The proliferation and implementation of GIS as an educational tool at gymnasiums/grammar schools in Czechia

Abstract

This article contains the results of study, whose aim was to provide findings regarding the current state of proliferation of the GIS software at Czech grammar schools and also the barriers of further expansion of its use. Outputs of a questionnaire from beginning of year 2012 serve as the basic datasource for this study. The survey was sent to 103 schools and the resulting sample numbered 57 of them. The questionnaire is based on a methodology espoused in previous research studies and its aim is to assess the implementation ‘profile’ of grammar schools as a category. The level of implementation was considered in terms of its educational, technology and professional aspects. Results show that most of grammar schools are in the development stage in the ‘Technology’ and ‘Professional’ aspects, in the ‘Educational’ aspect, they find themselves in the institutionalization stage. The results of the study reveal that among teachers, the interest for teaching with GIS exists, but there is a lack of supporting materials and the teacher’s poor GIS skills frequently poses additional obstacles. Furthermore, there is not so much information about free software and data resources among teachers.