Development and evaluation of a biological map-making application for use in a 4th-grade elementary school science class on “Seasons and Organisms”

Abstract

The GIGA School Initiative has provided a tablet computer for each student to enhance ICT-based learning activities. Biology education expects the enhancement of observation activities through the use of ICT. This study developed an application for making biological maps for use in the “Seasons and Organisms” unit of 4th-grade elementary school science class. We evaluated its effectiveness and operability through classroom practice. Students can record photos of organisms taken with a tablet device as pins on a map on the application, and share the results with the whole class to create a map of organisms. The results of the questionnaire survey conducted before and after the class and the analysis of worksheets used in the class suggested that fourth-grade students could operate the app without any problems. Moreover, they checked their observation results with each other more frequently than in the usual class (science class without the app), and the class has deepened their understanding of seasonal changes in living organisms. However, the results do not specify the elements of the class that led to this understanding, demanding its exploration in the future.