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

应用研究项目建立在IMD资助的“我们在哪里？并提出了以下研究问题：学生在使用WAW后，在现实世界的地图任务上的表现是否明显更好？在使用这些材料后，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方面的表现预计会有多大的改善？教师如何判断学生的学习是否已经发生？教师的空间能力和他们使用材料的可能性之间有什么关系？该项目将对地图技能进行定量、可靠的实地评估，并将其与其他工具一起沿着用于三个群体：使用这些材料的小学生;不使用这些材料的7-15岁儿童;以及兼职小学教师。 这些评估的结果将用于重新设计材料。

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 uses the materials; and preservice elementary teachers. Results from these assessments will be used in a redesign of the materials.