The Normal Lights

Volume 14, No. 1 (2020)

Senior High School Students’

Perceptions and Attitudes toward the
Use of Google Maps as Instructional
Tool in Earth Science
Christoper Jan B. Landicho
Science Department, Xavier School Nuvali, Calamba City, Laguna
[email protected]

Abstract This study investigated the use of Google Maps as an

instructional tool in Earth Science. A conveniently sampled senior
high school class (n=34) participated in a formative online Google
Map activity. The students inferred the location of landforms
usually associated with faults using the Terrain view of Google
Maps during the pre-lecture and intervention phase. A short lecture
explaining how these land features can possibly be deduced using
Google Maps followed. After the lecture, the students re-observed
the maps with Google Maps, reexamined their previous answers
and modified them, if necessary. After the activity, the students
answered a self-evaluation form (SEF) which sought to gather their
insights regarding the use of Google Maps in their Earth science
class. The results revealed that the majority of the respondents
expressed positive attitudes toward using Google Maps in
classroom learning. They have had meaningful engagement with
this online geospatial tool in their lessons in Earth science.
However, challenges such as slow internet connection and limited
exposure and practice were also noted by the students. Future
researchers may look into the application of Google Maps in other
lessons or learning competencies, a wider coverage among schools,
and the integration of other geotechnologies in teaching the Earth
sciences.

Keywords: Earth science, Google Maps, online maps, senior high

school, teaching

Introduction

Science education has benefited from emerging technologies such as

computer simulations because of their success in facilitating the
development of scientific content and process skills (Smetana & Bell,

Landicho, C. J. B. (2020). Senior high school students’ perceptions and attitudes toward the use of Google Maps as instructional
tool in Earth Science. The Normal Lights, 14(1), 141-168.
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2012). One of the popular tools in education today is the Geographic

Information Systems or GIS which refers to a collection of spatial data
and the software responsible for its collection, organization and analysis
(Marra et al., 2017). Since the 1990s, educators have tried to teach about
and with GIS (Kerski, 2011). In a wide array of disciplines (from the
social sciences and humanities to the natural sciences), GIS may be used
by students to deepen their content knowledge (Kerski, 2011). For
example, in a study among student-teachers, Ratinen and Keinonen
(2011) noticed an improvement in the participants’ geographic
knowledge after engaging in a GIS-based PBL. Likewise, GIS can be
used in project-based learning (PBL) and in GIS-based projects which
involve students, teachers, the school, and the community (Demirci et
al., 2011). These approaches operate on the idea that learning is an
active, collaborative, and student-centered endeavor, which is essentially
constructivist in orientation.

GIS fosters critical thinking and allows students to use and

connect real-life data to their communities (Kerski, 2011). In addition,
the capability of GIS to develop students’ spatial thinking continues to
be acknowledged (Henry & Semple, 2012). Although it seems like there
is no consensus about its exact definition, spatial thinking is gleaned to
be a collection of different skill sets and aptitude (Bednarz & Lee, 2018;
Lee & Bednarz, 2012). A more specific type of spatial thinking called
geospatial thinking applies these skills within a geographic context, and
focuses on problems related to the Earth’s surface and within human
experience (Baker et al., 2015; Huynh & Sharpe, 2013).

Worldwide, web-based spatial technologies gained popularity

since the inception of the World Wide Web in 1991 (Demirci et al.,
2013). An example of these web-based geospatial technologies includes
virtual globes, such as Google Earth, which have the capacity to project
information such as satellite images, elevation data, and other GIS data
layers such as man-made features and road networks (Bodzin, 2011).
These added features highlight the advantage of virtual globes over
printed maps and traditional desktop globes. Furthermore, earlier studies
reckoned that GIS and other geospatial technologies may enhance spatial
and geospatial thinking (e.g., Bodzin, 2011; Bodzin et al., 2014; Henry
& Semple, 2012). Zwartjes and colleagues (2016) also underscored that
these tools could also improve students’ critical thinking as they allow

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them to apply their knowledge in scientific inquiry, problem solving, and

synthesis.

