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Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

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ased on a natural curve rather than l<strong>in</strong>ear or exponential curve (Kennedy, 1995,p. 19), or illustrate the concept of circular vs l<strong>in</strong>ear metabolism, systems, synergyand maximization of <strong>in</strong>ternal energy and material flows vs monofunction andatomistic evaluation (Harvey, 1996, Gamb<strong>in</strong>i, 2004). Their usefulness is not onlylimited to def<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>formation: they are uniquely placed to search for truly isomorphiccomunicative forms, design and test hypermedia, implicit and non-symboliclearn<strong>in</strong>g modes, that seem to be “much more powerful, effortless and less sensibleto background and <strong>in</strong>dividual variations” (see Natale et al., 1994 – although theirassum<strong>in</strong>g that a hypermap is the most isomorphic form for present<strong>in</strong>g descriptivegeography seems to overlook that maps themselves are highly conventional andsymbolic). Nature, the environment and space <strong>in</strong> general are privileged locationsfor mean<strong>in</strong>gful sensory and game-based experiences, with all the cognitive advantagesthat these offer (Brunelli, 2004), and with an extrord<strong>in</strong>ary versatility forthe activation of senses and emotions, which are best suited to motivate learn<strong>in</strong>g,understand<strong>in</strong>g, ethic participation and action (Jeronen & Kaikkonen, 2002). Morebroadly, environmental and spatial analyses can effectively challenge our generalpropensity for l<strong>in</strong>ear/bi-dimensional th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g and communication modes, which isnot only determ<strong>in</strong>ed by the constra<strong>in</strong>ts of verbal – written or oral – communication(text and speech sequenc<strong>in</strong>g), but which <strong>in</strong>vests most of our representational andmanagement doma<strong>in</strong>s: maps, time conception, architecture, the idea of economicgrowth, account<strong>in</strong>g, the standard logical notation for and common visualisation ofthe cause-effect relationhip, which takes <strong>in</strong>to no account feedback or side effects,etc… For effective action, plann<strong>in</strong>g and policies, geography could create strategicalliances with “friendly” discipl<strong>in</strong>es, such as recently-born Permaculture, that hastaken much from and has a lot <strong>in</strong> common with geography, albeit characterised bya more marked vocation for action and <strong>in</strong>tervention.References1. BEROUTCHACHVILI et al. 2004. “Geographical perspectives on susta<strong>in</strong>able development.A teacher’s guide,” CD ROM by UGI, Lead, Home of <strong>Geography</strong>.2. BOCCHINI VARANI M. A. 2001. “Agricoltura sostenibile,” [<strong>in</strong>:] Menegatti B., T<strong>in</strong>acciMossello M., Zerbi M. C. (eds), Sviluppo sostenibile a scala regionale, Patron Editore,Bologna, pp. 196−204.3. BRUNELLI C. 2004. “Il gioco nell’educazione alla sostenibilita”, await<strong>in</strong>g publicationon Ambiente Società Territorio.4. CASTREE N. April 2003. “Environmental issues: relational ontologies and hybrid politics,”Progress <strong>in</strong> Human <strong>Geography</strong> 27 (2), pp. 203−211.5. CELANT A. “Le componenti strutturali della crescita <strong>in</strong>eguale <strong>in</strong> Italia attraversoun’<strong>in</strong>dag<strong>in</strong>e dei fattori di vulnerabilita economica e ambientale dei sistemi regionali.Il caso del commercio estero,” <strong>in</strong> Menegatti et al., op. cit., pp. 119−131.6. CENCINI C. 2003. Economia ambiente e sviluppo sostenibile, Pàtron Editore,Bologna.7. GAMBINI B. October 2004. “Imparare l’approccio sistemico: natura magistra,” paper forthe 50° A.I.I.G. Conference, Padua, await<strong>in</strong>g publication <strong>in</strong> the Conference Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs.303

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