Teaching geography with GIS: a systematic review, 2010-2024
This systematic review synthesizes research on teaching geography with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) published between 2010 and 2024. Based on an analysis of 257 papers spanning all educational levels and diverse national contexts, six key themes emerged: (1) integration of GIS in geography...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Academy of Cognitive and Natural Sciences
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Science Education Quarterly |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://acnsci.org/journal/index.php/seq/article/view/903 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | This systematic review synthesizes research on teaching geography with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) published between 2010 and 2024. Based on an analysis of 257 papers spanning all educational levels and diverse national contexts, six key themes emerged: (1) integration of GIS in geography curricula; (2) teacher training and professional development; (3) impact on student learning; (4) pedagogical approaches and strategies; (5) challenges and barriers to implementation; and (6) advances in GIS technologies. The literature provides robust evidence that learning with GIS when implemented with appropriate pedagogical framing, supports the development of students' geographic knowledge, spatial thinking abilities, inquiry skills, and problem-solving capabilities. However, the extent and depth of GIS integration in classrooms remain uneven due in large part to pervasive issues related to teacher preparation, technical support, and curricular positioning. The proliferation of web-based platforms, open-source software, and mobile applications in recent years has dramatically expanded access to GIS and opened up new possibilities for student-centred, data-driven, inquiry-oriented learning. Newer research also critically examines issues of representation, power, and ethics inherent in GIS-based knowledge production and considers how GIS can be leveraged to support education for sustainable development. Realizing the full potential of GIS in geography education will require sustained efforts to build teacher capacity, develop exemplary curricular materials and assessments, and critically engage with the affordances and constraints of emerging geospatial tools and datasets.
|
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 3065-7210 |