Abstract

A Graduate Education Program Whose Time Has Come
Track: Educational Research and Teacher Education
Authors: Kristin Alvarez, Diana Sinton, Catherine Walker

University of Redlands has a commitment to integrate spatial thinking and learning across the curriculum. To support this effort, the School of Education has recently instituted a Masters of Arts in Education in Spatial Literacy along with a Graduate Certificate in Spatial Literacy, both with the same four core courses that prepare educators, both formal and informal, to become teacher leaders in spatial thinking and learning. The coursework includes the application of geospatial technology tools, particularly GIS, to achieve the goal of a purposeful spatial teaching and learning across the curriculum in K-12 education. Additionally, coursework focuses on the foundations of spatial literacy, the development of spatial literacy curricula and programs, and the assessment and evaluation of these programs. This program, the first of its kind in the world, addresses important issues in reconciling gaps between technology use and spatial literacy outcomes.