Undergraduate Geography Students Research Articles

Navigating personal and disciplinary frontiers: engaging with undergraduate geography students’ reflections on their geographical education

ABSTRACT In this article, we engage with undergraduate geography students’ reflections on their geography education. We begin by examining the position of geography within education across the British Isles. Following this, we critically consider how geography education is shaped by “the gap” between school and university geography and geographies of education, before reporting on the findings from a survey of 333 undergraduate students studying geography across the British Isles conducted in late 2020. We examine the complex question of who is studying geography at undergraduate level, students’ journeys through their geography degree, and their experiences of personal and disciplinary frontiers in education. We conclude by arguing the importance of educators engaging with students’ “everyday” geographies, and for further research into progress across education phases in geography to co-construct a rich and rounded geographic education.

Fieldwork nearby and far away: Student-geographers and the expanded field in the history of geography

This essay argues for a connection between studying the history of geography as an academic discipline and the research experiences and knowledge productions of undergraduate geography students. The whereabouts of undergraduate dissertation research and the conceptions of what the field actually constitutes shapes geography students’ perceptions of the discipline, and thus affects shifts in what future and novice practitioners see as geography, or geographical knowledge. When comparing the local educational versions of academic geography taught at one university to more traditional, perhaps canonical, narratives on the history of geography, it becomes obvious that although there are many similarities, the timelines between disciplinary trends and educational practices never fully match.

Sustainable Development Goals from Theory to Practice Using Spatial Data Infrastructure: A Case Study of UAEU Undergraduate Students

The importance of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in influencing students’ understanding of and behavior toward sustainability cannot be overstated. However, prior studies have shown that students generally lack comprehension of how to apply geography instruction in relation to territories and their contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although the relationship between the SDGs and academic institutions has been the subject of numerous research, it is still unknown how much knowledge students have on the subject. Therefore, this research aims to raise awareness about SDGs and evaluate the knowledge of undergraduate geography students regarding the SDGs. Additionally, it investigates the impact of Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) and quality education as pedagogical tools on students’ sustainability consciousness. A questionnaire was designed, validated, and administered to students at the United Arab Emirates University from both geography and non-geography cohorts to assess their knowledge. Statistical analysis indicated high reliability of the constructs. The results revealed significant insights through descriptive, ANOVA, and multiple comparisons analysis with the Tukey HSD test. Specifically, geography students who participated in an SDG Awareness and Knowledge Program within the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) model demonstrated statistically significant differences in various aspects of SDG awareness and knowledge, SDG awareness using SDI skills, and the importance of quality education and the integration of SDG knowledge in pedagogy, as compared to other geography and non-geography students who did not receive the SDG awareness program. This research is expected to provide valuable knowledge about SDGs through effective pedagogical skills, benefiting both student and educator community.

Floating in space: teaching atmosphere in human geography

ABSTRACT This article explores the teaching of atmosphere for undergraduate geography students. Though many scholars have observed an “atmospheric turn” in the discipline, teaching atmosphere in human geography has received less attention. To this end, the article examines the design and delivery of a “floating workshop” that engaged students in thinking and feeling the meteorological and affective qualities of atmosphere. Practically, the floating workshop involved the preparation, launch and floating of two solar-powered balloon-like sculptures made by the international artistic community Aerocene. In contrast to practices of mapping or remote sensing with aerial devices like kites or drones that are familiar to geographical pedagogy, this creative practice-based workshop foregrounded sensual and affective observations of atmosphere, from the feeling of wind speeds to the transmission of emotions. This shared atmospheric experience and pedagogical experiment linked theory with practice, activated situated learning processes, and generated critical inquiry into the affective, aesthetic and material dimensions of air and atmosphere.

A Flipped Learning Experience in Geography: A Qualitative Study using Focus Group Discussion

Flipped learning (FL) is gaining broader acceptance in geography education. This study aims to explore the remaining question concerning how the FL approach is associated with students' understanding of Geography course content. A focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted in a protocol through nine groups of students consisting of six to ten members per group. In total, eighty-eight undergraduate geography students had taken part in the discussion. Qualitative data obtained from the FGD were coded and thematically analyzed. The qualitative analysis revealed four major themes: (i) attention to learning geography, (ii) personal needs in learning geography (iii) confidence to succeed in learning geography, and (iv) satisfaction in learning geography associated with students' understanding of the course content. The results reveal that the understanding of the students of the course content was high through the application of the FL approach to teaching and learning. The finding is very significant to provide a guideline for FL application at the university level, specifically for Geography Module to increase students’ understanding of the course content.

