Publishing Geographic and Statistical Online Learning Activities for Middle School Children

Introduction The MapStats for Kids project, supported by FedStats, is focused on developing a range of dynamic geographic and statistical online learning activities for middle school children (see URL above). FedStats is a cross-agency Internet portal designed to help all Americans find statistical summaries to support personal or business decisions, enable research on a myriad of topics, and participate in public policy debates (see http://www.fedstats.gov). One objective of MapStats for Kids (a subproject within the Quality Graphics for Federal Statistical Summaries Project) is to explore how online learning activities can facilitate the use of MapStats products by middle school children (MacEachren, et al. 2002a). Our demonstration will include four of these online learning activities, each focusing on national education standards and cognitive and knowledge abilities of middle school children. It will also introduce the MapStats for Kids portal which provides access to these applications as well as to supplemental materials that will help educators make use of the applications within standards-based learning activities.