A number of GIS and other web-based geospatial technologies are

generally cost-free and are open access. Over the last few years, virtual
globes such as Google Earth have gained prominence due to their simple
interface that allows users to explore the planet in an entertaining and
interactive manner (Demirci et al., 2013; Ratinen & Keinonen, 2011).
Despite not being considered as a true GIS, Google Earth has heightened
the interest of both students and teachers (Demirci et al., 2013). Google
Earth, in particular, could help in facilitating critical thinking, spatial
analytical operations, spatial perception, and spatial ability (Awada &
Diab, 2018; Hamdanah et al., 2020; Merç & Ersoy, 2019). The versatility
and practicality of using GIS and GIS-based applications in Earth
sciences and allied fields are reflected by the number of researches on its
integration in the classroom. Riihelä and Mäki (2015) described how a
GIS tool aimed to promote spatial thinking among upper secondary
students was developed and implemented in Finland. Results of this
Finnish study revealed that GIS has the potential to advance
multidisciplinary learning (Riihelä & Mäki, 2015). Moreover, GIS and
GIS-based tools can also be utilized to improve the teaching of local and
global issues while improving the geographic and technological literacy
of students. Bodzin (2011) described how geospatial information
technology improved the understanding of 8 th grade students regarding
land use change and their spatial thinking skills associated with the
interpretation of aerial and remotely-sensed images. Guertin and Neville
(2011) likewise developed a class activity for a middle school science
class that integrated Google Earth in discussing the extent of the
Deepwater Horizon oil leak (BP oil spill).

The application of web-based GIS applications and geospatial

technologies such as virtual globes across all levels of instruction has
been noted in previous studies (e.g., Bodzin, 2011; Guertin & Neville,
2011; Marra et al., 2017; Riihelä & Mäki, 2015). GIS and GIS-based
applications are also widely used in more advanced studies such as those
in the undergraduate and graduate levels. In a study conducted among
first-year baccalaureate program students in Utrecht University, Marra
and colleagues (2017) explored the use of Google Earth, satellite images,
and data elevation models in preparation for a field course. They found

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out that students expressed positive attitudes towards the use of these
tools and that the use of GIS likewise promoted abstract and reflective
thinking skills (Marra et al., 2017). The number of subjects for which
GIS can be integrated likewise attests to its potential in teaching and
learning (Tan & Chen, 2015).

Integrating Web-based Programs in the Philippine K-to-12

Earth Science Curriculum

The implementation of the K to 12 program in the Philippines since the

school year 2012-2013 has opened opportunities for greater ICT
integration in the classroom. By virtue of Republic Act (R.A.) 10533,
otherwise known as the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013,” the
current basic education curriculum was clustered into three levels: (a)
one year in kindergarten, (b) six years in elementary level, and (c) six
years in secondary level, with the last two years dedicated for senior high
school (R.A. 10533, 2013). These added years in high school aim to
prepare graduates with the necessary knowledge and skills that can be
applied in further studies, employment, or business. Students may
choose from four tracks – (academic, technical-vocational-livelihood,
sports, and arts and design) (Ocampo, 2014).

The Earth science course is one of the core subjects of the Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand of the
Academic Track of the Senior High School (SHS) curriculum (Ocampo,
2014). Currently, it consists of learning competencies and performance
standards that students are expected to achieve at the end of the course.
These learning objectives include the use of maps and diagrams to
understand Earth processes such as the formation of folds, faults, rift
valleys, and mountain ridges (DepEd, 2013) To achieve this goal,
different maps and other geographic representations are needed.
Consequently, the existing thrust of the Department of Education
(DepEd) emphasizes the need to integrate ICT alongside the different
formative assessments and instructional approaches in the delivery of
lessons (DepEd, 2016).

However, challenges and hindrances towards the success of

assimilating information and communication technology (ICT) and other
technologies in education remain, especially in the Philippines. These

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include the inadequacy of computer resources, uncertainty to implement

new technologies, lack of human capital, and poor financial and
management support (Dotong et al., 2016). Bonifacio (2013) added to
this list the lack of facilities and the absence of leadership skills among
educators, the unavailability of Internet connection, and the lukewarm
attitude of teachers towards technology integration. Finding free and
low-cost resources that can benefit both students and educators may help
in addressing these concerns given that ICT integration in education is
capital-intensive (Bonifacio, 2013).

