ED277601 Nov 86 The Nature of Geographic Literacy. ERIC Digest No. 35. Authors: Backler, Alan; Stoltman, Joseph ERIC Clearinghouse for Social Studies/Social Science Education, Bloomington, IN. THIS DIGEST WAS CREATED BY ERIC, THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ERIC, CONTACT ACCESS ERIC 1-800-LET-ERIC TEXT: Much attention has been given recently to the "geographic illiteracy" of Americans. This attention has unfortunately reinforced the common view that geographic literacy consists only in knowing where things are. Where on a world map is Vietnam? Through which countries does the Nile River flow? Where is Atlanta located? Knowing where things are is only the first step in attaining geographic literacy. Ultimately, geography is concerned with understanding why things are located where they are. To answer this type of question requires the use of a wide range of geographic themes, concepts, and skills. Birdsall (1986) says: "We must also be comfortable enough with the underlying concepts and principles of geography that our understanding of places and people will be enhanced, not limited." This digest explores the nature of geographic literacy. It discusses 1) fundamental themes of geography, 2) basic geographic skills, and 3) likely outcomes of education for geography literacy. WHAT ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY? In 1984, the Association of American Geographers and the National Council for Geographic Education published GUIDELINES FOR GEOGRAPHIC EDUCATION, which identifies the fundamental themes of school geography and develops them explicitly for use by teachers, curriculum developers, and school administrators. A description of the themes follows. --LOCATION: POSITION ON THE EARTH'S SURFACE. Absolute and relative location are two ways of describing the position of places on the earth's surface. In many situations, it is important to identify absolute locations as precise points on the earth. For instance, determining the precise position of fresh water supplies is critical to filling the world's fresh water needs. The coordinates of latitude and longitude are widely accepted and useful ways of portraying exact locations. Determining relative location--the position of one place with respect to other important places--is equally significant. If, for example, the position of fresh water supplies with respect to potential water users is too remote, then it will not be feasible to exploit these supplies. --PLACE: NATURAL AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS. All places on earth have distinct natural and cultural characteristics that distinguish them from other places. The natural characteristics derive from geological, hydrological, atmospheric, and biological processes that produce landforms, water bodies, climate, soils, natural vegetation, and animal life. Human ideas and actions also shape the character of places, which vary in population composition, settlement patterns, architecture, kinds of economic and recreational activities and transportation and communication networks. One place may also differ from another in the ideologies and philosophical or religious tenets of people who live there, by their languages, and by their forms of economic, social, and political organization. --RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN PLACES: HUMANS AND ENVIRONMENTS. People modify and adapt to natural settings in ways that reveal cultural values, economic and political circumstances, and technological abilities. It is important to understand how such human-environment relationships develop and what the consequences are for people and for the environment. --MOVEMENT: HUMANS INTERACTING ON THE EARTH. Human beings, unevenly distributed across the earth, interact with each other; that is, they travel from one place to another, they communicate with each other, or they rely upon products, information, and ideas that come from beyond their immediate environment. The most visible evidences of global interdependence and the interaction of places are transportation and communication networks linking every part of the world. These demonstrate that most people interact with other places almost every day of their lives. Interaction continues to change as transportation and communication technologies change. We need to anticipate these changes and to examine their geographical and societal consequences. --REGIONS: HOW THEY FORM AND CHANGE. The basic unit of geographic study is the region. The region is any area that displays unity in terms of selected criteria. We commonly use regions to show the extent of political power, such as nations, provinces, countries, or cities. However, there are almost countless ways to define meaningful regions, depending on the issues and problems being considered. Some regions are defined by a single characteristic, such as their governmental unit, language group, or land form type, and others by the interplay of many complex features. Regions are used in geographic education to examine, define, describe, explain, and analyze the human and natural environment. They define convenient, manageable units upon which to build our knowledge of the world and provide a context for studying current events. We may view regions as an intermediate step between knowledge of local places and knowledge of the entire planet. WHAT ARE BASIC GEOGRAPHIC SKILLS? The authors of GUIDELINES