How to improve geospatial competence: a quasi-experimental study with secondary-education students in the Balearic Islands

Autori

  • Antoni Pons Department of Geography, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma, Spain
  • Jaume Binimelis Department of Geography, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma, Spain
  • Juan Antonio García-González Department of Geography and Territorial Planning, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain
  • Gabriel Mateu Department of Geography, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma, Spain

Abstract

The limited level of geospatial competence shown by students in different educational contexts highlights the need to develop specific didactic strategies to improve such abilities. This study implements a quasi-experimental design using maps with third-year secondary-education students. The research was based on a sample of 221 students in the Balearic Islands (137 in the experimental group and 84 in the control group). A pre-test and a post-test were delivered through an online tool; students were to locate nine territorial units and estimate their surfaces. Between both tests, the experimental group performed map comparison activities using maps with equivalent projections, while the control group continued with regular teaching dynamics. The results show significant improvement in place location knowledge (PLK) in the experimental group, as well as a reduction of the initially detected gender differences. On the other hand, there is little variation in surface estimation results, which suggests the need for more specific or long-term interventions. These findings open new pathways for the design of teaching proposals that foster the sustained development of geospatial competence.

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Pubblicato

2025-12-19

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V. 2 (2025)

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Articles

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