Study On Barriers Of Chart-interpretation Of Senior-high Students And The Diagnosis Of This Problem

Geographic charts are important carriers to transmit geographic information. The ability of geographic charts interpretation is not only one of the necessary capacities in geography study and research, but also the essential geographic accomplishment required in modern civic life. It is stipulated in the New National Curriculum Standards that senior high school students should"master the skills of interpreting, analysis, and applying geographical charts and data."In the National Matriculation Geography Test of recent years, there appeared a phenomenon called"without map (chart) there doesn't exist a problem", the requirement for chart-interpretation ability is raised. Incapable in geo-spatial positioning and chart-interpretation is a basic reason of mark-losing for the students. For geography teaching in high schools, chart-interpretation has been a focal, as well as difficult point. Because of the lack of systematic research, some teachers do not know the obstacles for students in chart-interpretation, which causes a dim aim in teaching, and low effect of learning. To solve the problem, this research topic is aimed to put forward the diagnosis strategy of geographical chart-interpretation barriers and work out diagnostic tools to help geography teachers and students to get more accurate diagnosis, thus to improve the effects of teaching in geographic chart-interpretation.In this essay, the author designed a questionnaire both for the teachers and students on the capacity of geographic chart-interpretation. The survey covers map-reading accomplishment, habits in applying maps or charts, strategies in learning (teaching), etc. Then an investigation was made on geographic chart-interpretation barriers for the teachers and students respectively. Some diagnosis points are reaped. Aim at these points, some diagnosis exercises are designed for further determination of the barriers. Finally, based on the diagnosis result, the reliability and effectiveness of the diagnosis tools are rethought, and ideas of further improvement are put forward. The author hopes that the research work could be helpful for the teaching of geographic charts and maps in senior high schools.