“How effectively can the use of GIS promote enquiry based learning in and outside the classroom?”

What is Infomapper?

Infomapper is a safe educational geographical information system (GIS). It offers pupils a way of capturing digital data and sharing their experiences with an audience through broadband. Schools across Kent have been using InfoMapper to support local studies linked to History and Geography.

Twenty primary schools in Kent have used the GIS application InfoMapper to support a range of geography projects linked to the local environment. 

Focusing on how we can use ICT to improve children’s enquiry skills and understanding of environmental issues the feedback from the participating schools has been used to analyse the following questions:

• How effectively does using ICT improve children’s enquiry skills?
• How effectively does using GIS promote children’s understanding of environmental issues?
• How effectively does using GIS motivate and result in children becoming active learners?

The following pages take you through the findings of the Kent Schools Infomapper Phase II Project and the case studies of twelve primary schools.

Resources

Case Studies of Schools using Infomapper

Kent guide to using Infomapper (Word document)

For more information contact:

Philip Bracegirdle
Key Stages 1 and 2 HOS Consultant