Analyzing the information needs of geography teachers in the age of artificial intelligence and information science solutions to improve teaching quality (Case study: Geography teachers in Semnan city)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD in Information Science and Knowledge Studies, Central Library of Semnan University, Iran

2 Department of Geography, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Department of Information Science, Faculty of Psychology and Educative Science, Semnan University, Semnan.

10.48310/rsse.2026.22640.1359

Abstract

Bachground and Objective: This study aimed to analyze the information needs of geography teachers in the age of artificial intelligence and provide information science solutions to improve teaching quality.
Method: This research is applied in terms of purpose and qualitative in nature, conducted using a thematic analysis approach. The statistical population included geography teachers In high school in Semnan city, from whom 45 individuals were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires (open-ended questions) and analyzed using MAXQDA software version 2020 in three stages: open, axial, and selective coding. Findings: Data analysis led to the extraction of 4 main themes: information retrieval challenges (35%), information science solutions  (30%), emerging information needs (21%), and educational consequences (14%). Findings showed that "information overload" and the mismatch of retrieval systems with pedagogical needs are the main challenges for teachers. Conclusion: Artificial intelligence alone does not guarantee the improvement of geography education and requires information science interventions such as knowledge organization, educational metadata, and semantic retrieval. It is suggested that smart information literacy headings be included in teachers' in-service training courses, and national educational resource portals be indexed with information science standards.

Highlights

Arbabi, M., & Najjar, S. (2023). A review of the importance of students' information literacy and its impact on learning. In Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Sociology, Social Sciences, Education and Pedagogy with a Future-Oriented Approach. Bushehr, Iran. [In Persian] https://civilica.com/doc/2008835/

Bandura, A. (1986) . Social foundations of thought and action, Cromwell Press. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=PdY9o3l5vpYC&oi=fnd&pg=PA94&dq=Bandura,+1986&ots=uHiXpX2ibP&sig=XXgVuHugwyxq4zCGHvn18fGUYAE

Esmi Joshaghani, Z. (2022). Evaluating the relationship between social skills and citizenship education in school sociology., 4(2), 8-20.[In Persian] https://www.sid.ir/paper/1030503/en

Garmabi, H. A., & Kordlou, M. (2019). Investigating the perceptions of student-teachers of geography education at the time of entry regarding the components of the educational system of Farhangian. Quarterly journal of research in social studies education, 6(2), 97-122.[In Persian] https://civilica.com/doc/1583533/

Gholami Ramin, Z., Rasouli, F., Mosaffa, F., & Mosaffa, K. (2025). Smart education in schools: Challenges and advantages. In Proceedings of the Fourth National Conference on Applied Ideas in Educational Sciences, Psychology and Cultural Studies. Bushehr, Iran.[In Persian]

https://civilica.com/doc/2559997/

Hemmati, F.; Moradi Hossein, N, and Shahadadi,(1403). Investigating factors affecting the improvement of students' learning in geography lessons, case study: Girls' high school students in Birjand city.  Quarterly journal of research in social studies education. [In Persian]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://alborzmag.cfu.ac.ir/jufile%3Far_sfile%3D83663&ved=2ahUKEwi62KWBsPGVAxWzP_sDHQIiFxUQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3H4ji3AED9aHHGAYUC4vIg

Jamali, N., Mohammadpour, S. H., Fallah, N., & Jalali, H. (2025). The role of the teacher in enhancing students' motivation for better learning. In Proceedings of the 8th National Congress of Humanities and the 1st National Congress on the Role of Education in Sustainable Development: From Theory to Practice. Tehran, Iran.[In Persian]

https://civilica.com/doc/2561552/

Kadkhoda, S., & Nastiezaie, N. (2021). The relationship between teachers' information literacy and their attitude towards virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Technology of Education, 16(1), 135-146.[In Persian]

http://journals.sru.ac.ir/article_1652.html

Kim, A. (2025). Exploring how institutional structures shape instructional quality: The roles of teacher education, employment, and development in fostering higher-order thinking skills, Thinking Skills and Creativity.11(58), 1-17. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1871187125002032

Majani, N., & Majani, N. (2022). The role and impact of information literacy on improving the quality of education and learning. In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Knowledge and Technology of Educational Sciences, Social Studies and Psychology of Iran. Tehran, Iran. [Persian] https://civilica.com/doc/1637591/

Mohammadinejad, A., & Nikbakht, O. (2023). Analyzing the impact of educational programs based on virtual reality technologies on improving the learning of complex concepts. Journal of Research and Innovation in Education and, 1(1), 75-90. [Persian]

Narenjani Sani, F., Pourkarimi, J., & Mirzadeh, M. (2024). Identifying the educational needs of novice teachers in the education. Quarterly journal of research in social studies education, 5(38), 56-69.[In Persian]

Rasti, Z., Barumandi, M., Barumandi, N., & Purmazari, H. (2025). Investigating the effectiveness of smart technology-based learning environments in improving students' academic performance and learning retention. In Proceedings of the Fourth National Conference on New Findings in Evolutionary and Educational Psychology. Bandar Abbas, Iran.[In Persian] https://civilica.com/doc/2082770/

Saki, F. (2020). An analysis of teaching methods in social studies education. Quarterly journal of research in social studies education, 2(4), 143-158.[In Persian]

Samadi, F., & Arjmandi, M. (2021). Measuring teachers' curriculum literacy and its relationship with students' academic success. Quarterly journal of research in social studies education,8), 9-28. [In Persian]

Sweller, J. (1988). Cognitive Load During Problem Solving: Effects on Learnin, Cognitive Science. 12, 257-285. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1207/s15516709cog1202_4

