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Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

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Observation and presentation of phenomena<strong>in</strong> <strong>Geography</strong> <strong>Education</strong>Iwona PiotrowskaDepartment of <strong>Geography</strong> Teach<strong>in</strong>g and Ecological <strong>Education</strong>, Faculty ofGeographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University,ul. Dzięgielowa 27, 61-680 Poznańe-mail: ipiotrow@ma<strong>in</strong>.amu.edu.plAbstractContemporary geography is treated as a science study<strong>in</strong>g and expla<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the causes andeffects of the natural and socio-economic diversification of geographical space. Understood<strong>in</strong> this way as a subject taught at school irrespective of the education level, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>gacademic tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, it offers great cognitive, practical and <strong>in</strong>structional <strong>in</strong>sights. The teach<strong>in</strong>gof geography should help the student to seek an answer to the question of the mean<strong>in</strong>g orcause of existence of <strong>in</strong>dividual geographical objects and phenomena and their role <strong>in</strong> theenvironment, as well as their rational use. Of great significance <strong>in</strong> the cognitive process isthe ability to make keen observations. Geographical education is thus one of the pillars ofthe development of a knowledge-based economy.Apart from the choice of the contents of geographical <strong>in</strong>struction, the role of this subject<strong>in</strong> the school structure, and its importance <strong>in</strong> the education of modern man, reflection isalso due to the mode of observation and presentation of geographical knowledge. The way<strong>in</strong> which the teacher passes on <strong>in</strong>formation, tries to make the student <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> thegeographical environment and moulds his imag<strong>in</strong>ation, has a decisive effect not only onhis learn<strong>in</strong>g progress, but also on the perception of the subject itself (Piotrowska, 2003). Inmany works the didactic effort of the teacher is treated as a teach<strong>in</strong>g art. Hence, it seemsjustified to approach the teacher’s demonstration, discussion or explanation of geographicalprocesses and objects as another art – that of presentation. Even more so as presentation isconsidered today to be a skill that is a fundamental part of one’s professional competenceand a condition for one’s personal development (Łasiński, 2000).Key words: geography, presentation, observation, teach<strong>in</strong>g, conditions of effective presentationPresentationPresentation <strong>in</strong> the teach<strong>in</strong>g and communication process is a planned and systematicmethod of act<strong>in</strong>g upon a def<strong>in</strong>ed group of students, dur<strong>in</strong>g which it is crucial to<strong>in</strong>form, conv<strong>in</strong>ce and motivate listeners (Łasiński, 2000). Apprehension about be<strong>in</strong>gevaluated comb<strong>in</strong>ed with satisfaction from positive reception is <strong>in</strong>herent to any presentation(Pijarowska and Seweryńska, 2002). This is also easily observed <strong>in</strong> teacher’sdidactic work, <strong>in</strong> which emotional <strong>in</strong>put significantly <strong>in</strong>fluences students’ perceptionof geographical data. In terms of schoolwork, presentation is cont<strong>in</strong>uously present<strong>in</strong> every lesson while discuss<strong>in</strong>g various geographical features, phenomena, proc-52

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