Relevance: In the country, in accordance with the updated content of education, the issues of teaching digital geoinformation technologies and their methods in the content of geography textbooks for schools, are widely considered. However, the methodology for their practical application has not yet been developed. In the textbooks of geography of the updated content, instructions for the implementation of practical work carried out using geoinformation technologies are not indicated; this is left in the competence of the teacher. However, many teachers’ ignorance of the sources of digital geoinformation technologies and resources, low digital literacy or lack of skills in using geoinformation resources in education negatively affects the full assimilation of knowledge by students in accordance with the educational program. Therefore, in order to solve these problems, we propose an application for a scientific project on the topic: “Development of methodological foundations for the use of digital geoinformation technologies in teaching geography of updated content (higher secondary education)”.
The goal of the project – increasing the digital literacy of teachers and students through the development of an electronic textbook and a geographic atlas and instructions for geoinformation education in teaching updated content school geography and the development of methodological foundations for the use of digital geoinformation technologies based on these developments. The proposed research project will be implemented in the “Scientific and methodological center of geography and ecology” at the Institute of natural science and geography of the Abai KazNPU. The center is equipped with the material and technical means necessary for the implementation of a scientific project.
In the course of the research work, general scientific (analysis, synthesis, inductive and deductive methods of cognition, modeling, comparison, etc.) and subject specific (geoinformation, cartographic, comparative geographical, geographical description, questionnaire, observation, conversation, design, etc.) research methods will be widely used.
The research group implementing the project consists of young scientists with extensive experience in carrying out research work. Among them are 3 PhD, 3 PhD doctoral students, 1 master’s degree and 2 vacant places are provided. Most of the young scientists have professional skills in developing teaching aids and using a wide range of GIS programs in research (MapInfo, ArcGIS, ENVI, ILWIS, QGIS).
During the implementation of the project, for the first time in Kazakhstan will be developed an electronic textbook and a geographical atlas, as well as instructions for geoinformation education of higher secondary classes based on the best practices and analysis of the world’s advanced geoinformation technologies and resources. These training manuals will be aimed at acquiring skills in using the following types of geoinformation technologies:
- GIS software (GIS programs, web GIS, mobile GIS applications);
- GIS servers;
- Mapping services;
- Geopportals
After the development of teaching materials, for the first time in the country, a system of teacher training courses will be developed, consisting of 2 stages (basic level) aimed at teaching skills of their application; its programs will be prepared. In rural schools, will be organized master classes aimed at teaching and acquiring geoinformation knowledge using these textbooks. In addition, a video lecture package will be developed to teach the use of geographic information technologies and resources in geography education, which will be uploaded to the YouTube platform with the aim of making it accessible to all users. Thanks to these works, methodological foundations for the use of digital geoinformation technologies will be developed for the first time.
Upon completion of the project work, it is planned to commercialize the electronic textbook, instructions, and electronic geographical atlas developed as a result of the study through the Publishing House “Mektep” LLP.
With the help of this project, educational and methodological foundations for the use of digital geoinformation technologies in teaching will be developed and the problem of mastering geographical knowledge in accordance with the objectives of training in standard curricula will be completely solved. The developed methodology will allow teachers to conduct research within the framework of two constructivist methods (Inquiry-based learning (IBL) and problem-based learning (PBL). This, along with the development of research competencies and the improvement of digital literacy of teachers, contributes to the formation of an information culture and involvement in research work by transferring geoinformation knowledge to students.
Expected results.
Based on the results obtained during the implementation of the goal and objectives of the research project, it is planned to develop and publish the following works:
- publication of 2 scientific articles in scientific publications peer-reviewed in the scientific direction of the project, indexed on the basis of the Science Citation Index Expanded Web of Science and (or) having a percentage of CiteScore based on Scopus of at least 35 (thirty-five);
- publication of 3 (three) articles in a peer-reviewed national edition recommended by CCSES;
- the results of the project will be approved at international scientific conferences and 2 articles or thesis will be published in the proceedings of the conference;
- will be developed a digital electronic textbook for higher secondary grades, aimed at mastering geoinformation technologies and resources;
- by creating a series of thematic maps will be developed an electronic geographical atlas;
- instructions will be developed for completing tasks in geography of higher secondary grades;
- will be received an author’s certificate for the textbook.