Connectedly, Google Earth has gained the interest of educators

and learners globally due to its user-friendly interface (Demirci et al.,
2013). Several studies (Bodzin, 2011; Demirci et al., 2013; Guertin &
Neville, 2011) have shown Google Earth’s potential as a classroom
instructional tool which supports spatial and critical thinking and
awareness of relevant environmental and societal concepts and issues.
Aside from Google Earth, another online mapping tool, Google Maps,
may also merit a closer look and consideration. Despite their differences,
Google Earth and Google Maps share some common characteristics such
as the use of satellite imagery, aerial photography, and street views (Lee,
2010) and both have been used as academic research and mapping tools
(Dodsworth & Nicholson, 2012). Google Maps’ wide audience of almost
1 billion every month (Rijo, 2020), and added features such as a globe
view instead of the usual flat view of the planet (Liptak, 2018) furthered
its potential as another instructional tool, particularly in Earth science
courses. However, literature on its integration in the classroom remains
sparse. Thus, the present study hopes to bridge this gap by investigating
the perception of senior high school students on the usefulness of Google
Maps in their Earth science class. This may also open opportunities for
future researchers to examine Google Maps’ effectiveness through
research, proofing, and evaluation of pedagogical methods.

Framework of the Study

This research explored the possibility of using Google Maps in teaching

and understanding specific Earth science concepts and the reception of
its utilization among students. Earlier studies have shown that Earth
science learning may be improved by geospatially-enabled learning
technologies that highlight geographic visualization, scale,

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representation, and geospatial thinking and reasoning (Bodzin et al.,

2014; Bodzin et al., 2015). Specifically, this study explored the use of
Google Maps in observing and inferring the possible locations of surface
features associated with faults. Faults are usually large-scale fractures in
rocks along which movements resulting to earthquakes have occurred
(Huggett, 2011). While movements along some faults result to strong
earthquakes, other faults, called creeping faults, move in a more gradual
manner (Chen & Bürgmann, 2017). Some of the landforms associated
with faults include linear valleys, offset streams, fault scarps, and
lineaments or any linear feature that is “too precise to have arisen by
chance" (Huggett, 2011, p. 133). However, it must be emphasized that
aside from map observations, data from onsite investigations and other
relevant sources must be considered in determining the location of a
fault. For example, Rimando and colleagues (2019) used both onshore
and offshore field data to identify a previously unmapped fault in Bohol.
Today, aerial photos and technologies such as light detection and ranging
or LiDAR further made it easier to acquire elevation data through remote
sensing, which can be used to map fault zones and deep-seated landslides
(Chen et al., 2015). The current Earth science curriculum outlines 42
learning competencies which include the discussion on “how rocks
behave under different types of stress such as compression, pulling apart,
and shearing” (S11ES-IId-27) (DepEd, 2013, p.3) and “how the
movement of plates leads to the formation of folds, faults, trenches,
volcanoes, rift valleys, and mountain ranges”. These two learning
competencies apply to the chosen topic presented in the session.

However, the use of geospatial technology in K-12 classroom is

still limited worldwide (Adaktylou et al., 2018) and despite the
increasing influence of virtual globes and other GIS-based applications
in teaching, studies describing their application in the Philippines is very
limited. Given the increasing trend in the use of web-based applications,
it is but expected for educators to explore their application in the
classroom.

Integration of Google Maps in Perceptions and Attitudes Toward

SHS Earth Science Class Google Maps

Figure 1. Framework of the Study

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The present study hinges around the premise that the use of web-
based tools such as Google Maps promotes spatial thinking among
learners. The present study posits that Google Maps may be integrated
as an instructional tool in teaching and learning specific concepts in
Earth science as shown in Figure 1. As students engage in activities
utilizing geospatial technologies such as Google Maps, they will most
likely develop certain perceptions and attitudes toward appreciating or
rejecting their use. Understanding how learners perceive the potential of
Google Maps in helping them understand key concepts in Earth science
(such as recognizing landscape structures that are usually identified with
faults) can give teachers and students the opportunity to discern how to
maximize its capability. These perceptions may also provide valuable
insights that can help in crafting programs that foster technology in the
teaching of geosciences topics in Philippine secondary schools. This
inferred relationship is represented by the double-arrow between Google
Map’s use in Earth science and the students’ perceptions and attitudes
towards it.

The impact of students’ perceptions of their learning process and

learning environment has been noted in earlier studies (e.g., Ahmed et
al., 2018; Ferreira et al., 2019; Mapuranga et al., 2015). Ahmed and
colleagues (2018) observed that among medical students, those who
have had a more positive perception of their education performed better
in their academics. Studies have also underscored how behaviors of
university students can possibly be affected by their perceptions of the
factors influencing their academic success (Mapuranga et al., 2015). In
a study among Finnish and Brazilian secondary students, Ferreira and
colleagues (2019) highlighted the value of listening to students’
perceptions about their learning and acknowledged that the students’
reflections about their learning situations can help in identifying and
developing pedagogical practices. Demirci, Karaburun, and Kılar (2013)
concluded that students’ motivations and enthusiasm in doing an activity
with Google Earth are among the evidences suggesting its effectiveness
in helping them visualize the Earth in a geography classroom. Finally,
earlier studies also suggest that students’ conceptual understanding of
science has improved because of Internet-based learning environments
(Lee et al., 2011). Hence, as the present study looks into the prospect of
Google Maps in an Earth science classroom, it is worth examining how
the learners receive it and perceive its use.

