Report on Initial Formative Evaluation

"Where are We?": A Tool for Learning to Visualize Maps

Dalton School First Program: 1995-1996

Introduction

Formative Evaluation:

This report describes an initial formative evaluation of "Where are We?", which was carried out at the Dalton School, New York City, during the 1995-1996 academic year. The motivations for choosing the Dalton School were: (1) a strong and longstanding working relationship between the school and the Institute for Learning Technologies, Teachers College, Columbia University, (2) a well-developed computer infrastructure: hardware, software, and personnel, and (3) a newly-developed 6-week long mapping curriculum for second grade students, developed by teachers Karen Katz and Melissa Dollinger. Because the students were on the young side for our target users, we chose to evaluate only the two simplest modes of use for the program: "Out for a Walk" mode, and "Are we There Yet?" mode.

Following this introduction, this report covers three evaluation activities:

(1) Classroom Evaluation of "Out for a Walk" mode

(2) Classroom Evaluation of "Are We There Yet?" mode.

(3) Central Park Map skills assessment, an in-the-field assessment of student's ability on a realistic map skills task.

Note: The "Out for a Walk" mode was subsequently renamed "Exploring the Park."

[Introduction | "Out for a Walk" evaluation | "Are We There Yet? evaluation | Map skills assessment]