Satellite Images in the classroom - an international comparison study for the deduction of basic principles of a remote sensing didactic

The dissertation has been published here.

Who does not know the attraction of satellite images that illustrate for example the daily weather forecast or landscape animations and expand the narrow earthly view through the sight of outer space? Remote sensing takes up an increasing significance not only for the scientific community but also in the everyday life of pupils and society. The growing use of Google Earth underlines this public interest in satellite images – alone in 2006 Google Earth was downloaded more than 100 million times and according to a survey more than 80% of German pupils use it regularly. Although the use of satellite images is demanded in didactical discussions, remote sensing methods are hardly spread in lessons or in the curriculum of many countries (WOLF, KOLLAR, SIEGMUND 2008). But the use of modern geographical methods at school, which include the use of satellite images, are of increasing importance when set against the background of the increasing globalization as well as the understanding of growing environmental problems and rising public ecological consciousness. So far, a geographical concept for remote sensing didactics is missing and therefore the different viewpoints of teachers and pupils about the extent and kind of satellite images that are used in lessons have been examined in an international study.