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Purpose of the Research

This study explored the feasibility of using Google Maps as a tool in

teaching a particular topic in senior high school Earth science, and
specifically sought to describe students’ perception and attitude towards
its use in class. The study also aimed to identify the challenges
encountered by the students during their activity with Google Maps as
well as their suggestions to improve its integration in the classroom.

Methodology

Research Design and Participants

This study employed a descriptive research design. The participants

were chosen conveniently among the Grade 11 students enrolled in a
STEM track class of a private, sectarian high school in Laguna,
Philippines. The class is handled by the teacher-researcher and was
composed of 34 students. Prior to senior high school, 30 of the students
were enrolled in the same school for junior high while four transferred
in the same academic year when this study was conducted.

All necessary clearances and permissions were secured from the

school administration before the conduct of this research. The
participants were also informed of the research objectives before the
questionnaires were distributed. It was explicitly mentioned to the
participants that answering the survey is purely voluntary and they may
withdraw their responses at any point during the duration of the study.
The respondents were assured of anonymity and confidentiality of all
information gathered. The survey questionnaire included an explanatory
note detailing the above conditions. The questionnaire did not ask of any
personally identifiable information to ensure anonymity.

Instruments

The development of instruments and the data gathering procedures in the

present study adapted the methods presented in Demirci, Karaburun, and
Kılar’s (2013) study which examined the use of Google Earth in
conducting geography lessons, specifically on the topic of coastal
formations. In contrast, this study employed Google Maps in a senior

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high school Earth science class tackling lessons on faults and other
landforms associated with them. Prior to the administration of the self-
evaluation form (SEF), an online Google Maps activity (GMA) was done
by the students. The GMA is a five-item, researcher-made formative map
test intended to gauge the ability of students to recognize landforms, such
as valleys and lineaments, that are generally related to faults. The SEF
focused on eliciting the students’ perception on the usability of Google
Maps in Earth science instruction. The questions in the SEF (adapted
from Demirci et al., 2013) sought the following information:

(1) Students’ prior use of Google Maps and the nature of their
usage
(2) Skills that were developed during the Google Maps activity
(3) Challenges that were encountered during the activity
(4) Recommendations to further improve the delivery of the
Google Maps exercise
(5) Students’ perception of Google Maps’ usability in teaching
Earth science concepts
(6) Self-evaluation regarding one’s attitude towards Google
Maps and its impact on individual motivation

The SEF is divided into five parts. This survey questionnaire was
approved by the faculty development office of the researcher’s home
institution. The first part asked for the students’ prior use of Google
Maps in their other academic subjects. The questions included in this
first part of the SEF are shown in Table 1. The second and third sections
of the SEF asked for the challenges encountered and suggestion to
improve the GMA, respectively. The fourth section of the SEF sought
the respondents view on the effectiveness of Google Maps and other
GIS-based applications in understanding Earth science. Lastly, the fifth
section consisted of an eight-item questionnaire with Cronbach’s alpha
of .802, which can be assumed to indicate high level of internal
consistency. Survey items in the fifth section of the SEF are presented in
Table 2. The SEF also included open-ended questions regarding the
students’ perception of the effectivity of Google Maps in enhancing the
discussion of the topic, the challenges that they encountered during the
activity, and their recommendations on how this activity can further be
improved.

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Study Context

Introduction and Orientation to Google Maps

The study used data sourced from the first semester of school year 2018-
2019 in two stages: the GMA and the administration of the SEF. Prior to
the session, the students were asked to bring their own devices,
preferably laptop computers, which can connect to the Internet and can
access the Google Maps website (maps.google.com). A brief orientation
on how to use Google Maps was given at the start of the activity. This
orientation discussed the basic features of Google Maps such as
navigating the map, zooming in and out, using and changing the map
scale (e.g., from meters to feet), and changing the map view (e.g., map,
satellite, terrain). After the orientation, the students were instructed to
observe Figure 2, identify any landform or pattern on the Earth’s surface
that they infer are related to faults, and discuss among themselves their
observations.

