AbstractGIS and Middle School Health Education: A Brazilian Experience Track: Designing GIS Curriculum for K-12 Education Author(s): da Silva Ricardo , Christiane Gioppo A lesson plan was developed as a pilot project to a middle school class on Curitiba area, the capital of Parana State, Brazil. The geographic distribution of three mosquito-related diseases—dengue, yellow fever, and malaria—was discussed. A series of State maps developed, using ArcView 3.2, comparing the diseases distribution to other factors such as mosquitoes distribution, population density, and vaccination rates. The lesson plan included comparison activities among the maps, where the students had to synthesize the information and determine risk areas for each disease, most dangerous mosquito species, and possible disease control measures. On this study, the researchers developed the maps, however we expect to be able to teach students the map development process using ArcView 3.2. This would be a great novelty in middle school classes in Brazil, since there are very few projects using GIS for Educational purposes in the country. da Silva Ricardo Federal University of Paraná Methods and Practicum internship General Carneiro, 460 Curitiba, null 80060-150 BR Phone: (55) (41) 3360-5195 Fax: 55413605127 E-mail: ricardosilva@sulbbs.com.br Christiane Gioppo Federal University of Paraná Department of Teachnig and Practicum Internship Rua Bernardo Staviski, 188 Curitiba, Paraná 80 730-240 BR Phone: 55413360-9040 Fax: 554133605127 E-mail: cgioppo@yahoo.com |