Date of Award

2023

Degree Name

Curriculum and Instruction

College

College of Education and Professional Development

Type of Degree

Ed.D.

Document Type

Dissertation

First Advisor

Dr. Lisa A. Heaton, Committee Chairperson

Second Advisor

Dr. McKenzie Brittain

Third Advisor

Dr. Michael Jabot

Abstract

As educational practices include foundational and cutting-edge preparation, the value of problem-based instruction employing industry-standard technologies increases. Geospatial technologies (GST), are a group of professional technologies, including GIS (Geographic Information Systems), used by industries to make informed decisions with spatial data. This study investigated educator behavioral intention to use GIS/GST in classroom practice, and the moderating effect, if any, of the GeoInquiry, a curricular resource. The UTAUT framework was employed to evaluate and quantify the factors impacting behavioral intention (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions). These data were examined to identify moderation by GeoInquiry usage. One hundred and two surveys were completed by educators in 27 states. The survey results indicate a moderate statistically significant relationship between each of the factors and behavioral intention. An increase in any factor will increase behavioral intention. The mean response increased for the group that used GeoInquiries in classroom instruction, indicating correlation between each factor and GeoInquiry usage. Statistically significant differences related to using GeoInquiries in classroom instruction were identified for effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, and behavioral intention. Similar results related to the degree of GeoInquiry usage were not found. Implications include professional development for both educators and administrators, the continued development of curricular resources, and an alignment of both professional development and curricular resources to high yield instructional strategies, standards, and student engagement. Recommendations for future research include expanding the number of survey respondents, modifying items, conducting structured interviews, social network analysis, and developing curricular resources, which could impact student learning with digital mapping technology.

Subject(s)

Digital mapping – Education (Secondary).

Educators – Education (Secondary) – Technology – Behavior.

Geographic information systems – Technology.

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