Figure 2. Google Maps image showing the Quezon City-Marikina City-Rizal

area (Google, 2018); Map data: Google

Initial Observation with Google Maps

Individual answer sheets for the GMA were then distributed to the
students after the discussion and sharing. These answer sheets included

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four maps corresponding to different areas in the Philippines: (a) Central

Luzon, (b) Mindoro Island, (c) Leyte Island, and (d) Lake Mainit in
Surigao del Norte. The students were given time to examine each area
using Google Maps. In this activity, students were instructed to use the
‘Terrain’ view of Google Maps which provides a hill-shaded impression
of the area. The goal of this activity is to infer the location and trace five
landforms that may be associated with faults (two in Central Luzon, one
in Mindoro Island, one in Leyte Island, and one near Lake Mainit). These
surface features were previously discussed in class. Aside from
identifying these physiographic attributes, the respondents were also
encouraged to explore other features of Google Maps on their own.
Moreover, it was emphasized among the students that while aerial and/or
map observations like the GMA is one of the first steps in tracing the
possible location of faults and fault-related landforms, more detailed and
precise investigations, such as fieldworks, are required to establish their
positions.

Lecture and Post-Lecture Re-observation with Google Maps

After the students have completed answering the activity, a short lecture
for about 10 to 15 minutes was given to discuss how linear features or
lineaments, as well as fault scarps and ridge valleys may be used to infer
the location of faults on the Earth’s surface (see Huggett, 2011). The area
shown in Figure 1 was re-examined. After a closer inspection, two
prominent linear features can be seen in Figure 2. These features
correspond to the West Valley Fault and East Valley Fault (of the
Marikina Valley Fault System) (Rimando & Knuepfer, 2006). These
faults are delineated by the solid and dashed red lines in Figure 3.

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Figure 3. Screenshot of the PHIVOLCS FaultFinder App showing the Valley

Fault System (VFS) traced by red solid and dashed lines (Bandibas &
PHIVOLCS, 2019); Map data: Google, TerraMetrics (Copyright
TerraMetrics, inc. www.terrametrics.com)

Using the same procedure, the students were requested to revisit

their answers in the pre-lecture stage and were asked to make the
necessary changes or adjustments. To distinguish their pre-lecture from
their post-lecture answers, the students were directed to signify their
answers using a differently colored pen or marks that are distinct from
the ones they have used during the pre-lecture phase (e.g., broken or
dashed lines). In this activity, a correct answer corresponds to a response
which generally follows the traces of the faults in the areas enumerated
above. These fault traces can be accessed and seen in the DOST
PHIVOLCS FaultFinder website
(http://faultfinder.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/) or its mobile application
(Bandibas & PHIVOLCS, 2019). Note that Figure 3 shows the screen
capture of the latest version of the FaultFinder app as of April 2020. At
the time of the implementation of the online GMA the web app was
accessed by the teacher-researcher through the link mentioned above.

Data Collection

The GMA was developed and implemented as a formative activity for a

one-hour senior high school Earth science class (n=34). A total of eleven
computers were available during the implementation, and the students
were asked to form smaller groups consisting of three members each.

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Despite the limited number of computers, this setting with students

working in smaller groups allowed them to discuss their answers more
thoroughly. The administration of the SEF was carried out during the
next session.

Data Analysis

The responses in the SEF were examined and hereby presented using
descriptive statistics such as means and standard deviations, frequencies,
and percentages. It should be noted that the items in the SEF were
answered using a numerical scale as follows: 5 – Strongly Agree; 4 –
Agree; 3 – Neutral; 2 – Disagree; 1 – Strongly Disagree. Emerging
themes in the responses to the open-ended questions were identified and
presented in the succeeding section.

Results and Discussion

Thirty (30) of the original 34 students answered the questionnaire. Table

1 summarizes the students’ responses with respect to their prior
experience using Google Maps and the skills they learned during the
activity. Majority (97%) of the students mentioned that it was their first
time to use Google Maps in any of their academic subjects as shown in
Table 1. Nonetheless, all of them were able to use its search function to
locate a place which is one of the aims of the online GMA. In this
activity, students were asked to navigate the map and look for specific
areas in the Philippines. The students were then asked to observe these
areas using Google Maps’ Terrain. More than 90% of the students were
able to do this navigation and switching of map views during the activity.