Engaging with undergraduate geography students’ perspectives on the value of geography to a person’s education

ABSTRACT In this article, we explore perspectives on, and experiences of, geography education, by engaging with those looking at the field from a different vantage point than those working in it – those studying geography. The article begins by examining the importance of student voice in and to geography education, before drawing on a survey of 333 undergraduate geography students from across the British Isles conducted in late 2020. Through engaging with student perspectives, we contribute to discussions about the value of geography to a person’s education. We conclude by arguing for both the importance of educators truly valuing students' perspectives and experiences, and institutional mechanisms that support and empower geography educators in their practices in this regard.

COĞRAFYA BÖLÜMÜ LİSANS ÖĞRENCİLERİNİN “BALKANLAR” ÜZERİNE OLAN ALGILARININ METAFORLAR ARACILIĞIYLA BELİRLENMESİ

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Coğrafya bölümü lisans öğrencilerinin Balkanlar üzerine olan algılarını metaforlar kullanarak belirlemektir. Bu araştırmada nitel araştırma desenlerinden olan fenomenoloji (olgubilim) yaklaşımı kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Coğrafya Bölümü lisans öğrencileri oluşturmaktadır. Çalışma grubunun Balkanlar üzerine olan algılarını ortaya koyabilmek için yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu hazırlanmış ve katılımcılara “Balkanlar….. gibidir. Çünkü….” sorusu yöneltilmiştir. Bu süreç sonucunda toplam 183 görüşme formu toplanmıştır. Elde edilen veriler içerik analizinden geçirilmiştir. Bulgulara göre, katılımcılar Balkanlar üzerine 115 geçerli metafor oluşturmuşlardır. Bu metaforlar ise 5 kategori altında sınıflandırılmışlardır. Coğrafya bölümü lisans öğrencileri en fazla Balkanların coğrafi konumu ve etno-kültürel zenginliğini ön plana çıkaran köprü ve gökkuşağı metaforlarını kullanmışlardır.

Students’ environmental awareness and pro-environmental behaviour: preliminary study of geography students at state university of malang.

In today’s world the environmental problems call for the serious solutions before they reach the point of no return. University students as scholars must be well informed about the current pressing environmental problems through formal education and informal education and become role models and champions of protecting the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of environmental awareness and pro-environmental behaviour among undergraduate Geography students at State University of Malang. This study used descriptive qualitative research design using survey method. To collect data, questionnaire was distributed among 100 respondents selected using simple random sampling method. Results on environmental awareness indicated that, most of the students were well informed and possessed higher understanding of environmental problems. However, the findings on self-reported environmentally responsible behaviour indicated otherwise that only few students practiced pro-environmental behaviour. There was a mismatch between students’ awareness on environmental problems and their actions towards environmentally responsible behaviour. That means being environmentally awareness does not necessarily translate directly into environmentally responsible behaviour. There is need to increase rising awareness and enhance university students’ engagement to sustainability activities to establishing sustainable initiatives both on campus and beyond.

A FORMAÇÃO INICIAL DO(A)PROFESSOR(A)DE GEOGRAFIA: UM ESTUDO DAS REPRESENTAÇÕES SOCIAIS DO SER PROFESSOR(A)

This article presents part of the results of the research carried out in the master's degree in education, in which the social representations of geography graduates about being a teacher were investigated. This research aimed to understand the social representations of undergraduate students in geography about being a teacher in this discipline. To this end, we sought to identify the semantic field of the social representations of the graduates and the internal structure of such representations. To achievethese objectives, we used the Theory of Social Representations as a theoretical-methodological approach (MOSCOVICI, 1961), as well as the structural approach (ABRIC, 1994). We used as instruments of data collection questionnaire of free association of words and semi-structured interview. For data analysis, we used the Iramuteq software and the content analysis technique (BARDIN, 1977). 149 research subjects in geography from two federal higher education institutions in the Metropolitan Region of Recife (RMR) participated as research subjects. As results found we have the social representations of the undergraduate students in geography falling into four categories: disciplinary, pedagogical, affective and professional, with the disciplinary and pedagogical category having the greatest expressiveness. These results do not exhaust the discussions about the social representations of being a teacher, in reality they are propositional for the development of new researches that think about the initial formation ofthe geography teacher

World regional geography and distant suffering: student and faculty perceptions of moral obligation

ABSTRACT The purpose of the research was to examine perceived moral agency beliefs, attitudes, and prosocial actions of 226 undergraduate World Regional Geography students and eight instructors at two Midwestern U.S. universities. The context of the research is positioned within the study of world regional geography courses in order to better understand students’ and professors’ perspectives and expectations for prosocial action while learning and teaching about global environmental and human issues. Theoretical backgrounds include living in a globalizing world, witnessing distant suffering, and moral education. Using a socio-psychological lens for examining geography learning related to motivations for prosocial behavior and moral agency, the research context included a framework for investigating student and instructor perspectives of prosocial behavior in response to human suffering and environmental crises. The cross-case study included mixed methodology, with analysis of student survey responses, student and professor interviews, and written reader-responses to global issues. Findings showed a significant correlation between when students felt disturbed by global crises and subsequent thoughts on moral agency. Results reveal diverging and contrasting views between students and professors, with undergraduate participant perspectives, requests, and significant suggestions for explicitly addressing pro-social actions in world regional geography for educators and students for the future.

