International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education
Editors: A/Prof John Lidstone, Queensland University of Technology and Prof Joseph P. Stoltman, Western Michigan University
Book Review Editor: Dr Sarah Witham Bednarz, Texas A & M University
Editorial Assistant: Donna Bennett, Australia
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Volume: 11 Number: 2 Page: 119–137
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Two Improved Educational Theory Based Tools to Monitor and Promote Quality of Geographical Education and Learning
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Mauri Åhlberg and Vuokko Ahoranta
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New improved educational tools are suggested to monitor and promote quality of geographical education. It is shown that in literature concept maps (Gowin, 1981; Novak, 1980; Novak & Gowin, 1984) and
mind maps (Buzan, 1982, 1993) are not properly understood. The difference between concept maps and mind maps is made clear by constructing a mind map and a concept map using the same concepts from Geographical
Education. It is shown that the concept map is an accurate representation of the main features of cognitive structure, while the mind map is an ordered association map open to multiple interpretations.
Improved concept maps and Vee heuristics are presented as tools to monitor and promote meaningful, deep, creative geographical learning and metacognition. Values thinking is explicitly promoted by improved
Vee heuristics. Empirical examples from a cases study of a geographical learning project are presented, and their usefulness for practical teaching and educational research is analysed and evaluated. Suggestions
are made both for practice and further research.
© Multilingual Matters 2002
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