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Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

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Times of Change for <strong>Geography</strong> <strong>Education</strong> <strong>in</strong> SloveniaTatjana Resnik Plan<strong>in</strong>cDepartment of <strong>Geography</strong>, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana,Aškerčeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Sloveniae-mail: tatjana.resnik-plan<strong>in</strong>c@guest.arnes.siAbstractThe article presents the actual situation of geography education <strong>in</strong> Slovenia from theviewpo<strong>in</strong>t of many of the rapid and profound changes we are deal<strong>in</strong>g with nowadays. Thefeasibility and structur<strong>in</strong>g of professional development, formal and <strong>in</strong>formal relations thatmight enable professional development and the identification of ongo<strong>in</strong>g needs for geographyteachers are discussed. It also questions the chang<strong>in</strong>g identity of academic geography with<strong>in</strong>the restructur<strong>in</strong>g of work and the tensions between teach<strong>in</strong>g and research.Key words: geography, teacher, education, student, Slovenia, knowledge, skills, practiceIntroductionTogether with Europe Slovenia has recently undergone many rapid and profoundchanges. Every nation, region and city has to face challenges aris<strong>in</strong>g from the differ<strong>in</strong>gneeds and expectations. Differences <strong>in</strong> culture, <strong>in</strong> behaviour, <strong>in</strong> values and standardsdo not have to conflict but lead to enrichment and strengthen<strong>in</strong>g of a society.<strong>Geography</strong> as a field of study is at an <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g stage of development <strong>in</strong> Slovenia.When seek<strong>in</strong>g to provide descriptions and comparisons of systems, it is important tocreate a dialogue about the social, economic, political and cultural contexts with<strong>in</strong>which geographical studies occur. Most studies of geography have been narrow <strong>in</strong>their focus, concentrat<strong>in</strong>g on issues of develop<strong>in</strong>g content and curriculum, withoutreference to context.At the forefront of change geographical education should <strong>in</strong>volve the study ofsociological, psychological, political and cultural aspects of learn<strong>in</strong>g and teach<strong>in</strong>ggeography. Students should have the opportunity to develop their own knowledge,skills and confidence <strong>in</strong> ways <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly emphasised for employment <strong>in</strong>geographical education-related occupations. Therefore the teacher tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g shouldfollow students’ personal <strong>in</strong>terests about the nature, purposes and contents of education,and equip them with a set of transferable skills. (Resnik Plan<strong>in</strong>c, 1998, ResnikPlan<strong>in</strong>c, 2001)School <strong>Geography</strong> <strong>in</strong> Slovenia<strong>Geography</strong> teach<strong>in</strong>g can contribute a lot to know<strong>in</strong>g and understand<strong>in</strong>g peopleand places, although research shows an alarm<strong>in</strong>g situation <strong>in</strong> geography teach<strong>in</strong>gand knowledge all over the world (Haubrich, 1998, 106). The recent changes anddevelopment of Middle, South Eastern and Eastern European countries are the188

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