Interactive Geography: using virtual tours and online maps in schoolchildren teaching
Abstract. With the decline in students’ interest in the school subject «Geography», there is a need to implement new technological teaching tools. One promising area is the use of innovative methods and modern digital technologies that can enhance students’ motivation. This article explores the possibility of using virtual tours and online maps (Google Earth, Google Maps, Yandex Maps) to develop students’ cartographic literacy. Lessons that incorporate modern technologies increase cognitive engagement and develop students’ research skills. The author demonstrates the importance of maps as a key tool for studying Geography, including its digital forms. The key advantages of using interactive mapping services are considered: accessibility, visualization, data relevance, multifunctionality, and personalization. Special attention is paid to the practical implementation of this approach using the example of studying karst landforms in the Kirov region. The article provides methodological recommendations for organizing virtual excursions, including creating routes, setting objectives, conducting the travel, and analyzing the results. The author has developed a set of various tasks aimed at developing students’ skills in independent research, analysis of geographical information, and presentation of results. It has been proven that the implementation of electronic resources into the educational process makes Geography teaching more visual, interactive, and relevant to the digital environment of modern students.