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Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

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M<strong>in</strong>istry of <strong>Education</strong>. Hav<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d the development of geographical knowledge,competencies and skills, the <strong>in</strong>vestigation projects <strong>in</strong>volved a varied range of activitiesimplemented <strong>in</strong> the classroom and outdoors, such as: first hand <strong>in</strong>vestigation ofplaces, environments and human behaviour through fieldwork; use of new technologies,like Internet search eng<strong>in</strong>es, digital cameras, database and desktop-publish<strong>in</strong>gpackages; draw<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>in</strong>terpretation of maps, plans and graphs; gather<strong>in</strong>g, record<strong>in</strong>gand presentation of evidences; carry<strong>in</strong>g out of geographical enquiries; exploration oftextbooks, newspaper and magaz<strong>in</strong>e articles and other writ<strong>in</strong>g resources; or <strong>in</strong>volvementof role play<strong>in</strong>g to illustrate the different po<strong>in</strong>ts of view about the subject of thedifferent groups.It is important to br<strong>in</strong>g together the traditional learn<strong>in</strong>g activities developed <strong>in</strong> theclassroom with fieldwork because the “outside” environment is, par excellence, thegeographer’s laboratory. It is outdoors where, from direct experience, students can<strong>in</strong>vestigate people, places, their <strong>in</strong>teractions, patterns, process, and environmentalissues – the true nature of geography. Besides, places exist with<strong>in</strong> our hearts andm<strong>in</strong>ds. We audit them through sight, smell, sounds and touch. So, only “outside”students can develop a personal “sense of place”; maybe one of the most mean<strong>in</strong>gfuldimensions of life.Due to problems of limited space it is not possible to make here an evaluation ofthe research projects. Still, consider<strong>in</strong>g the op<strong>in</strong>ion of students and teachers <strong>in</strong>volved,we have no doubt that we must cont<strong>in</strong>ue to explore its potential. As a matter of fact,some of the experiences presented here will be published on the website of the projectINTERFACES that we expect to develop <strong>in</strong> the near future as a place of creation,diffusion and promotion, among Portuguese society, of good practises <strong>in</strong> geographyeducation.References1. ALVES R. 2004. Asas ou Gaiolas. A Arte do Voo ou a busca da Alegria de Aprender,Asa Editores, Porto.2. CACHINHO H. 2000. «Geografia Escolar: orientaçao teórica e praxis didáctica»,Inforgeo, n.o 15, pp. 69−90.3. CACHINHO H. 2004. «Excit<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Geography</strong>: what is it and how can it be developed <strong>in</strong>secondary schools?», <strong>in</strong> International <strong>HERODOT</strong> Conference, University of Cyprus,Nicosia, 21-23 May, <strong>in</strong> http://www.herodot.net.4. GEOGRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION 2000. This is <strong>Geography</strong>, Sheffield,http://www.geography.org.uk.5. HUGONIE G. 1989. “Enseigner la géographie actuelle dans les lycées”, L’EspaceGéographique, 2, 129−133.6. JOB DAVID. 1999. New Directions <strong>in</strong> Geographical Fieldwork, Cambridge UniversityPress, Cambridge.7. MÉRENNE-SCHOUMAKER B. 1985. «Savoir penser l’espace. Pour un renouveauconceptuel et méthodologique de l’enseignement de la géographie dans le secondaire»,L’Information Géographique, n.o 49, pp. 151−160.8. SAINT-ÉXUPERY A. 1946. Le Petit Pr<strong>in</strong>ce, Gallimard, Paris.9. SOUTO GONZÁLEZ X. 1998. Didáctica de la Geografía. Problemas sociales y conocimientodel medio, Ediciones del Serbal, Barcelona.21

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