Panel discussion: System approach in teaching geography with the help of GIS

Basil M. Kravtsov, Nina V. Gulyaeya and Iouri B. Kravtsov
Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University, Russia

Students' standard of knowledge analysis makes us conclude, that their accomplishments are fragmentary. Students keep in mamory sizable extend of programme material, but they can't use it even in area of one subject. Potential of geographic disciplines isn't utilized completely in scientific world outlook forming. Such situation is defined by many reasons. Essential contradiction between sizable strains of students' knowledge and absence of perception of Universe as a single whole arises.

Authors have some experience in solution of this contradiction. The system paradigm is accepted as a basis of activity. This basis makes students come nearer to understanding the mechanism of organization of complex natural systems. System paradigm is realized by usage of GIS. Authors made several didactic complexes for geographic subjects in higher school. The main idea of them is perception and learning geographic objects as GIS. Such complex includes: minimum of knowledge and skills, which students are to master great number of different tasks for studing the information about every feature of natural objects as GIS (form, size, composition, structure, emergent peculiarities, etc.); entertaining and little known dates, questions and tasks for self-control and self-appraisal.

Such didactic complexes make possible carry out distance learning of geographic systems.

Basil M. Kravtsov, Ph.D.
Professor of Physical Geography
GIS Laboratory Director

Nina V. Gulyaeya, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Physical Geography
Head of Physical Geography

Iouri B. Kravtsov, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University
Vityuiskaya Ulitsa, 28
Novosibirsk, 630126
RUSSIA
Phone: 383-2-68-01-35
FAX: 383-2-68-01-35