Geospatial Technology Curriculum Development

Abstract

The final project for students enrolled in Geospatial Technologies for the K-12 Classroom (GEOG 321) is the development of a lesson for their future classroom. An obstacle to implementing geospatial technologies in public classrooms is lack of relevant curriculum and data. After reviewing the limited existing curriculum, students design age-appropriate lessons for possible publication on the New Hampshire Geographic Alliance website. The objectives for this final project were: 1) students will determine age-appropriate skills that utilize geospatial technologies to support instruction in their intended discipline, 2) students will demonstrate the appropriate skills needed to design feasible lessons for the K-12 classroom, 3) students can integrate geospatial technology skills into a variety of disciplines and age levels, and 4) students can employ the geographic inquiry method in their lessons. Students presented their lessons to peers and outside reviewers to receive feedback. The students had the option to submit their lessons to the New Hampshire Geographic Alliance for pilot testing and dissemination to help fill the need for relevant curriculum and data.