<![CDATA[This study examined whether Geographic Information System (GIS)-based choropleth maps improved tenth-grade students’ understanding of population dynamics at SMAN 18 Bekasi City. The study used a quantitative pre-experimental approach with a one-group pre-test–post-test design. The sample consisted of 50 students from class X.5, selected through a random draw from ten tenth-grade classes. Students completed a pre-test, participated in one learning session using six choropleth maps created with ArcMap and population data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), and then completed a post-test containing 15 multiple-choice questions. The data were analyzed using the Shapiro–Wilk normality test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and normalized gain (N-Gain). The mean score increased from 73 on the pre-test to 77 on the post-test, while the percentage of students reaching the minimum passing grade increased from 48% to 62%. The Wilcoxon test showed a statistically significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores (p = 0.022). However, the mean N-Gain was only 0.0449, which is classified as low. The limited improvement may be related to the single treatment session, students’ limited prior experience with choropleth maps, and the time required to interpret color gradients, data values, and spatial patterns. These findings indicate that GIS-based choropleth maps can support the presentation of population data and students’ spatial interpretation, but their use should include guided practice and repeated learning activities. Because this study used one group without a control group, the findings should be interpreted within the context of the participating class and should not be generalized broadly. Future studies should use several treatment sessions and a comparison group to evaluate the learning contribution of choropleth maps more clearly.]]>
