LEARNING TOPOGRAPHIC MAP USE THROUGH SIMULATION

A simulation game designed to facilitate learning to read and to use topographic maps was tested among sample groups of college undergraduates and high school seniors. The board game, "Natural Disaster," permits two to four students to participate in property location decisions, based on their understanding of natural hazards which are to be inferred from the topographic map's contours and locations of particular places. A randomizing procedure assigned the students to one of two treatments, the simulation game or a lecture-discussion, both of which covered the same substantive material. After pretesting, the appropriate treatments were administered to the students, and this was followed by a post-test and later by a delayed post-test. Students were subsequently asked to complete an attitude questionnaire. Results indicate no significant difference according to treatment, so that both techniques appear equally suitable for teaching the use of topographic maps. There is no relationship between game performance and test performance; but sex differences in test scores, and high school/college differences in game preferences suggest variable utility of the game as an education technique