FOR GEOGRAPHIC EDUCATION recommend a series of geographical skills for processing information needed in the study and analysis of important issues. Geographic information processing skills can be grouped under five headings: (1) asking geographic questions, (2) acquiring geographic information, (3) presenting geographic information, (4) interpreting geographic information, and (5) developing and testing geographic information. --ASKING GEOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS. Geography is distinguished by the kinds of questions it asks--the "where?" and "why there?" aspects of a problem. It is important for students to develop and practice skills in asking such questions for themselves. --ACQUIRING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION. These skills range from identifying locations using grid systems, through making observations and acquiring information in the field, to obtaining statistical data. --PRESENTING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION. These skills involve preparation of maps, tables, and graphs, and coherent written or oral presentations. --INTERPRETING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION. Interpreting involves the ability to determine what a particular map, table, or graph says (e.g., describing trends portrayed on a line graph). --DEVELOPING AND TESTING GEOGRAPHIC GENERALIZATIONS. These are skills in making inferences based on information contained in maps, tables, and graphs. WHAT ARE LIKELY OUTCOMES OF EDUCATION FOR GEOGRAPHIC LITERACY? What learning outcomes should be expected if young people are provided with systematic instruction on the perspectives, information, concepts, and skills of geography? First, students will understand that absolute and relative location are significant aspects of every natural and cultural feature on earth. For example, knowing the absolute location of Afghanistan and its location relative to that of the Islamic minorities in the U.S.S.R. helps students understand events in that country in recent years. Second, students will be able to determine the significance of places in terms of their natural and human characteristics and how the meanings of places change over time. For example, students will be able to identify natural and human factors that led to emergence of New York as a major world city and describe how New York has changed. Third, students will be aware of how people inhabit, modify, and adapt culturally to natural environments. For example, students will realize that rain forests have been used for hunting and gathering, for shifting agriculture, for forestry, and for plantation agriculture. Fourth, students will examine how places are interdependent and the implications of that interdependence. For example, students will be able to examine the interdependence of Japan and the United States and have some idea how it affects the daily lives of American and Japanese families. Fifth, students will learn to use the concept of region to make general statements about reality. For example, students will identify areas of the world where cutting forests for firewood is a major energy resource; they will be able to describe and evaluate the human and environmental features found in those parts of the world; and they will be able to relate them to the consequences of deforestation. In attaining all of these goals, students will be able to use maps to ask and answer questions about important issues. For example, students will be able to examine maps dealing with population, land use, land forms, and vegetation to make inferences about the distribution of drought in Africa. Geographic literacy involves certain themes and skills discussed in this digest. Students can use their knowledge and skills to enhance comprehension of the world and to think more effectively about it. FOR MORE INFORMATION Bennett, William J. FIRST LESSONS: A REPORT ON ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN AMERICA. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, 1986. ED 270 236. Birdsall, Stephen S. "America's Geographic Illiteracy." FOCUS 36 (Summer 1986): 1. Gardner, David. "Geography in the School Curriculum." ANNALS (March 1986): 1-4. Joint Committee on Geographic Education of the National Council for Geographic Education and Association of American Geographers. GUIDELINES FOR GEOGRAPHIC EDUCATION: ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. Washington, DC: The Association of American Geographers, 1984. ED 252 453. Lanegran, David. "Strengthening Geographic Education." THE PROFESSIONAL GEOGRAPHER 38 (February 1986): 71. Manson, Gary. "Notes on the Status of Geography in American Schools." JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHY 80 (December 1981): 244. Meredith, Sydney J. IMPROVEMENT IN GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION. ERIC Digest No. 22 (November 1985). ED 264 164. Natoli, Salvatore J. "The Importance of Redundancy and Eternal Vigilance." THE PROFESSIONAL GEOGRAPHER 38 (February 1986): 75-76. Stoltman, Joseph and J. Kelli Sweet. "The Michigan Experience in Geographical Education." THE PROFESSIONAL GEOGRAPHER 38 (February 1986): 73-74. ---------- This publication was prepared with funding from the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, under OERI contract. The opinions expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of OERI or the Department of Education.