Advancing Geospatial Skills in Science and Social Science (AGSSS)

Southwest Regional NSF GK-12 Conference Texas A&M University October 22, 2005

AGSSS Team

Texas A&M University Dept. of Geography



Faculty

• Sarah Bednarz, PI • Robert Bednarz, Co-PI • Tony Filippi, Co-PI • Andrew Klein, Co-PI 

Fellows

• Graduate o Gabriel Burns, M.S.

o Joni Kincaid, M.S.

o Kevin Merritt, M.S.

o Michelle Simms, PhD.

• Undergraduate o Russell Evans o Amy Shaffer o Laura Spanel-Weber

Teacher Fellows

• Year 1: Educational Service Center VI  College Station Middle School  College Station High School • Year 2: TBA • Year 3: TBA

AGSSS Components

Geospatially skilled Fellows, working with Teachers, develop Students’ spatial thinking & problem solving skills: •Mechanism: existing curricular initiatives, GIS, RS, and GPS •Assessed through teacher research

Spatial Thinking Teacher Research Curriculum

What is Spatial Thinking?

habits of mind to use concepts of space, tools of representation, and processes of reasoning to structure problems, find answers and express solutions to these problems” (Bednarz, 2005).

What is Spatial Thinking?

Rules of the Game Concepts of space Playing Field and Team Uniform Tools of representation Planning a goal-scoring play Processes of reasoning

What is Spatial Thinking?

It’s Problem Solving!

“Thinking spatially” is an ability that can, and should be developed

Why is Spatial Thinking Skill Development Important?

Home

We “think spatially” everyday

Meet Fellows  Use mental maps Early Lunch  Giving directions  Packing a car trunk PEER Conference Library  Route planning Go west 2 blocks, then turn right and drive 3 miles… Study Group

Classic Example of Spatial Thinking

Cholera Deaths 1854 London Source: http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/tufte_snow2.htm

Curriculum Materials

EarthKAM Mission Geography Mapping Our World Community Atlas Google Earth

Teacher Research

• Teacher as Researcher – Teachers learn how to evaluate themselves and their efforts to promote spatial thinking in the classroom – Summer workshops • Feedback – How well have the AGSSS curriculum enhancements been integrated?

– How have students’ spatial thinking skills improved?

Teachers in Action

Left: Sarah Bednarz trains teachers to conduct an ISS EarthKAM mission Right: Teachers utilize an atlas to find targets for the EarthKAM mission

Impact on Fellows

“I am excited by spatial thinking and how it enhances the research process!” “I realized the importance of context when asking questions about the world.” “I am looking at the world in a different way now. I’m learning how to communicate this new view, too.” “I’m more cognizant of how much I think spatially everyday! I never realized just how important this skill really is.” “Through the fellowship seminars I realized I had a gap in my geographic knowledge.”

Think Spatially… Act Analytically!

http://agsss.tamu.edu