Determination of Map Literacy of Undergraduate Geography Students

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of map literacy of pre-service geography teachers. The research was carried out using the relational survey model . The data collection tool used in the research was the map literacy scale. The research was conducted on 391 undergraduate geography students in 2016-2017 academic year. Multiple linear regression analysis technique was applied in solving the sub problems of the research. According to the findings of the research; when the correlations between the predictive variables and the dependent variable were examined, a positive and moderate correlation was seen between the level of map literacy of geography pre-service teachers and variables such as competence in the frequency of using map, the frequency of activity by maps, and the level of interest in geography. When the partial correlations between the predictive variables and the dependent variable were examined, it was determined that the undergraduate geography students had a positive and weak relationship between map literacy levels and the frequency of using map and the frequency of activity by maps variables. On the other hand, it was determined that undergraduate geography students had a positive and moderate relationship between map literacy levels and the level of interest in geography variable. In addition, under graduate geography students had a moderate and meaningful relationship with their map literacy level together with the frequency of using map, the frequency of activity by maps, and the level of interest in geography variables. According to the results of the research, it is seen that the activities that geography undergraduate students perform with the maps are a moderate predictor of map literacy. For this reason, it is suggested that emphasis should be given to the courses and practices that will develop the map skills in the geography undergraduate programs.

Placing diversity among undergraduate Geography students in London: Reflections on attainment and progression

This paper explores the idea of “place‐based diversity” to examine the nature of undergraduate Geography students’ attainment and progression with a specific focus on gender, ethnicity and socio‐economic status. In addressing the empirical neglect of progression when assessing inequalities in achievements among Geography students in general and the specific lack of research at the departmental level, the paper contributes to debates on challenging intersectional exclusion within the discipline at a university in London. While it shows that undergraduate Geography no longer privileges male, middle‐class students in terms of attainment, those from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds perform less well. While this is partly addressed by encouraging patterns of higher progression rates among BME students, much more needs to be done. Contributing to existing Bourdieusian analyses of student experiences as well as the role of the university in society, this requires exploration of students’ identities and agency, especially their “dutiful aspirational capital,” together with the “institutional habitus” of departments and universities and where they are situated geographically. While departmental support mechanisms have helped in facilitating progression for the disadvantaged, this must be combined with developing more positive diverse role models, curriculum change and targeted support practices that avoid the “black deficit model” which assumes that BME students are “lacking.”

Experiência interdisciplinar na educação básica e na formação de professores: artes, biologia e geociências.

A interdisciplinaridade melhora o processo de ensino-aprendizagem. Sendo assim, um método mesclando “Arte, Biologia e Geociências” foi desenvolvido. O objetivo desde método era fazer com que os alunos do Ensino Médio de um colégio estadual representassem através da arte a origem do universo, do planeta Terra e da vida, seguindo a escala do tempo geológico e da evolução dos organismos. Após quatro aulas teóricas, os materiais produzidos, coletados ou cedidos por universidades foram apresentados na exposição “Uma viagem na história da vida com Arte e Biologia”. Este método também foi aplicado aos alunos do curso de Licenciatura em Ciências Biológicas e Licenciatura em Geografia, das universidades UFRuralRJ e UFRJ, como exemplo de vivência didático-pedagógica de um método interdisciplinar. Como resultado, verificou-se o aprendizado dos alunos do Ensino Médio e a conscientização dos alunos da licenciatura sobre a importância atividades interdisciplinares para minimizar a fragmentação do conhecimento.

Can first-year undergraduate geography students do individual research?

ABSTRACTBased on the affirmation in the scholarship of teaching and learning that adding research component into early geography classes is mutually beneficial to both instructors and students, this paper presents a case study that quantitatively articulates the effects of adding a research project into a first-year physical geography class on students’ academic performance. Pushing research into earlier stages of undergraduate students’ academics, even in large classes, can be very beneficial yet challenging because most students at this level have no experience in research; plus, they may still be adjusting to university life. Part of the Undergraduate Research Initiative called First Year Research Experience (FYRE) at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada invited faculty to embed a research component into first year undergraduate classes to align research and teaching. A two-year endeavour in a first year physical geography class resulted in some interesting outcomes. (1) The most challenging part of research for students was the research question formation. (2) Students valued the opportunity to conduct a research project. (3) Doing in-class research actually improved student performance as seen in the higher overall average grades. (4) Students who attained the highest exam marks were not those who attained the highest research project marks.