Intended editions for the publication of the project results:
- Journal of Science Education and Technology. CiteScore: 4.3. Percentile: 90% https://www.springer.com/journal/10956;
- Bulletin of the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University. Series “Pedagogical Sciences”. https://bulletin-pedagogy.kaznpu.kz;
- The journal “Pedagogy and Psychology” of the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University – republican scientific and methodological publication. https://journal-pedpsy.kaznpu.kz;
- Bulletin of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Series “Pedagogical Sciences”. https://bulletin-pedagogic-sc.kaznu.kz/index.php/1-ped;
- Materials of the scientific and practical conference at Abai KazNPU;
- Approbation at the International Pedagogical Conference in Czech Republic and publication of the text of the report in the conference collection.
Dissemination of the results of work among potential users, the community of scientists and the general public. A series of video lectures of master classes filmed as part of the project will be available to all users via the YouTube platform. It is planned to disseminate information about the progress and results of the project through mass media and social networks, to present research results at scientific seminars and conferences of various levels.
The scope and target consumers of each of the expected results of the project include all organizations of secondary education in the country (school, college, lyceum), as well as universities that train future geography teachers.
The impact of the expected results on the development of the main scientific field and related fields of science and technology. The project works will contribute to the development of geoinformation technologies and the sphere of “geoinformation education” in the country and expand the scope of application of geoinformation technologies and resources.
The applicability and (or) the possibility of commercializing the obtained scientific results. After the completion of the project work, it is planned to commercialize the electronic textbook, instructions, and electronic geographical atlas developed as a result of the study through the Publishing House “Mektep” LLP. Also, after the completion of the project, it is planned to organize advanced training courses prepared during the implementation of the project on a paid basis.
Social, scientific and technical and (or) other effect of the project results with justification. The methodology developed as a result of the project allows teachers to conduct research within the framework of two constructivist methods (Inquiry-based learning (IBL) and problem-based learning (PBL). This, along with the development of research competencies and the improvement of digital literacy of teachers, contributes to the formation of an information culture and familiarization with research work by transferring geoinformation knowledge to students.
Other direct and indirect results of the project. During the implementation of the project, electronic educational and methodological works aimed at developing skills in the use of geoinformation technologies and resources will be developed, and ways of using them will be shown. Methodological foundations for the use of digital geoinformation technologies will be developed for the first time in our country.
Research group and project management.
The research team of the project consists of young scientists under the age of 35.
Scientific supervisor of the project – Ussenov Nurbol Ergeshovich, PhD, Сhief researcher, Senior lecturer at the Institute of Natural Sciences and geography of the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University. Field of scientific research: methodology of application of pedagogical technologies, problems of application of innovative technologies in geographical education. He completed a scientific internship at the Pomor Academy of the Republic of Poland (Slupsk) on the topic “Methodological foundations of teaching socio-economic laws and concepts”. Published more than 20 publications, including 2 articles in the Scopus database and 3 articles in journals on the list of the Committee for quality assurance of Education and science. Author of 1 textbook for students of schools and colleges and universities. The Hirsch (h) index in the Scopus database is 1. (https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?origin=resultslist&authorId=57221727221&zone=). Tasks in the implementation of the project: analyse the educational goal and long-term plans in standard curricula of geography for grades 9-10 and 10-11, develops a textbook and manages the project. Constantly working on the project, 50%.
Executor – Laiskhanov Shakhislam Uzakbayuly, PhD, Chief researcher, Postdoctoral researcher of the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University. A qualified landscape mapping specialist, he has skills in working with several GIS programs, such as Arcgis, Ilwis, and MapInfo, as in using remote sensing data in research. Direction of scientific research: the use of GIS technology in education, landscape mapping, agrolandscape research. In 2015-2017, he was the responsible executor of 2 domestic scientific projects. Head of 2 domestic projects for 2021-2023. And in the implementation of the proposed project, consultations will be combined. In the ILWIS 3.8 program, he completed a scientific internship at foreign universities and scientific institutes, such as the University of Leipzig (Germany) and the V.V. Dokuchaev soil Institute (Russia) on digital processing of space images. More than 50 scientific publications have been published, including 4 articles in the Scopus database and 12 articles in journals on the list of the Committee for quality assurance in education and science. Author of 2 textbooks and 1 author’s certificate for the University. The Hirsch (h) index in the Scopus database is 2 (https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56983077100). Tasks in the implementation of the project: by reviewing advanced Geoinformation technologies and works, determine their applied foundations and develops a set of Geoinformation technologies and resources and advises on the methodological foundations of research. Constantly working on the project, 50%.
