Challenges related to interdisciplinary use of digital mapping technology in primary and lower secondary schools

Figures & data

Table 1. Selected map and/or coordinate-relevant competence objectives from the core curriculum (Knowledge Promotion Reform) (Utdanningsdirektoratet 2006)

	After Grade 4	After Grade 7	After Grade 10	After 1st year of upper secondary school (Grade 11)
Social studies: geography	Name and locate hometown, home municipality, home county, and country on drawings, map sketches, or models Compile information from the globe, maps, and digital sources and use this information to discuss places, people, and languages Plan and present trips to nearby places using maps and the Internet	Read and use paper-based and digital maps and locate major geographical features in own county, adjacent counties, the Sami settlement areas, Norway, Europe, and other parts of the world Plan and present trips to Europe and other parts of the world, using digital tools	Read, interpret, and use paper-based and digital maps and become proficient in scales and map symbols	Own special main field: geographical sources and tools Read and utilise maps in various scales and carry out simple map analyses Utilise digital maps and geographical information systems (GIS) Conduct observations and recordings of geographical themes in field excursions Find and present geographical information by reading and evaluating texts, images, and statistical presentations from digital and other sources
Mathematics	Locate and describe positions in a road network, on maps, and in coordinate systems, both with and without digital tools	Utilise scales to calculate distances and create simple maps and work drawings		Interpret and produce working drawings, maps, sketches, and perspective drawings in relation to occupational situations, art, and architecture
Science main field: The Aspiring Scientist	Collect and systematise data and present the results with and without digital aids Utilise simple measurement instruments in investigations	Utilise digital aids and nature studies related equipment in experimental projects and fieldwork	Keep written logs on research projects and fieldwork, and present reports using digital aids
Physical education	Create and utilise simple maps to orient oneself in the nearby surroundings	Orient oneself using maps and compass in known terrains	Orient oneself using maps and compass in variable terrains, and deal with other feasible means of orientation

Table 2. Seven different competencies associated with the student project, using a three-point distribution of competence levels and competence requirements in accordance with Isnes's (2007) taxonomy (knowledge ladder, based on Bloom's (1956) taxonomy) used in curriculum work; ‘x’ indicates which competence level the students had reached

	Competence level
Competence requirements	Low (Reproduction)	Average (Understanding and application)	High (Analysis and evaluation)
Technical operative competence using GPS			x
Technical operative competence using digital mapping systems			x
Competence in using scales		x
Competence in map interpretation		x
Understanding the definition of a map		x
Understanding coordinate systems on maps	(x)	x
Fundamental skills – oral and written			x

Fig. 1.  Screen dump of the results from one of the groups that had recorded the most waypoints (after being motivated by the promise of a reward)

Note the cluster of points in the lower right corner of the map. Image reproduced with the kind permission of Garmin.

Fig. 2.  Screen dump of a map showing possible sites for nesting boxes, obtained from a hand-held GPS receiver. Image reproduced with the kind permission of Garmin.

Table 3. Sample statements (3 out of a total of 28) for which pupils in Grades 8 and 9 had to give their opinions before and after the project period; the response options were: ‘thoroughly agree’, ‘agree’, ‘disagree’, and ‘thoroughly disagree’; the differences in scores were tested for each student pairwise (n = valid pairs) before and after using the non-parametric Wilcoxon's Signed Rank Test

	‘I can use maps on the Internet to locate addresses’ (such as in the Yellow Pages mapping program)			‘I am able to use a map to analyse nature/environment/technical data’			‘I am able to study data by using maps’
	n	p	Sign	n	p	Sign	n	p	Sign
All	83	0.265	ns	81	0.015	*	83	0.003	**
GPS group	40	0.285	ns	39	0.074	ns	40	0.018	*
Compass group	43	0.543	ns	42	0.097	ns	43	0.061	ns
Notes: * Statistically significant at 5% level; ** Statistically significant at 1% level