Pilot training on map reading and using with high school teachers

In March 2019, Open Development Cambodia (ODC) and the Department of Information Technology (DIT) of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) conducted an assessment workshop to collect inputs from high school teachers to understand the teachers’ knowledge and experience in map using and reading more deeply. The inputs proved very useful for ODC and DIT team in developing needed training curriculum. With the teachers’ inputs, we were able to develop a 60-page drafted training curriculum on map reading and using. Following the development of the draft curriculum, ODC and DIT have successfully carried out a pilot training with the same teachers on 24, 25 and 26 June, 2019 in Kampong Cham province.

Group photo of DIT and ODC representatives, and all the participants.

The pilot training aimed to gather further inputs from the teachers on curriculum and suggestions on other training materials that will be used to complement the curriculum. In the 3-day pilot training, teachers were asked to correct and make recommendations on many aspects of the curriculum including spelling, wording, technical terms, level of difficulty of each chapter, suitable and rational duration to complete each chapter. They were also asked to come up with different materials they think should be developed to deliver each lesson to the students more effectively.

Mr. Yeung Limsry, geography teacher at Preach Reach Bochaney Kech high school in Steung Treng province thinks that the inputs are very crucial especially when it is collected from teachers with different expertise. “The exchange of ideas and editing do not only come from me; it is from other teachers in the fields of geography, earth science and Information Technology, which are all related to content of the curriculum. So, our comments are very beneficial in the correction of the book (to be published) and other teaching materials”, said teacher Limsry.

Besides providing the inputs, the teachers were also introduced to basic use of digital map tools including Google Maps, Open Street Maps, Google Street View and Google Earth. They were given the chance to test and explore different features such as pin pointing the location at which they are currently staying, calculating the distance and duration from their current location to another location and calculating square meter of the location or a plot of land. They eagerly practiced the given exercises and actively asked questions to the trainer, which showed their great interest in the subject. 

Teacher practicing using map on his laptop.

After the pilot training, whose main objective was to get the teachers input, the teachers have as well gained new knowledge and basic skills for instance, ability to read digital maps and utilizing their digital devices for map use.

Ms. Kong Socheata, IT teacher at Peam Chikorng high school, Kampong Cham province claimed that “In the past, I never knew clearly how to use my smartphone for maps; after the pilot training, I know how to look up locations, how to get from one place to another and how to know the distance between places.”

Teacher practicing using map on her smartphone.

All of them find map reading beneficial not only for themselves but for their students and other citizens at large. First it helps them locate and navigate any destination they want to reach. Mr. Hout Seanghay, deputy director of Sisowath New Generation School mentioned that map reading will enable the students in the young generation to be more literate in terms of directions and locations. and he suggested that map reading should be integrated into curriculum even lower than grade 10 and 11.

The teachers are committed to transfer map reading knowledge to their students even only after the pilot training. They do not think it will be a challenge to integrate map reading into their class because most students own a smartphone and are a fast learner especially when it comes to technology. Some teachers also have plans to put the knowledge to use by letting their students practice using map, which will benefit not only the students but also the school.

Teachers reviewing the draft training curriculum.

ODC and DIT team will update the training curriculum and materials based on the advice we received from the teachers. Once those are finalized, our team will review them and organize official trainings for the teachers so that they can continue to teach the skills to their students. 

To date, they are still practicing and put to use the knowledge gained from the pilot training and send us their progress via our Telegram group.