First Advisor

Joseph Poracsky

Date of Publication

1-1-2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Geography

Department

Geography

Language

English

Subjects

Thematic maps -- Study and teaching (Middle school), Internet in cartography -- Study and teaching (Middle school)

DOI

10.15760/etd.306

Physical Description

1 online resource (viii, 114 p.), col. maps

Abstract

Access to the to the Internet and to a variety of interactive mapping tools has increased interest among middle school teachers to use interactive maps in conjunction with learning activities. There is very little research in the area of interactive mapping in educational situations, specifically with regards to layer maps that combine multiple thematic layers on a single map. This study evaluates the relationship between the number of layers present on a web-based map and middle-school students' accuracy and timeliness using the map to answer geographic questions. Additionally, this study examines the specific effect of a hill shade on student response time and accuracy when answering questions do not require any terrain information. Tests were conducted in five Portland, Oregon area middle school classrooms using Blackboard CE8 to present maps and collect responses. The results of this research indicate no significant relationship between the number of layers present on a web map and middle school students' accuracy or response times while using the map to answer questions. The presence of a hillshade layers does not significantly impact the students' response times or accuracy while answering questions while using the map either.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Comments

Portland State University. Dept. of Geography

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/7013

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