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Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

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support of student-centred learn<strong>in</strong>g, a core mission of Bologna. Laurillard’s (2002)mapp<strong>in</strong>g of methods with educational activities, are support for the fact that it isnot the environments themselves that support or enhance learn<strong>in</strong>g, but the ways <strong>in</strong>which they are used if suitable learn<strong>in</strong>g is to take place (Donert, 2004). Simms (2000)ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s that it is through the active engagement with learn<strong>in</strong>g that elearn<strong>in</strong>g canenhance the student experience. The major dimensions be<strong>in</strong>g characterised by:• Learners – the who of the learn<strong>in</strong>g process• Content – the what of the learn<strong>in</strong>g process• Pedagogy – the how of the learn<strong>in</strong>g process• Context – the when and where of the learn<strong>in</strong>g process.<strong>HERODOT</strong> Members SurveyIn late 2002, the 81 members of the <strong>HERODOT</strong> thematic network for <strong>Geography</strong> <strong>in</strong>higher education were asked to complete an <strong>in</strong>-depth questionnaire about the stateof <strong>Geography</strong> <strong>in</strong> their <strong>in</strong>stitutions, their work and <strong>in</strong> their countries. In all 65 partnerTable 1. ICT and teach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Geography</strong> <strong>in</strong> higher educationActivityTeach<strong>in</strong>g about ICTTeach<strong>in</strong>g with ICTResearch24%HE departamentsGISRemote Sens<strong>in</strong>gIT <strong>in</strong> <strong>Geography</strong>Computer assisted learn<strong>in</strong>gDistance learn<strong>in</strong>gOnl<strong>in</strong>e learn<strong>in</strong>gGISRemote Sens<strong>in</strong>gIT <strong>in</strong> <strong>Geography</strong>71%60%52%45%12%9%48%35%22%<strong>in</strong>stitutions responded based <strong>in</strong>31 different countries. Of these12 organisations were only<strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> teacher tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, notoffer<strong>in</strong>g undergraduate or postgraduate<strong>Geography</strong> degrees.Table 1 shows the proportion ofdepartments teach<strong>in</strong>g about ICT,with ICT and do<strong>in</strong>g research <strong>in</strong>ICT <strong>in</strong> <strong>Geography</strong> at that time.Over half of the departmentsoffered dist<strong>in</strong>ct courses <strong>in</strong> ICT <strong>in</strong><strong>Geography</strong>; however few used either distance learn<strong>in</strong>g or elearn<strong>in</strong>g to deliver coursesfor their students. Technology-oriented <strong>Geography</strong> courses have thus been developed<strong>in</strong> most academic departmentsbut us<strong>in</strong>g onl<strong>in</strong>e learn<strong>in</strong>gopportunities or multimedia wasnot well developed.IT and GIS practicals weretaught <strong>in</strong> most higher education<strong>Geography</strong> departments. Therewere two types of courses identified,<strong>in</strong>troductory courses whichwere commonly developed forstudy <strong>in</strong> years 1 and 2, thesecourses were often followedby more advanced, detailed orspecialist courses <strong>in</strong> later years(Donert, 2004).Figure 1. IT and GIS practicals by year of study

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