Teaching Map Reading Through IT

On 2 April 2007, I conducted a course on how to use existing web technologies to teach map reading in Secondary School Geography. It started with an introduction to the elements of map and map language and then proceeded on with a demonstration on how web technologies like GOOGLE Earth can be used to teach map reading. The last part of the course was to get the particpants to design a lesson using GOOGLE Earth. Part 2 of the course will be this Thursday and they will show case what they have created.

Here are some simplified ideas to consider:

In order to understand what problems students may have with map reading first consider the properties of maps:

•Plan view
–(perspective & relief)
•Arrangement
–(location, direction, orientation)
•Proportion
–(scale, distance)
•Map language
–(signs, symbols, etc.)

A Map is made when spatial information is being encoded in a plan view illustration. Users therefore have to decode this information. In that learning through maps can take the following forms:

•Using maps
–relating features on map to world
•Making maps
–encoding information in map form
•Reading maps
–decoding elements of map language
•Interpreting maps –
–relate geog. Knowledge to features & patterns on maps

Typically our Geography students need to "read" and "interpret" maps although they may have to "make" maps in some instances. We all "use" maps all the time anyway.


In that, questions that reflect "reading" and "interpreting" can take the following forms:

•Can a person at grid reference 135845 see his friend at 116823?
•Locate any gully along the slope of the mountain.
•How would you describe the relief and drainage of this place?

The challenge is therefore how to translate this understanding and create a lesson activity using a tool like GOOGLE Earth.