A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Drawing Maps and Reading Maps in Beginning Map Teaching

Abstract

The paper presents a comparison of the effectiveness of two teaching methods for initial cartographic description: the map-drawing method versus the map-reading method. The pre-test and post-test research with a control group was carried out in five second-grade sections in two schools. Statistically, the students made important progress and achieved similar overall results in seven weeks of cartography lessons with both methods. Considering the lower initial results as covariables, the students who drew maps achieved statistically significantly better progress with the drawing tasks and with the test as a whole in the post-test. There was no great difference in achievements between sexes. Girls preferred drawing maps, and boys preferred reading. The students became more interested in maps over the lessons.

Keywords:

• MAP DRAWING
• MAP READING
• TEACHING METHODS
• THE SECOND GRADE
• PRIMARY SCHOOL