Promoting geographic internet searches and subsequent argumentation using an Open Educational Resource

Abstract

The internet provides up-to-date, multi-dimensional and spatial information on geographical conflicts worldwide. Internet searches can therefore be used in geography education for students to learn about geographical conflicts and to form their own opinions on them. However, previous research indicates that students lack competences in searching and evaluating digital information on geographical conflicts and also in processing the information found argumentatively. Therefore, we developed a digital learning unit, available as Open Educational Resource, to train upper secondary and university students in targeted strategies for conducting internet searches on geographical conflicts and developing subsequent argumentations. In this study, we investigated whether geographic internet searches and argumentation skills can be promoted using the learning unit. For this purpose, we analysed the work products of 39 students that they produced within the learning unit, consisting of an internet search on a geographical conflict and a subsequent argumentation. In addition, the students evaluated the learning unit using digitally provided questionnaires. A comparison of the students’ work results with previous research shows that the learning unit does not seem to affect the amount of information students find on the internet, but students seemed to engage more intensively with the information found. Using the information from the internet, students were able to create multi-perspective argumentations in which they could defend their opinions with justifications, counter-arguments and rebuttals. The results of our study thus show that internet searches on geographical conflicts and the development of subsequent argumentation can be promoted with the digital learning unit.