It can be gleaned, however, that more than half of the class were
not able to deduce the coordinates of an area (70%) and use the distance
measuring tool of Google Maps (87%). As majority of the students have
not used Google Maps in any academic activity before, it might be the
case that they too are unfamiliar to its other function aside from the ones
discussed in the orientation, which were used in the activity.
Furthermore, looking for the coordinates of a point and measuring the
distance between two points in Google Maps were not explicitly part of
the GMA but were simply hinted by the teachers for students to explore
once they are done answering the activity. Interestingly, Pechenkina and

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Aeschliman (2017) noticed that students have scarcely and hesitantly

used educational technologies particularly when these are new to them.
The time allotted for the activity could also have limited the students’
chance to further explore the other functions of Google Maps. As one
students noted, the activity should “allow the students to ‘play around’
with the application to be more accustomed.” This effect of time on
learning was observed by Sadeghi and Dousti (2013) among English as
a Foreign Language or EFL students in Iran. In this study, students’
grammar learning was found to have increased with the length of
exposure to a language learning software. In addition, Darling-
Hammond and colleagues (2020) stated that repeated exposure to
concepts is a characteristic of an effective inquiry task. Spaced out
repeated encounters with materials likewise promote long-term learning
(Kang, 2016).

Table 1. Prior use of Google Maps in other subjects and skills learned in the
activity (n=30)
Responses in
%
Questions Yes No
Do you have any prior experience of using Google 3 97
Maps in any of your academic subjects before?

Were you able to find a place in Google Maps? 100 0

Were you able to change the interface of the map 93 7

(e.g., from road view to terrain view)?

Were you able to navigate the map in order to 97 3

explore the surrounding regions?

Were you able to determine the coordinates of an 30 70

area?
Were you able to measure the distance between two 13 87
points on the map?

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Table 2 presents the students’ perception on the use of Google

Maps in their Earth science lesson. In the discussion of these findings,
‘strongly agree’ and ‘agree’ are interpreted to connote positive response
to the survey item while ‘disagree’ and ‘strongly disagree’ are viewed as
negative responses. Majority, which is operationally defined here to be
more than 50%, of the students reported that they like the GMA and held
positive regard to its effect on their perceived understanding of the topic,
interest in Earth science, and intent to use Google Maps in future lessons
in class.

Table 2. Students’ Perceived Usefulness of the GMA (n=30)

Responses in %
Survey Item SD
SA A N D SDis
a
M
I liked the Google Maps 56.7 33.3 10.0 0.0 0.0 4.5 0.6
activity
I will try to use Google 6.7 36.7 56.7 0.0 0.0 3.5 0.7
Maps from now on
Exercises like this increase 43.3 36.7 20.0 0.0 0.0 4.3 0.7
my interest in Earth science
The activity helped me 50.0 36.7 13.3 0.0 0.0 4.4 0.8
understand the topic more
The activity allowed me to 23.3 33.3 40.0 3.3 0.0 3.8 0.9
think critically
The activity was 43.3 43.3 13.3 0.0 0.0 4.3 0.7
entertaining and stimulating
The activity sparked my 13.3 43.3 46.7 0.0 0.0 3.7 0.7
interest in using GIS
I can use the knowledge I 36.7 46.7 16.7 0.0 0.0 4.2 0.7
acquired in this activity in
future lessons/class
requirements
Adapted from Demirci, Karaburun, & Kılar (2013)
SA – strongly agree; A – agree; N – neutral; D – disagree; SDis – strongly disagree
a
Overall mean was calculated based on the individual ratings of students per
criterion; 5.00 is the highest point per criterion

There are several factors that could have contributed to the

positive reception of Google Maps by the students. A quick survey of
the items in Table 2 may already provide hints to this observed
appreciation of Google Maps. For example, almost 87% of the
respondents mentioned that the activity was entertaining and stimulating.
The positive effect of combining learning and entertainment on students’
interest and learning has been noted in previous studies such as that of
Putra and Setyaningrum (2018). In their investigation of the effects of an
edutainment, or education and entertainment, learning media on
mathematics interest and learning among secondary students, Putra and
Setyaningrum (2018) noticed in their study that a significant difference

