Development of a competence model for geographical systems competence

Objectives

The project’s first main objective concerns the empirical foundation of a competence structure and level model of systems competence for geography instruction.  As a second objective, the model-oriented development of test tasks shall enable a model-based, criterion-related diagnostics of geographical system competence in school-related contexts.

Research questions

• Task testing: In how far are newly developed tasks for the assessment of geographical systems competence appropriate? (tested by expert judgements and Cognitive Labs)
• Can the structures of the competences that  have been assessed by means of the newly developed tasks be aptly described by the dimensions and levels of the hypothesised model of geographical systems competence? (tested by multi-dimensional IRT scaling and prediction of item difficulties)
• In how far are the assessed systems competences related to school grades (marks) and other student variables? (Analysis by latent regression models)

Methodology

Model-based construction of standardised test tasks, evaluation on the basis of Item-Response-Theory models.

International aspects

Co-operation with University of Teacher Education Central Switzerland (PHZ)

Current milestones of the project

Development of test tasks and qualitative testing

Funding

German Research Foundation, Swiss National Fund

Co-operations

• Prof. Dr. Rainer Uphues (contact person), Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nuremberg, Geography Didactics
• Prof. Dr. Armin Rempfler, University of Teacher Education Central Switzerland (PHZ), Lucerne, Institute for Teaching and Learning,