Improving the Teaching-Learning Process of Geography by Integrating Online Webgis Applications

Abstract

In order to increase students' participation in learning activities, a significant role is played by the use of the computer in Geography lessons. The efficiency of computer-assisted learning involves correlation between several essential factors: the quality of online platforms and educational software, the use of appropriate teaching strategies and the creation of learning situations that enable students to learn actively. In this context, the aim of the paper is to observe and evaluate students' involvement in learning activities and their interest when various web applications are integrated in the teaching-learning process through which students discover information themselves and solve work tasks. We have chosen as a case study a Geography lesson for the eleventh grade students. In this lesson, we proposed to the students several learning activities based on two web applications, created in ArcGIS Online. In order to highlight the efficiency of these applications and cartographic support, a questionnaire was applied to the students, where they evaluated the degree of interactivity of these applications, their accessibility, usefulness, as well as their interest towards this type of learning activities.