Role of geography teacher in forming the pupils’ cartographic competence

Abstract

Cartographiccompetence has been determined as a very important one in the list of subject geographical competencies recorded in the State Standard of Secondary Basic Education of Ukraine. Since a geographic map is a system of landmarks with specific information based on field studies, aerial photographs and satellite images, and other cartographic sources, statistics and literature, the task of a geography teacher is to instil in pupils the necessary skills, which will result in cartographic competencies. Since it is impossible to study geography without a geographic map as a forming factor for spatial thinking, the authors of the article conducted an empirical research. The research and comparative analysis were conducted among the pupils, their parents and geography teachers in order to identify their cartographic knowledge, concepts and cartographic skills of the pupils. The aim of the article was to determine the role of the geography teacher as a consultant who forms the cartographic competence, the content of which consists of cartographic knowledge and map reading skills. The objectives of the paper includes evaluation of the pupils’ levels of cartographic competence, and determination of the correlation between the levels of the pupils’ cartographic competence and factors influencing its development. The theoretical analysis and empirical study resulted in developing the updated methodology for working with the maps on geography classes, and determining the role of a teacher who guarantees the formation of subject competence in cartography among pupils with the use of proper and relevant methodological instruments for teaching pupils’ cartographic competence. The results of the correlations that we received highlighted the important role of a geography teacher in forming the average and high level of the pupils’ cartographic competence.