Educational Resources in Geography Classes and Reflections on the Teaching Practices Used to Promote Student Learning

Abstract

The use of educational resources in Geography classes was evaluated using a qualitative questionnaire to investigate the learning process. I analysed whether the questionnaire used in a previous study in 2016 is adequate for the identification of the essential elements of the learning process. The behavioural assessment method was based on self-monitoring to identify the use of five types of resource in Geography classes: (1) the use of online technologies, (2) the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), (3) the use of the school atlas, (4) the use of maps in classroom activities, and (5) the use of cartographic scales and coordinates. A total of 172 students answered the questionnaire at two private schools, one in Sao Paulo (Brazil) and the other in Yokkaichi (Japan). The results from both schools were very similar to those of the previous study. Teachers must have a real commitment to each of their student groups to develop effective geographic learning. These findings contribute to the research in the development of geographic reasoning and spatial thinking in Geography, initiated in Brazil in the past five years and to the improvement of practices in Geography teaching which, in turn, will promote a better learning process for the students.