Yarkarami, K. (2017). Educational needs assessment of information and communication technology skills of primary school teachers in Qasr-e Shirin. Payame Noor University of Kermanshah Province. [In Persian]  https://elmnet.ir/doc/11175878-16145

Zamani, M., Ghiyasi, M., & Zamani, A. (2021). A study of the impact of information literacy education on the information seeking behavior of Semnan University Central Library users: A case study of postgraduate students. In Proceedings of the 9th National Conference on Sustainable Development in Educational Sciences and Psychology, Social and Cultural Studies. Tehran, Iran. [In Persian] https://civilica.co m/doc/1239537/

Keywords

References

Arbabi, M., & Najjar, S. (2023). A review of the importance of students' information literacy and its impact on learning. In Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Sociology, Social Sciences, Education and Pedagogy with a Future-Oriented Approach. Bushehr, Iran. [In Persian] https://civilica.com/doc/2008835/
Bandura, A. (1986) . Social foundations of thought and action, Cromwell Press. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=PdY9o3l5vpYC&oi=fnd&pg=PA94&dq=Bandura,+1986&ots=uHiXpX2ibP&sig=XXgVuHugwyxq4zCGHvn18fGUYAE
Esmi Joshaghani, Z. (2022). Evaluating the relationship between social skills and citizenship education in school sociology., 4(2), 8-20.[In Persian] https://www.sid.ir/paper/1030503/en
Garmabi, H. A., & Kordlou, M. (2019). Investigating the perceptions of student-teachers of geography education at the time of entry regarding the components of the educational system of Farhangian. Quarterly journal of research in social studies education, 6(2), 97-122.[In Persian] https://civilica.com/doc/1583533/
Gholami Ramin, Z., Rasouli, F., Mosaffa, F., & Mosaffa, K. (2025). Smart education in schools: Challenges and advantages. In Proceedings of the Fourth National Conference on Applied Ideas in Educational Sciences, Psychology and Cultural Studies. Bushehr, Iran.[In Persian]
https://civilica.com/doc/2559997/
Hemmati, F.; Moradi Hossein, N, and Shahadadi,(1403). Investigating factors affecting the improvement of students' learning in geography lessons, case study: Girls' high school students in Birjand city.  Quarterly journal of research in social studies education. [In Persian]
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://alborzmag.cfu.ac.ir/jufile%3Far_sfile%3D83663&ved=2ahUKEwi62KWBsPGVAxWzP_sDHQIiFxUQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3H4ji3AED9aHHGAYUC4vIg
Jamali, N., Mohammadpour, S. H., Fallah, N., & Jalali, H. (2025). The role of the teacher in enhancing students' motivation for better learning. In Proceedings of the 8th National Congress of Humanities and the 1st National Congress on the Role of Education in Sustainable Development: From Theory to Practice. Tehran, Iran.[In Persian]
https://civilica.com/doc/2561552/
Kadkhoda, S., & Nastiezaie, N. (2021). The relationship between teachers' information literacy and their attitude towards virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Technology of Education, 16(1), 135-146.[In Persian]
http://journals.sru.ac.ir/article_1652.html
Kim, A. (2025). Exploring how institutional structures shape instructional quality: The roles of teacher education, employment, and development in fostering higher-order thinking skills, Thinking Skills and Creativity.11(58), 1-17. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1871187125002032
Majani, N., & Majani, N. (2022). The role and impact of information literacy on improving the quality of education and learning. In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Knowledge and Technology of Educational Sciences, Social Studies and Psychology of Iran. Tehran, Iran. [Persian] https://civilica.com/doc/1637591/
Mohammadinejad, A., & Nikbakht, O. (2023). Analyzing the impact of educational programs based on virtual reality technologies on improving the learning of complex concepts. Journal of Research and Innovation in Education and, 1(1), 75-90. [Persian]
Narenjani Sani, F., Pourkarimi, J., & Mirzadeh, M. (2024). Identifying the educational needs of novice teachers in the education. Quarterly journal of research in social studies education, 5(38), 56-69.[In Persian]
Rasti, Z., Barumandi, M., Barumandi, N., & Purmazari, H. (2025). Investigating the effectiveness of smart technology-based learning environments in improving students' academic performance and learning retention. In Proceedings of the Fourth National Conference on New Findings in Evolutionary and Educational Psychology. Bandar Abbas, Iran.[In Persian] https://civilica.com/doc/2082770/
Saki, F. (2020). An analysis of teaching methods in social studies education. Quarterly journal of research in social studies education, 2(4), 143-158.[In Persian]
Samadi, F., & Arjmandi, M. (2021). Measuring teachers' curriculum literacy and its relationship with students' academic success. Quarterly journal of research in social studies education,8), 9-28. [In Persian]
Sweller, J. (1988). Cognitive Load During Problem Solving: Effects on Learnin, Cognitive Science. 12, 257-285. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1207/s15516709cog1202_4
Yarkarami, K. (2017). Educational needs assessment of information and communication technology skills of primary school teachers in Qasr-e Shirin. Payame Noor University of Kermanshah Province. [In Persian]  https://elmnet.ir/doc/11175878-16145
Zamani, M., Ghiyasi, M., & Zamani, A. (2021). A study of the impact of information literacy education on the information seeking behavior of Semnan University Central Library users: A case study of postgraduate students. In Proceedings of the 9th National Conference on Sustainable Development in Educational Sciences and Psychology, Social and Cultural Studies. Tehran, Iran. [In Persian] https://civilica.co m/doc/1239537/
Quarterly journal of research in social studies education
Volume 8, Issue 1
April 2026
Pages 144-170

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