Open Knowledge Conference

From Geography to physics: How does geography help students learn motion?

We have been developing modules for teaching graphicacy to middle and secondary school. In this paper we present the module that we have developed for teaching basic mechanics and physical geography at the secondary school level by using the Global Positioning System (GPS). The GPS units are presented as a powerful technology enabling students to learn basic ideas of motion, along with concepts of physical geography. We used the GPS units as data loggers to provide us spatial and temporal variables. The raw data thus obtained forms a good source for analysis of physical geography and basic mechanics. We provide some examples of the usage of such GPS units and resulting analysis that we have performed on the data. The use of technology in this way is a form of studio based education (close-to-life collaborative construction contexts). Such a context enables students to construct and analyze their own data, thus providing an opportunity to develop critical graphicacy along with the subject knowledge (physical geography and basic mechanics in this case). We also discuss the impact and signicance of such studio based learning for science education.

by Amit Dhakulkar & Nagarjuna G on July 1st at 17:30 in Workshop III