06-03, 09:30–10:00 (Europe/Stockholm), Statisten
A project called "Cool Geography Lesson" was launched in Estonian schools to promote geography education in 2016. It was conducted by the University of Tartu geography students' association EGEA-Tartu. The initiative ran for seven years (until 2023) and reached over 10,000 students all over Estonia. The project featured interactive workshops on seven different geography-related topics. Two of these workshops introduced students to geoinformatics with the help of QGIS.
This presentation will share insights from the experience of how to teach hands-on geoinformatics to secondary school students (ages 14–17) who often have no prior exposure to QGIS. Participants in the workshops either developed a basic 3D model of Tallinn's city center or created a choropleth map of Estonia using QGIS software. The workshops also included a theoretical component, showcasing the importance of geoinformatics and its real-world applications.
The session will explore the following topics:
- Background of the project and structure of the workshops.
- What challenges were encountered and what lessons were learned?
- Can total beginners learn to use QGIS within a short time frame?
- What was the students’ feedback to the workshops?
Merli is a graduate of the geography department in the University of Tartu. She is currently working in the Chair of Geoinformatics and Cartography as a project manager for different geospatial projects conducted by the Landscape Geoinformatics Lab. During her geography studies Merli was actively involved in the “Cool Geography Lesson” initiative for six years, including three years as a project manager. During the journey she has gained valuable experience that she is excited to share with the wider QGIS community.