Executor – Aliaskarov Duman Toktaruly, PhD, leading researcher, Senior lecturer at the Institute of Natural Sciences and geography of the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University. Direction of scientific research: the use of GIS technology in education, drawing up thematic educational maps, modeling of urbanization processes. The Hirsch index is 1 in the Scopus DB (h-index=1). The developer of digital cards has completed 2 projects under grant funding of the Ministry of education and science of the Republic of Kazakhstan and 3 projects of Kaznpu. He is the author of more than 30 publications, including 1 Article, 1 monograph, and 2 textbooks in the Scopus database. Tasks in the implementation of the project: develops thematic maps and electronic geographical Atlas, organizes and conducts advanced training courses and master classes. Constantly working on the project, 50%.
Executor – Abykbayev Yerzhan Rakhymkeldyuly, master’s degree, research associate, 2nd year doctoral student of the educational program “8D01515 – Geography” of the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University. The topic of the dissertation work is “Methodology of using Geoinformation systems in the educational process in professional training of students”, i.e. the dissertation research work fully corresponds to the research direction of the project. Scope of scientific research: innovative technologies in education, the use of GIS technologies in teaching geography, etc., author of more than 20 scientific publications. Tasks in the implementation of the project: develops instructions for the use of digital Geoinformation technologies and resources in the implementation of tasks in Geography textbooks, develops a system of advanced training courses, develops programs. Constantly working on the project, 50%.
Executor – Myrzaly Nazira Berdygulkyzy, master’s degree, research associate, 2nd year doctoral student of the educational program “8D01515 – Geography” of the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University. Direction of scientific research: methods of teaching geography in the context of updated educational content. She has published more than 10 articles in the materials of international scientific conferences, 2 articles in journals on the list of the Committee for quality assurance in education and science. Tasks in the implementation of the project: during the project, develops an electronic textbook and a geographical atlas, develops programs for advanced training courses. Constantly working on the project, 50%.
Executor – Issakov Yerlan Duysenbekovich,master’s degree, research associate, 2nd year doctoral student of the educational program “8D01515 – Geography” of the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University. One of the areas of scientific research is the study of the capabilities of computer systems. He has published 4 articles in journals on the list of the committee for quality assurance in education and science. Author of 1 methodological guide and 1 author’s certificate for the University. Tasks in the implementation of the project: during the project, he develops an electronic textbook and a geographical Atlas, creates a series of video lectures of master classes and puts them on the YouTube platform. Constantly working on the project, 50%.
Executor – Kulmukhanova Damira Rustemkyzy – Bachelor of Ecology, junior researcher, Senior laboratory assistant of the EP “Geography, Environment and services” of the Institute of Natural Sciences and geography of the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University. Directions of scientific research: methods of teaching geography, innovative technologies in geography. More than 5 articles have been published in the materials of international scientific conferences, 1 in journals on the list of the Committee for quality assurance in education and science. Tasks in the implementation of the project: develops an electronic textbook and a geographical atlas during the project and maintains project documentation. Constantly working on the project, 50%.
Executor – vacancy, researcher – responsibilities in the implementation of the project: reviews scientific papers on the research topic, develops a package of Geoinformation technologies and Resources, conducts advanced training courses and master classes. Constantly working on the project, 50%.
Executor – vacancy, junior researcher – Tasks in the implementation of the project: develops instructions for the use of digital Geoinformation technologies and resources in the implementation of tasks, develops thematic maps and an electronic Atlas. Constantly working on the project, 50%.
Responsibilities in the implementation of the project: constantly works on the project, 50%.
Employment period for all project performers: 2022-2024.
In addition, all members of the research team are young scientists (up to 35 years old), and most of them have extensive experience working in large-scale GIS programs: (MapInfo, ArcGIS, ENVI, ILWIS, QGIS, SuperMap).