| Abstrakt: |
Regional geography courses often include mapping exercises which reinforce students' knowledge of important distributions and familiarize them with the use of maps as geographic analysis tools. In addition, courses in geographic methods have become computer-oriented and the use of computers, especially desktop microcomputers, for mapping is now commonplace. However, computer mapping is not widely used in general education courses, which reach non-geography majors. Yet mapping by computer has great potential for improving efficiency in presenting information, teaching concepts, and developing mapping skills while at the same time enhancing student interest. This paper discusses some of the challenges of incorporating computer mapping into the mainstream geography curriculum and presents some preliminary results of an ongoing experiment in using choropleth mapping software in a lower division regional course. First, we highlight some of the educational objectives of mapping exercises which can be enhanced using computers. We also discuss problems with using commercial mapping software in the general geography classroom. Next, we describe a mapping program developed by the authors, and the ways that the software was used in a Geography of North America course. Finally, we attempt to evaluate the computer-mapping experience compared to “by-hand” methods with respect to the goals of the mapping exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER] |
