Dr. Robert S. Bednarz

Selected Publications

• Jeo, I., A. G. Klein, R. S. Bednarz, and S. W. Bednarz. Forthcoming. "An Exploration of Spatial Thinking in Introductory GIS Courses," in Teaching Geographic Information Science and Technology in Higher Education, eds. K. Foote,  D. DiBiase, N. Tate and D. Unwin.
• Lee, J., and R. S. Bednarz. Forthcoming. "Components of Spatial Thinking: Evidence from a spatial thinking ability test," Journal of Geography.
• Lee, J., and R. S. Bednarz. 2009. “Effect of GIS Learning on Spatial Thinking,” Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 33 (2): 183-198.
• Bednarz, R.S. and S.W. Bednarz. 2008. “The Importance of Spatial Thinking in an Uncertain World,” in Geospatial Technologies and Homeland Security: Research Frontiers and Challenges, eds. D. Sui and S.L. Cutter. New York: Springer, pp. 315-330.
• Bednarz, S.W., and R.S. Bednarz. 2008. “Spatial Thinking: The Key to Success in Using Geospatial Technologies in the Social Studies Classroom,” in Digital Geography: Geo-Spatial Technologies in the Social Studies Classroom, eds. A.J. Milson and M. Alibrandi. New York: Information Age Publishing, pp. 249-270.
• Lynch, K., R. Bednarz, J. Boxall, L. Chalmers, D. France, and J. Kesby. 2008. “E-learning for Geography’s Teaching and Learning Spaces,” Journal of Geography in Higher Education Vol. 32(1), pp. 121-133.
• Bednarz, R. S., J.F. Petersen, and S.W. Bednarz. 2007. "Geography and Education for Sustainable Development in the United States," International Textbook Research, 29(2): 171-184.
• Bednarz S. W., G. Acheson, and R.S. Bednarz. 2006. "Maps and Map Learning in Social Studies Education," Social Education, 70 (7): 398-404.
• Bednarz, R. S. 2006. "Environmental Research and Education in US Geography," Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 30 (2): 237-250.
• Lee, J. and R.S. Bednarz. 2005. "Spatial Skills, Cognitive Maps, and Map Drawing Strategies," Journal of Geography, 104 (5): 211-221.
• Bednarz, R. S. and S.W. Bednarz. 2004. "Geography Education: The Glass is Half Full and It’s Getting Fuller," Professional Geographer, 56(1): 22-27.

Research Interests

Dr. Bednarz’s academic interests fall into two areas, geographic education and urban-economic geography. Over the past 15 years, during which he served as editor of the Journal of Geography and now as North American editor of the Journal of Geography in Higher Education, Dr. Bednarz has focused mainly on topics related to how people learn, organize, and use geographic information. His research interests lie within the broad area of spatial thinking, especially in how information technology (IT) affects individuals' ability to perceive, understand, and analyze spatial patterns, distributions, and relationships. His research perspective, like that of most geographers, extends beyond the spatial abilities typically investigated by psychologists or educational psychologists (i.e., spatial visualization and spatial orientation), to include what Golledge calls, spatial relations. These abilities—associating and correlating spatially distributed phenomena, wayfinding, overlaying, understanding scale, etc.—are often the most relevant to learning and applying geography.

Three projects are currently underway to explore aspects of this research topic. The first involves the development of a spatial-thinking-skills assessment methodology to measure the effect of completing geo-technology courses on spatial thinking. This assessment methodology will also be used to explore the components of spatial thinking and to test their independence. The second investigates the ability of young children to effectively understand and use aerial photos and the effect of scale on children's performance. The third, an NSF-sponsored GK-12 project, has developed strategies to introduce spatial thinking explicitly into school science and geography classes and to support teachers in implementing the program. Action research by teachers and graduate student fellows will assess the impact of spatial thinking on students' attitudes and learning outcomes.