Abstract
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of interactive and visual GIS tools in teaching global economic geography, with particular emphasis on their impact on content mastery, the development of spatial thinking, and the enhancement of students’ learning motivation. The research employed a pre- and post-intervention experimental design and involved 225 students. The findings suggest that interactive GIS tools not only improve students’ cognitive skills but also enhance motivational engagement. This dual contribution of cognitive and motivational effects to the educational impact of GIS represents a key element of the study’s scientific novelty.