Teaching geography with the use of ICT

Geography teaching is graced with a multitude of ICT tools lately, building upon modem computer´s unprecedented visual capability. Examples of such tools include Google earth, a selection of configurable and specialised search engines, software allowing the creation of crosswords, and even further, a magazine (either internet based or in paper form), with references to different countries and places, and many more. This appears to be happening at just the right moment: The acquisition of Geography-related basic skills appears to be falling behind, not least because other location-related aspects of human endeavour are gaining weight in school curriculum, overloading it. How could this be happening in the era of the proliferation of GPS-based mobile devices? The teaching approach presented herein focuses on: a) motivating students to learn geography by using an alternative and more interesting way of teaching b) familiarising students with basic ICT skills and c) demonstrating to them that computers and mobile devices could be both learning machines and a communication tools. The participants in this educational trial were 23 primary school students aged between 11 and 12, studying in an average primary school located at a suburb of a large city. A computer lab containing rather aged PCs was used. In addition, some teaching took place in class, using a projector and a mobile device for a demonstration. Some students were so enthusiastic they continued working at home, either alone or in pairs. By the end of the trial, most participants had acquired skills in using the ICT packages employed, while greatly improving their overall ICT competence. The trial demonstrates that computers can be constructively used at school to stimulate teaching and learning Geography, while also enhancing their ICT skills. Students´ skills in mutual communication and collaboration were also seen to be greatly enhanced.