SUT0298 - TEACHING OF GEOGRAPHY

courses

ID:

SUT0298

Duration (hours):

64

CFU:

SSD:

GEOGRAFIA

Located in:

Como - Università degli Studi dell'Insubria

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Secondo Semestre (23/02/2026 - 29/05/2026)

Course Objectives

The course provides students with in-depth knowledge of geography education, with particular focus on the theories, methods, and tools relevant to teaching geography in contemporary schools. Specifically: 1. Knowledge and Understanding Students will acquire: -epistemological knowledge of geography as a formative discipline; -an understanding of the evolution of school curricula and innovative teaching approaches; -critical comprehension of national and international educational and geographic policy documents; -knowledge of digital technologies applied to geography education. 2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding Students will be able to: -design teaching units aligned with national curriculum guidelines, using interdisciplinary and inclusive approaches; -select and use cartographic, digital, and multimedia resources in teaching practice; -analyse real educational contexts, identify challenges, and propose effective methodological solutions; -adapt geographic content to various educational levels and learning needs, including from an intercultural perspective. 3. Making Judgements The course fosters the ability to: -gather, interpret data and sources (statistical, cartographic, documentary) to design scientifically grounded educational strategies; -reflect independently and critically on the role of geography in citizenship education, sustainable development, and intercultural understanding. 4. Communication Skills Students will develop the ability to: -clearly and effectively communicate complex geographic concepts to students; -produce written, visual, and digital teaching materials suited to different learning styles; -promote dialogic and cooperative communication practices in classroom activities. 5. Learning Skills The course aims to encourage: -the development of metacognitive and reflective skills to continually improve teaching practice; -the capacity for ongoing professional development through academic sources, training courses, and professional learning communities; -autonomy in educational research to support curriculum design; -a commitment to lifelong learning as an essential tool for addressing the social, cultural, and technological changes affecting geography education.

Course Prerequisites

none

Teaching Methods

In line with the learning objectives of the course, teaching activities will include: lectures, critical discussion of the topics covered, reading sessions, seminars with experts, videos, and listening to thematic podcasts.

Assessment Methods

The final examination consists of an oral interview. The minimum passing grade is 18 out of 30. The purpose of the exam is to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the reference texts from a critical perspective, evaluating their ability to connect theoretical concepts with empirical cases. The exam texts are available at the university library or local public libraries.

The course in TEACHING GEOGRAPHY is structured as follows: The first section focuses on the main epistemological and methodological issues of geography and its teaching, with particular attention to the role of the discipline within the framework of ministerial teaching recommendations. Objectives, content, methods, and tools for teaching geography will be examined in light of the most recent National Guidelines (2018 and 2025). The course will explore different geographical perspectives highlighting key concepts, challenges, and potential educational pathways. Special emphasis will be placed on the transcalar approach, its pedagogical implications, and its potential to foster critical geographic thinking. The second part of the course is dedicated to the development of geographic competences and the design of a geography curriculum, with a focus on interdisciplinary connections and the selection of appropriate teaching tools for different learning styles. The various languages of geo-cartographic representation (such as: symbols, signs, and narratives) will be explored in their educational dimension. Significant space will be devoted to active teaching methodologies, including direct and indirect observation, as well as strategies centered on competency-based learning and the co-construction of a geography curriculum. The module includes the presentation of practical teaching materials and activities that have already been tested, along with a selection of paper-based and online sources useful for creating innovative teaching pathways. Finally, experiential geography will be emphasized through fieldwork and educational excursions, which are essential for developing spatial intelligence, a sense of place, and orientation skills.