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between the experimental group who used a smartphone mathematics

application and the control group. In the case of GIS and other geospatial
technologies such as virtual globes, students may consider them
interesting because of the new learning experiences they could present
through their interactive capabilities (Bodzin et al., 2014). These virtual
globes are easily accessible and can provide imagery (for visual learners)
and terrain data (Yu & Gong, 2012). Teachers and students can benefit
from web-based GIS such as Google Earth and Google Maps because
they can afford them to explore the planet without dealing with the
complexity and technicality of other GIS (Jo et al., 2016). In a study that
employed Google Earth in a geography classroom, Demirci, Karaburun,
and Kılar (2013) surmised that both students and teachers were able to
explore the planet more due to the virtual globe’s accessibility, ease of
use, and geospatial tools. Just like Google Earth and other online
geospatial tools, Google Maps is also accessible as it can be used with
just a web browser and Internet connection and is interactive with its
wide array of views such as satellite, street, and terrain views and
functionalities such as voice command and offline viewing of maps
(Dove & Hill, 2020). These characteristics render Google Maps a potent
candidate as an educational tool, especially in the Earth sciences.

When asked whether Google Maps and other GIS-based

applications are useful in understanding concepts in Earth science, 29
students (97%) answered yes. One student chose the option “I cannot
decide at this moment” citing the lack of mastery in using Google Maps
as justification. Nonetheless, responses to the open-ended questions in
the survey corroborate that the interactive and visual nature of Google
Maps helped the students in appreciating better the topic discussed. This
is reflected in the students’ responses quoted below:

“It helps us visualize the topic [...]”

“It gives an interactive experience for other students to view and

explore.”

“Google Maps provides a bridge between the classroom and the real
life. Through Google Maps we may be more appreciative of the lessons
taught in Earth science.”

Moreover, the activity sparked the respondents’ interest in Earth

science as evidenced by the number of respondents (80%) who indicated

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an affirmative stance to this item in the survey. This finding corroborates

with that of Jakab and colleagues (2017) who mentioned that ICT and,
in particular, IBL in GIS education increase students’ motivation to
learn. Delparte and colleagues (2016) also found out that among Native
American students, GIS and geovisualization tools may likewise
promote geoscience STEM interest. In addition, even in the social
sciences, GIS may serve as an effective instructional tool and motivation
among students just as what Corrales-Serrano and colleagues (2019)
noted among secondary students in geography and history.

While Google Maps’ functions are limited when compared to a

true GIS, its potential to be used collaboratively and actively in the
classroom was shown in this study. In the present study, the students
examined different areas in the Philippines through Google Maps and
observed them using its Terrain view. Students identified landforms that
may be associated with faults and discussed among themselves the
reasons for labelling these land features as such. Johnson and colleagues
(2011) mentioned that student engagement is probably the top advantage
of student-centered learning. The GMA, arguably, promoted this
learning paradigm as the students themselves tried to make meaning of
the data presented to them. They became engaged with the online tool
and with their classmates which further cemented the activity’s
collaborative and student-centered slant. This is encapsulated by the
response of a student stating that “the students are more engaged during
the activity; it holds the interest of a learner.”

However, it is also worth noting that more than half (57%) of the
students remained neutral when asked if they will continue using Google
Maps. Furthermore, 40% and 47% of the students maintained a neutral
stance when asked if Google Maps helped them to think critically and
sparked their interest in GIS, respectively. As shown in Table 1, 97% of
the respondents indicated that the activity was their first time to use
Google Maps in an academic subject. Given this unfamiliarity or limited
exposure, it might take some time and practice for these students to fully
appreciate the value and application of Google Maps in academic and
non-academic usage, especially in the midst of other widely used online
technologies such as social networking sites. In addition, other factors
affecting students’ preferences of educational technologies remain
undocumented or unexplored despite students’ general positive

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perceptions of them (Pechenkina & Aeschliman, 2017). This could merit

a closer look and could be taken up in future investigations.

When asked about the common challenges they encountered

during the activity, the students indicated slow Internet connection,
unfamiliarity with the application/website, and the difficulty of
identifying geologic structures in a map. Students also gave their
opinions regarding how the activity can be improved. Some recurring
points include the allotment of more time for the activity, increased
frequency of similar activities, and more examples and practice that will
train them to use Google Maps. Other suggestions include the
exploration of landforms even outside of the country and the possibility
of showing more images of the areas being explored. The following
responses from the students illustrate these insights:

“More activities as such please because it makes the lessons more

interesting”

“[…] you should allow the students to “play around” with the application
to be more accustomed”

“More items as the activity is really interesting”

Overall, the students registered positive feedbacks regarding the

GMA and how it may have improved their understanding of the topic
discussed. The respondents in this study moreover indicated that they
have had a meaningful application of Google Maps in their lessons in
Earth science as supported by their quantitative and qualitative responses
to the SEF. These results, however, must be taken with caution given
the limited scope of this study in terms of the number of Earth science
concept covered and the number of participants.

