Students' Misconceptions About the Correspondences Between a Map and the Terrain Represented by the Map
K. A. Kastens, J. Griffith, L. Liben, and L. Pistolesi 2003 Abstract: American Geophysical Union Fall meeting

This paper presents the development of a field-based test of map skills requiring students to apply information from a map to the real world and vice versa. Test results show that approximately one fifth of fourth graders produce deeply flawed answers. This study has led to the development of the “Where are We?” curriculum, which explicitly addresses the correspondence between a map and the represented terrain.

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Subject: Geoscience:Hydrology:Ground Water:Water quality/chemistry , Geoscience:Hydrology:Surface Water:Water Quality/Chemistry
Resource Type: Scientific Resources:Overview/Reference Work, Report
Special Interest: Spatial Thinking
Research on Learning: Ways Of Learning:In the Field, Spatial Intelligence:Scale, Assessment:Classroom Methods, Cognitive Domain:How information is organized:Mental models, Spatial Intelligence:Maps, Cognitive Domain:Misconceptions/barriers to learning