Bringing Earth Observation to Schools with Digital Integrated Learning Environments

Abstract

The digital integrated learning environments (ILEs) for earth observation described in this article are bringing the complex topic of earth observation into classrooms. They are intended to give pupils with no prior experience in remote sensing the opportunity to solve tasks with earth observation data by using the same means that professionals have at hand. These learning environments integrate remote sensing tools and background knowledge in a comprehensive e-learning environment. They are tailored for use in schools, whereby the curriculum typically does not include earth observation, teachers are generally not familiar with its concepts, and the technical infrastructure is still not quite ready for digital teaching resources. To make the learning environments applicable, the special demands and obstacles presented by a school environment have to be considered. These obstacles are used to derive the requirements for the use of satellite data in school classes and create classroom resources in terms of technology, didactics, and e-learning. The concept itself was developed ten years ago, and since, then multiple applications have been created and used in classes. Data from an online questionnaire focuses on the specific qualities of the learning modules, enabling us to assess whether the concept works, and where there is need for improvement. The results show that the learning environments are being used, and that they continue to open the minds of pupils and teachers alike to a new perspective on the earth.