Conclusion

The potential of geospatial tools such as virtual globes and other web-
based GIS as educational tools has been the subject of previous
investigations worldwide. However, a quick survey of available
literature would suggest that Google Maps, an online mapping platform,
has received relatively less attention compared to other GIS-based tools.
In the Philippines, the utilization of accessible, cost-efficient, and user-
friendly educational technologies such as Google Maps may help in

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achieving the goals of our current educational frameworks while

considering the socio-economic realities of the learners. To provide a
baseline for the integration of Google Maps in the classroom, this study
aimed to describe its potential as an educational tool in senior high
school. An online Google Maps formative activity was developed and
implemented to aid in the discussion of a specific topic in an Earth
science class. Students sin this class were tasked to use Google Maps’
Terrain view to observe and identify landforms that are usually
associated with faults, such as lineaments, ridges, and valleys.

Results suggest that majority of the students have tried to answer

all the items in this activity. The survey that followed revealed that
majority of students had the activity as their first time to use Google
Maps in any of their academic subjects. Despite of this limited prior
knowledge, they considered the activity to have improved their interest
on the subject, their critical thinking skills, and their understanding of
the topic. Majority of them also indicated that using Google Maps was
entertaining and stimulating. It increased their interest in Earth science,
helped them understand the topic better, and encouraged them to use
their learning from the Google Maps activity in their future lessons and
tasks. These findings suggest that Google Maps as an instructional tool
clearly has the potential as an engaging classroom resource.

On the other hand, students signified Internet connection

problems, unfamiliarity to Google Maps functions, and difficulty in
inferring landforms from maps as some of the hindrances they
encountered during the activity. To address these concerns, the students
likewise suggested the addition of more examples and longer time
allocation for similar Google Maps exercises. With these observations
and insights, it appears that the use of Google Maps in teaching Earth
science has gained favorable reception from the students and may serve
as basis for further investigation of its applicability in the classroom.

Recommendations

Despite the positive outlook offered by the results of this study, readers
are cautioned of its limited scope in terms of the topics covered, number
of participants, and length of intervention. Future researchers may
extend the application of Google Maps in other competencies required

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in the current senior high school Earth science curriculum. To highlight

the global application of Google Maps, others may look into the
possibility of using maps and imagery from other parts of the world.
Moreover, given the limited number of participants in the present study,
future researchers may also consider to extend the coverage of the
investigation to include more schools and participants.

In general, teachers are called to embrace new educational tools

that will aid in their practice. As facilitators of learning, teachers need to
update themselves about online resources like Google Maps and other
educational technologies to respond to the changing educational
landscape of the 21st century. In view of the present study, teachers are
encouraged to avail for themselves of training and other professional
activities that will equip them with skills to creatively and efficiently use
Google Maps and other geospatial technologies in their instruction.
These propositions, however, will not prosper without the proper support
from school administrations. Thus, school leaders are likewise enjoined
to invest on their ICT infrastructure as well as faculty development
programs that will strengthen the expertise of their teachers. Professional
development activities which introduce new knowledge and skills such
as the use of GIS entail practice and application (Ratinen & Keinonen,
2011). Consequently, teacher education institutions and continuing
education providers may look into the possibility of integrating GIS and
GIS-based application training in preparing pre-service teachers. This
entire process could benefit both students and teachers if the latter knows
how to embed proper technologies in their pedagogical approaches.

Finally, Internet connectivity and the availability of computer and

other gadgets may raise concerns regarding the practicality of using
Google Maps in specific cases. Some students do not have access to
Google Maps at home and rely only on other handheld devices such as
smartphones. Hence, designing, implementing, and evaluating similar
activities using Google Maps in other portable devices such as tablets
and smartphones may also be considered by future investigators.

Acknowledgement

The author would like to express his gratitude to Prof. Ali Demirci; the
students who participated in this study; Dr. Jeremy M. Rimando, Mr.

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Raymond Ancog, Mr. Jose Dominick Guballa, Mr. John Agustin

Escudero, Mr. Keanu Jershon Sarmiento, and the anonymous reviewers
and readers who provided valuable insights to improve this paper.

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