Introduction to Online Topographic Maps

Mark Bowen
,
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
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Summary

Students use geoPDFs and Google Earth topographic map layers to conduct a variety of measurements and answer questions

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Context

Audience

The activity is used in an online undergraduate introductory physical geography course. The focus of the course is landforms and soils. The course is predominantly composed of non-majors.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

None, but familiarity with topographic maps would help

How the activity is situated in the course

This is a stand-alone exercise that reinforces concepts introduced in lecture.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

  • Become familiar with the information presented on a digital topographic map and how to interpret that information
  • Interpret information included in a topographic map
  • Measure distance on a digital topographic map
  • Calculate area
  • Determine precise coordinates

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Other skills goals for this activity

Description of the activity/assignment

This is a basic introductory online exercises that introduces students to digital topographic maps. Students download a geoPDF from the National Map and install the TerraGo geoPDF toolbar. They use the toolbar to conduct a series of measurements. Students then import the historical topographic map layer into Google Earth and use a variety of tools to conduct measurements.

Determining whether students have met the goals

Students complete the exercise during the week it is assigned. Upon completion of the laboratory exercise, students must complete an online quiz that consists of the same questions in the exercise. The online quiz is within the Desire 2 Learn (D2L) online learning platform, so answers are automatically graded and imported into the student's grade book.

More information about assessment tools and techniques.

Teaching materials and tips

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