Effect of the Map Information and Applications Course in Social Studies Teaching on the Development of Map Literacy Skill

Year 2021, Volume: 11 Issue: 3, 0 - 0, 31.08.2021

Servet Hali

https://doi.org/10.33403/rigeo.859216

Abstract

This study attempts to investigate the effect of the Map Information and Applications course, which is among the specialized field courses that Social Studies Teachers have studied during the undergraduate education process, on the development of "map literacy skills" in the Introduction to Science and Social Studies Curriculum. Map use for space perception during the teaching of History and Geography subjects included in the Social Studies Education curriculum has an impact on the realization and permanence of teaching, which makes map literacy skills important and crucial in Social Studies Teaching. Many topics, especially in history, geography and social sciences in general, therefore, require knowledge and skills of map literacy. This research studied with social studies teachers working in the province of Hatay. Quantitative research was applied as a data collection method in this study and the questionnaire “The Effect of Map Information and Applications Course on Map Literacy Skill” was implemented to obtain data on the map literacy skill of social studies teachers working in Hatay. A pilot study was employed to 56 social studies teachers so as to calculate the validity and reliability of the questionnaire and the Croanbach Alpha internal consistency coefficient of 17-item questionnaire was calculated as .91. The findings revealed that the undergraduate course Map Information and Applications was found to have a positive effect on mapping ability, especially in detecting location on map, perceiving spatial distribution, comprehending the landforms, map interpretation, and sense of direction.

Keywords

Social Studies, Map Information, Map, Map Literacy

References

• Akar, B. (2008). The evaluation of the map using ability of 6th grade students and evaluation of the thoughts of the teachers about the map using abilities of students (Unpublished Master Thesis). Institute of Social Sciences, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
• Akkuş, Z. & Kuzey, M. (2018). An examination of having map and direction skills of middle school students and implementing these skills to their life. Millî Eğitim, 218, 201-233.
• Aksoy, H. & Ünlü, M. (2012). Effect of student attitudes applications ability maps in geography lesson. International Journal of Geography and Geography Education, 26, 16-41.
• Aktürk, V., Yazıcı, H. & Bulut, R. (2013). The effects of the use of animations and digital maps in social studies on students’ spatial perception skills. International Journal of Geography and Geography Education, 28, 1-17.
• Bahar, H. H., Sayar, K. & Başıbüyük, A. (2010). The study of sketch map reading skills of the students in primary school (Erzincan sample). Fırat University Journal of Social Sciences, 20(1), 229-246.
• Bircan, T.Ş. & Safran, M. (2013). The usage and the importance of maps in teaching history. KEFAD, 14(2), 461-476.
• Buğdaycı, İ. & Bildirici, İ. Ö. (2009). The importance of map use in geography education. 12. Turkey Scientific and Technical Mapping Congress, CD, Ankara.
• Buğdaycı, İ. (2012). An evaluation about map use in elementary schools (Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation). Institute of Science, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey.
• Demiralp, N. (2006). Map and glob skills in geography education. Gazi University Journal of Turkish Educational Sciences, 3(4), 323-343.
• Demiralp, N. (2006). The development of map and glob skills by the use of demonstration method in geography education (Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation). Institute of Educational Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
• Demiralp, N. (2009). Learning through maps, Journal of Turkish Educational Sciences, 7(4), 955-973.
• Dönger, A., Özkartal, Z. & Sarıgöz, O. (2016). An investigation into variables that affect self effıcacy beliefs of people working in educational institutions. International Refereed Academic Social Sciences Journal, 24, 1-17.
• Duman, H. (2011) Using map in teaching of social studies and teachers' opinions about using map (Unpublished Master Thesis). Institute of Educational Sciences, Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey.
• Fesliyen, Z., Şanlı, C. & Pınar, A. (2019). An action research on map reading skill levels of secondary school students: A Kulu sample. Future Visions Journal, 3(3), 9-23.
• Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E. & Airasian, P. W. (2011). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications. London: Pearson.
• Gürsoy, C.R. (1961). Cartography. Faculty of Languages and History-Geography, 87.
• Harte, J. & Dunbar C. (1994). Skills in geography. Cambridge: Cambridge University.
• İncekara, S. & Kantürk, G. (2010). The conception of maps among the teacher candidates of social sciences and their approaches to using maps. International Journal of Geography and Geography Education, 21, 240-257.
• İncekara, S., Karatepe, A. & Karabun, A. (2008). An application about how to teach topographic map reading with GIS in secondary school geography courses. International Journal of Geography and Geography Education, 17, 97-110.
• Karabağ, S. (1998). Coğrafya öğretiminde anahtar sorular ve kavramlar. Journal of Gazi Educational Faculty, 18(2), 25-41.
• Karabağ, S. (2001). İlköğretim sosyal bilgiler konularında coğrafyanın içeriği, ders kitabı inceleme kılavuzu. Ankara: Nobel Yayın Dağıtım.
• Karasar, N. (2006). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemi. Ankara: Nobel Yayın Dağıtım.
• Kızılçaoğlu, A. (2007). Harita becerilerine pedagojik bir bakış. Selçuk University Journal of Social Sciences, 18, 341-358.
• Koç, H. (2017). Coğrafya öğretiminde haritalar ve atlasların kullanımı. In A. Sezer (Ed.), Coğrafya öğretim teknolojileri ve materyal tasarımı (pp. 115-141). Ankara: Pegem Akademi.
• Koç, H., Aksoy, B. & Çiftçi, T. (2017). An examination of map literacy levels of students from various undergraduate programmes according to several variables: Cumhuriyet University Sample. Erzincan University Journal of Education Faculty, 19(3), 301-321.
• Koç, H., Aksoy, B. (2009) Sosyal bilgiler öğretimi. In M. Safran (Eds.), Harita becerileri ve 11-14 yaş grubundaki öğrencilerin yapabilecekleri harita becerileri (pp. 341-360). Ankara: Pegem.
• Ministry of National Education. (2005a). Coğrafya dersi öğretimi programı (9., 10., 11. ve 12. grades). Ministry of National Education, Head Council of Education and Morality, Ankara.
• Ministry of National Education. (2006). İlköğretim 6.sınıf sosyal bilgiler dersi öğretim programı kılavuzu, Ankara
• Otluoğlu, R. & Öztürk C., (2003) Sosyal bilgiler öğretiminde edebi ürünler ve yazılı metinler. Ankara: Pegem.
• Sarıgöz, O., Özkartal, Z., Dönger, A., Cam, F. & Koca, M. (2015) Vocational college students’ evaluation of comments and thoughts on the applied learning. The Third International Congress on Curriculum and Instruction, Cukurova University, 22-24.
• Sönmez, Ö. F. & Aksoy, B. (2013). Map skills and present of Republic elementary school curricula. The Journal of Turkish Social Research, 17(1), 269–288.
• Sönmez, Ö.F. (2010) Map skills in primary schools social studies education (Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation). Institute of Educational Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
• Ünlü, M, Üçışık, M., Özey, R. (2002). The importance of the maps in geography education and instruction. International Journal of Geography and Geography Education, 5, 9-25.
• Ünlü, M. (2011). The level of realizing geography skills in geography lessons. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 11(4), 2155- 2172.
• Zaman, S., Günal, H. & Zaman, N. (2011). A research on history teachers views on map use: Erzurum sample. Atatürk University Journal of Social Sciences Institute, 15(2), 205-218.