Utilizing GIS in School Geography: Education Software Development for Secondary Students in Hong Kong

Principal Investigator:
FUNG, Tung

Co-investigator(s):
LAM, Chi Chung

Summary:
Geographic Information System has become a tool widely used in geographical studies. After the implementation of IT in education reform initiative, all secondary schools have had the hardware for utilizing GIS in the teaching and learning geography. Moreover, the teaching of GIS has been included in the proposed senior secondary curriculum to be implemented in 2008.? The objectives of the project are (1) to develop GIS educational software for enhancing teaching and learning effectiveness in school geography; (2) to arouse students' awareness of the strengths of GIS in tackling geographical questions and (3) to inculcate in teachers and students positive attitudes towards using IT in geographical education. The software developed will help students to better understand on (a) the causes and solution to transport problems; (b) the influence of relief on rainfall and vegetation cover and (c) the flow of a river in Hong Kong. The effectiveness of the software will be assessed by means of questionnaires and workshops.