Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

This study investigated elementary students' spatial thinking and visualization when they learned the shape of volcanoes. For this purpose we used GeoMapApp to design instruction program and assessment items. In the instruction, students were asked to connect the floor plan view of Jeju island with ...

This study investigated elementary students' spatial thinking and visualization when they learned the shape of volcanoes. For this purpose we used GeoMapApp to design instruction program and assessment items. In the instruction, students were asked to connect the floor plan view of Jeju island with the cross-sectional view of the same figure producted by GeoMapApp. Then they were asked to classify four sets of pictures of volcanoes based on the similarities of figures, that is, dome-shaped and shield volcanoes. In the assessment students solved three questions which examined how they connected the plan view and cross-sectional profile of Kilauea, draw cross-sectional profile of Mt. Fuji, and distinguished a shield volcano and dome-shaped one. Students' discourse data during the class were analyzed according to the amount to showing their spatial thinking and visualization. The instruction program using GeoMapApp assisted students to facilitate their spatial thinking for understanding of volcanoes. The outcomes of assessment showed even elementary students had good spatial thinking and visualization. Therefore, we argued spatial thinking and visualization for geoscientific understanding need to be included in the national science curriculum for elementary students.

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