Teaching American migrations with GIS census webmaps: A modified “backwards design” approach in middle-school and college classrooms

Learning to use new technologies often involves significant challenges for teachers and learners. This study follows Tally׳s ((2007). Digital technology and the end of social studies education. Theory & Research in Social Education, 35(2), 305-321) challenge to put the “why” of social studies education first, and then “tinker” with technologies to discover how they can address learning goals. Using a modified “backward design” approach (Wiggins & McTighe (2005). Understanding by design. ASCD), a design team of middle school teachers, researchers, and disciplinary experts designed, enacted, and studied historical inquiry projects in middle school and college classrooms. Students used online, interactive, historical census data GIS “webmaps” (Baker (2005). Internet-Based GIS Mapping in Support of K-12 Education. The Professional Geographer, 57(1), 44-50) to investigate African American and Latino migrations. The study presents findings detailing three emergent learning objectives, highlighting how students׳ presentations with GIS maps evidenced three modes of reasoning with webmaps: (1) making observations with data; (2) drawing inferences from data; and (3) explaining the limitations of data for inquiry.