An understanding of geography: The perspectives of English primary trainee teachers |
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| Authors: | Simon Catling |
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| Institution: | (1) Westminster Institute of Education, Oxford Brookes University, Harcourt Hill campus, Harcourt Hill, Oxford, OX2 9AT, United Kingdom |
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| Abstract: | There have been few studies of trainee teachers' conceptions of the term ‘geography’. Building on these, this study identifies
a number of conceptions of geography held by primary school trainee teachers in England. Their ideas are compared with their
understanding of the reasons for teaching geography to young children. Similar outcomes emerge. While a small number of primary
trainee teachers see geography education as concerned with the study of places, a slightly larger group view teaching geography
as developing children's sense of responsibility for the earth and its people. However, by far the largest groups of students
perceive geography's role to be to develop younger children's awareness and knowledge of the environment. Additionally, a
sizeable group of trainees see geography as providing knowledge about the features and countries of the world. The implications
of these findings are considered for the brief geography study units which primary teacher trainees take as part of their
initial teacher training programme in English higher education. The conclusion is that it is important to widen primary trainee
teachers' perspectives during even the briefest of units, not least to enable them to teach the national curriculum requirements
for geography in primary schools.
This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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| Keywords: | environmental understanding geography primary education primary teacher training teaching geography |
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