The Application of Hybrid Instruction Mode in the Course of Geographic Information System Principles

Abstract

Geographic Information System Principles is one of the professional core courses for the students majoring in Geographic Information Science. It plays an important role in providing a theoretical foundation and technical support for subsequent professional courses. The course is offered in the second semester of the freshman year and is the first professional core course for students. There are four key issues that need to be addressed. Firstly, the main content of this course is extensive and the difficulty level is relatively high. Secondly,theory and software operation are disconnected in traditional classes. Thirdly, the traditional teaching mode can not well stimulate students' interest. Fourthly, the traditional teaching and learning evaluation method focuses on results but not process. Hence, we rely on the online teaching platform of our school to carry out Hybrid Instruction Mode, hoping to improve students' learning effect and improve teaching quality. Based on the outcome-based education (OBE) concept, we refine the teaching objectives, and subsequently enhance the teaching materials. Then, we have built a blended teaching mode. The whole teaching process is divided into four parts including "course guidance", "pre-class self-study", "in-class practice", and "post-class research". Online and offline teaching are connected with various activities. Discussions, exercises, reflections, assessments, critical thinking, paper reading and homework are online activities. Guidance, analysis and practice are offline activities. During the teaching process, we also reformed teaching method and carried out ecological civilization and scientific spirit education.We optimized the assessment method using the formative evaluation. The course objectives are almost achieved.