Abstract:

Observing natural laws, which is a typical feature of natural sciences such as ecology and environmental studies, requires approaches that reinforce alternative ways of thinking to obtain new information exclusively in the case of the study of very complex systems. Geographic information systems (GIS) help to combine components of geographic data (location, attributes as non-spatial data, spatial relationships, time) into a form that brings a new perspective on already known facts, and in many cases, reveal new findings. The education system faces the necessary direction to develop critical thinking and dynamic interaction with the practice. This intention must be fulfilled at all levels starting from primary to university degree education. Especially in connection with the gradual onset of artificial intelligence, it is necessary to develop and support creative thinking. Among the promising tools used in education, GIS have a specific position because they are multiplatform tools that cannot be limited to just one specific software or diverse software. The term GIS is closely related to work with the database environment, at the professional level regularly also programming and several other additional disciplines, which fully reveal the potential of spatial data processing. These include statistics, cartography, and other scientific disciplines within which we create spatial models or output data in maps, databases, statistical reports forms and the like.

As part of teaching subjects focused on GIS, students of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, can choose from several e-learning courses and educational materials that use the Felder and Silverman learning style model principles. Lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic caused that almost all teaching shifted from our workplace to the online space. For successful education, it is necessary to respect the individual needs of students in the online environment. The paper focuses on the evaluation of learning preferences, which in this context, receive enough attention through examples of good practice from specific courses.

Keywords:

Geographic information system, environmental studies, education.