Teaching ethics when working with geocoded data: a novel experiential learning approach

Research ethics are not the favourite subject of most undergraduate geography students. However, in the light of increasing mixed-methods research, as well as research using geocodes, it is necessary to train students in the field of ethics. Experiential learning is an approach to teaching that is potentially suitable for teaching ethics. The aim of this article is to discuss how the experiential learning process in a course on Ethics & GPS-tracking contributed to the ethical awareness of third-year undergraduate geography students. We conducted a qualitative study in which we held four focus group discussions with two cohorts of students (2016 and 2017). We explored the students’ views on the learning environment in relation to ethics in GPS-based and mixed-methods research. Our findings show how an informal learning environment and collaborative learning in a small group contributed to deep understanding of research ethics. These aspects of the learning environment are tied to an ethical framework that consists of three dimensions: (1) the ethics of collaborative research between staff and students; (2) the ethics of privacy raised by the geo-technology adopted in this research case study; and (3) the ethics of the research process with respect to informed consent and data storage.

What is Geography? Perceptions of first year undergraduates in South Africa

Disciplines such as Geography are well placed to respond to the changing needs of society and the effective application of geographical knowledge to real-world problems. This project surveyed first year Geography undergraduates’ understanding of “What is Geography?”, both before and after an exercise in which geographic topics were identified within recent newspapers. The survey instrument employed was an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire, and was undertaken with first-year undergraduate Geography students at a university in South Africa. Results show that the exercise enabled students (n = 158) to more readily see the application of geographical knowledge to both environmental and social problems that they identified in the newspaper stories. Students also identified that studying Geography may be able to help them increase their skills, employment prospects and earning potential. These findings can help locate the disciplinary concerns and applicability of Geography in post-apartheid South Africa within the wider context of the twenty-first Century world.

Student Perceptions of a Recreation Trail Assignment as a Valuable Learning Experience for Geography Undergraduates

Charging undergraduate geography students with the task of designing a recreational trail in their local community offers an engaging experiential opportunity with potential to advance geographic learning in a real-world setting. This article presents an assignment in which students were asked to develop a recreational trail proposal for an undeveloped local conservation area and the results of a survey that asked the students to reflect and report upon the educational value of this experience one year later. Results of the survey validated the assignment's lasting value to the students across the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains.

Facilitating native land reacquisition in the rural USA through collaborative research and Geographic Information Systems

AbstractA large proportion of American Indian reservation lands are owned by non‐Indian entities. A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a powerful tool for visualising land tenure changes, and public participation GIS (PPGIS) is one approach for using spatial technologies to facilitate the identification and reacquisition of reservation lands by tribes. While some tribes have successfully harnessed GIS for land management and for systematically identifying lands for reacquisition, others struggle to implement land management systems such as GIS for these purposes. This paper situates PPGIS in relation to other forms of participatory action research and outlines our use of a PPGIS framework to engage undergraduate geography students in the mapping of land tenure status on ten rural Minnesota Indian reservations as part of a collaborative partnership with the Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILTF). A PPGIS framework allowed us to collaboratively define research goals in response to tribal community needs and provided structure for student work with partner reservations to develop and implement tailored mapping and analysis techniques. Two sets of findings are significant. First, the assembly of a standardised set of maps for American Indian reservations in Minnesota provides a tremendous visual and analytical resource for ILTF and individual tribes to pursue land reacquisition within reservation boundaries. Second, from a PPGIS perspective, we found that working with a coordinating or ‘bridging’ organisation provided key benefits by enabling education of both the student–faculty partners and the individual tribes. The PPGIS model empowered both partners by allowing tribes to harness a powerful technology to assist in visualising land‐based assets and allowing students to contribute to native land reacquisition efforts through application of their GIS skills. This mapping helps facilitate economic and cultural viability in tribal communities by providing an important visual catalogue of existing land‐based assets, in support of future land acquisition and economic development planning.

Improving energy literacy through student-led fieldwork – at home

“Energy literacy” is of great interest to those researching sustainable consumption, particularly with regard to its relationship to domestic energy use. This paper reflects on the pedagogic aspects of fieldwork recently carried out by undergraduate geography students in their own homes to assess energy-related technologies and practices, and how these come together into a singular, aggregated number produced by the energy meter. Conceptualising energy literacy as comprising cognitive, affective, and behavioral domains, we evaluate the experiences reported by the students, and discuss next steps in expanding the exercise and learning.

International geography field courses: practices and challenges

This paper introduces a special issue of the Journal of Geography in Higher Education on the practices and challenges associated with taking undergraduate geography students abroad on field courses. I argue that geography is positioned to benefit from both the internationalization of higher education and the demand by students for global experiences. The papers in this special issue focus on three aspects of international field courses: curriculum design and international partnerships, student engagement during short-duration field courses, and how encounters with place can be aided through reflection and play. I conclude with suggestions for future research on international field courses.