizing a SpatializedCurriculum

• Mishra & Koehler– Technological

Content Knowledge– Technological

PedagogicalKnowledge

– TechnologicalPedagogical ContentKnowledge

Content Pedagogy

Technology

TechPedContKnow…

• Psychologized thecontent

• Connected it tostudent’s interests

• Know whichtechnology is best toteach content

• Know how toimplement thetechnology so allstudents learn

Content Pedagogy

Technology

AGSSS Activities• Working with

Teachers…

• Working withStudents…

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Purposes & Benefits

• Develop betterunderstanding of whatthinking spatially lookslike in classroomsettings• Practical, classroombased findings on waysto support thedevelopment of spatialthinking• Understand the role ofspatial thinking inimplementation ofgeospatial tech’s.

• Enhancedspatial thinking• Skills ingeospatialtechnologies• Exposure toyoung scientistsas role models

• Understanding ofspatial thinking & itsimportance/value inscience/socialsciences• Link to curriculum• Skills in teachingwith technologies• Skills in teacher-research• Professionaldevelopment

• Collaborationskills• Communicationskills• Solidify ownunderstanding ofspatial thinking• Awareness of &skills in working ineducation settings

SpatialThinking

StudentsTeachersFellows

• What is the natureof spatial thinking inclassroom settings?

• What is the natureof spatial thinking inclassroom settings?

• What strategiesdevelop spatialthinking?

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• What is the nature ofspatial thinking inclassroom settings?

• What strategies developspatial thinking?

• What is the role ofspatial thinking in theimplementation ofgeospatialtechnologies?

Results

• Psychologizing spatial thinking is achallenge.

• Pedagogical content knowledge isslow to develop.

• Technological pedagogicalknowledge is faster to develop.

Results

• Psychologizing spatial thinking is achallenge.

• Pedagogical content knowledge is slowto develop.

• Technological pedagogical knowledgeis faster to develop.

• Language is a barrier.

Spatial Language…

“zoom in to a location at the edge…”

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=4712

Learner’s Needs

• Males– 72.5 % good at

reading maps– 77% think that

graphs, charts, mapshelp them learn

– 67 % enjoy lookingat maps & mapsoftware

• Females– 67.5% prefer written

instructions rather thanuse a map

– 73.4% think that graphs,charts, maps help themlearn

– 65.7% think it is easy tofindpatterns/relationshipsamong things

Learner’s Needs• Males

– 68.2 % do notfrequently use maps

– 72.2% do not usegeographicvocabulary

– 65.9% do not usevisuals tocommunicate orthink

• Females– 76.9% do not frequently

use maps– 84 % do not use

geographic vocabulary– 65.6% do not use

visuals to communicateor think

Students use and appreciate tools of representation–But only in limited circumstances

Mapping the Way Forward

• Opportunities–Now is the Time…

• Challenges–Spatial Thinking–Technologies

A Values Proposition

• What is the Value of Thinking Spatially?• What is the Harm if Students Cannot

Think Spatially?

http://agsss.tamu.edu