Collaborative Research/Applied Research: Map and Spatial Skills of Children and Teachers, and How They are Affected by the 'Where are We?' Instructional Materials

该应用研究项目建立在国际管理发展学院资助的“我们在哪里？”并提出了以下研究问题：使用WAW后，学生在现实地图任务中的表现是否显著提高？使用WAW材料后，学生中普遍存在哪些具体的误解和弱点？使用该课程后，学生在地图技能任务中的表现有望有多大改善？教师如何判断学生是否已经学习？教师的空间能力与他们使用材料的可能性之间有什么关系？该项目将开发基于现场的定量、可靠的地图技能评估，并与其他工具一起使用，三个人群：小学生使用材料；7-15岁以上的儿童不使用材料；和职前小学教师。这些评估的结果将用于材料的重新设计。

The applied research project builds on the IMD funded "Where are We?" and poses the following research questions: Do students perform significantly better on real-world map tasks after using WAW?What specific misconceptions and weaknesses remain widespread among students after using the materials?How much improvement in student performance on map skills tasks would be expected after using the curriculum?How can teachers tell whether student learning has occurred?What is the relationship between teachers' spatial abilities and the likelihood they would use the materials?The project will develop quantitative, reliable field-based assessments of map skills and use them, along with other instruments, with three populations: elementary students using the materials; children over the 7-15 age range who do not use the materials; and preservice elementary teachers. Results from these assessments will be used in a redesign of the materials.